Hiking with Gus

At Rattlesnake Bar, January 2026

It’s been a stormy week here in Northern California, but it wasn’t just the weather that’s kept me inside. I’ve been fighting a head cold, and my hiking partner, who also has the sniffles, is under vet’s orders to rest for a few days. He came to me from the animal shelter in early December with the name “Snuffleapagus” and for awhile I was calling him Snuffy; but his name is now officially Gus. He’s a wonderful hiking partner, and I’ve already had great fun introducing him to some of my favorite local places — some of which I haven’t visited in quite some time. I’m looking forward to the passing of the storms so we can both hit the trails again.