Tracks and Trails - Hiking with dogs at Weston Bend State Park

Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job. - Franklin P. Jones

A short trip up the pike from Kansas City is the one park trail we stumbled upon where our dogs actually thought we were lost. After several steep inclines, 3/4 of the way through the trail, Jack and Gracie started looking at us with concern and began balking and turning back in an effort to mobilize a retreat.

Weston Bend State Park in Weston, Missouri. Unforgettable (2015) first attempt walking the dogs on the bike trail. About 2.75 miles. We took it slow and stopped to take pictures of the incredible fall scenes. The leaves were just turning and with a very light breeze, kept raining down in a cloud of color.

2016, Mighty Mo - Weston Bend

The weather was fantastic. Temps soared into the 80's. Not your typical fall Missouri fall day.
 

Just short of completion on the hike, we finally picked Jack up and carried him while continuing to coax Gracie forward. Why so confused?

It's the terrain. Our dogs were accustomed to Kansas flat trails. This one threw them. The walk started out with a gentle slope and continued in that downward descent. A clue might have been when we encountered a couple who had traveled the trail from the opposite direction.


She was quite winded and laying flat on the park bench. He was pacing slowly across from her, apparently catching his breath.

They looked at us hopefully and asked how far it was to the end of the trail. Given it was our first time on the trail, we said it was about another third of the way from where they started and were a bit surprised when that news was met with heavy sighs and visible discouragement.

The trail we had just covered was sloped but no difficult ups and downs.

45 min. Moderate slope. Slippery when wet.

Unseasonably warm. We chalked their obvious exhaustion up to the heat of the day and continued on. About a quarter of a mile beyond that, the gentle downward slope turned into increasingly steeper  rolling hills.

Our progress slowed with added stops for water and we then began to see the problem they might have had if assuming the part of the trail we had covered would be more of the same of what they had just endured.

Inclines at this point in the trail were steep. Seriously. Warning signs advised bikers to dismount and not to attempt to go up or down the slope while riding. They weren't kidding. We walked with a slant.

That trail is the one and only time we had to drag the dogs forward to complete the trek to the car. They perked up as soon as they realized we were indeed back at the parking lot where we started.

Adventure crew. Smells galore.

Needless to say, we opted to bookmark that trek for times when we are carrying: treats, food, water, phones, pillows, medical kit, rain/weather gear and professional shoes. (A bonus if we come across other overwhelmed newbies on the trail.)

One thing for certain, the dogs will be down for the count for the following 24 hours or so.

Photos are from our recent trip - an October 2016 weekend, just before sunset, 45 minutes, unpaved and less than a mile long. Some of the trail runs along the hillside overlooking the Missouri River. Piece of cake. And perfectly fine for this time.

Opting to sit out the walk and let the dogs run off leash. Try this: Dog Park

Considering a visit? Here are some reviews: Weston Bend State Park/Yelp
Staying or visiting nearby: WestonMo