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The Dogs of Moab

• April 2008
• Dogs Uncategorized

Hi Steph,
I’m from northern New York and recently read your article in Alpinist and found it well written and very inspirational. Thank you so much for sharing those experiences. I like to get out alone occasionally and always like to know what others are thinking and going through especially from those who climb at your level. You’re awesome!

We recently had a Border Collie (Molly) that loved the mountains and being outside but she recently passed away at less than 8 months old due to epilepsy.


We’re still heart broken but want to get another dog sometime and I noticed on your website that you have a dog. Can you tell me more about your dogs, names, kind, etc, they look so happy. Thanks
Michael

Dear Michael,
Thank you so much for writing, and sending this photo of Molly. She is a beautiful, adorable creature, and it must have been so heartbreaking to lose her when you least expected it, when she was just a puppy. I’m really sorry.

I have had the joy and privilege of sharing my life with Fletcher for ten years. She was only two when I met her, and three when we decided to stick together. I have always been a person who spends a lot of time alone, and in my life with Fletcher, I’ve spent more time with her than I’ve ever spent with anyone. I have always felt that we were soulmates, or at least have a powerful connection, and I have learned so much from this little dog. Knowing her has made me a better person.

One reason I love and respect dogs so much is that they are completely natural, and true to their hearts, which are very unaffected and pure. There is no pretense with dogs. They simply are themselves. Dogs who are treated with love and respect are full of endless affection and happiness, which makes everyone around them happy as well. Nothing makes me happier than good times spent with bright, loving dogs.

Fletcher was rescued from a Navajo reservation in Arizona by a traveling climber, named Betsy. Exactly what type of dog Fletch is has been the subject of many a conversation. Most people think she is mainly heeler, with perhaps some beagle, husky, desert fox, corgi, and akita. Hmm. Oddly enough, in the course of my time with Fletch, perfect strangers have approached me on five separate occasions, and said, literally, “Looks like she’s got a little Corgi in her!” Word for word, I kid you not. Apparently she looks like she’s got a little Corgi in her.

So anyway, Betsy was on her way to Moab when she stopped for gas in Arizona, and saw this little puppy looking wretched and starving. Being the type of person who didn’t have a dog but had a bag of dog food in her VW bus, Betsy left a pile of dogfood on the ground for the little puppy. As she drove away, she made the mistake of looking in the rearview mirror, to see the little puppy standing bravely atop the pile of food, growling at a ring of larger dogs surrounding her. Naturally, she turned around.

In Moab, Betsy deposited the little dog at my friend Lisa’s house. Lisa’s house was a real center for climbers in Moab, and the little dog just joined the pack for a while, until she was adopted by my friend Scott (Skuter). A year or two later, I showed up and joined the pack too, and Fletcher and I gradually started to spend a lot of time together, as we shared similar interests (cragging, running, hanging out alone). When Skuter got a job in Antartica, Fletcher moved into my truck with me. For years I traveled the country with her, mostly climbing and camping alone. I never felt lonely, once, having Fletch with me. And perhaps due to her rough puppyhood, this little forty pound dog has never once backed down from another dog. She’s even beaten up Rotweilers who made the mistake of trying to intimidate her!

Since that time, I have gotten to know a lot of other dogs in Moab. The climbers and BASE jumpers love dogs, and there is a great community of adventurous, companionable dogs here. I am proud to say, that the Moab dogs are some of the nicest, happiest creatures I’ve known. The BASE jumpers have even taught their dogs to hike with them to the tops of cliffs, and then walk themselves down alone to the parking lot after the humans have jumped off!

My other favorite dog, along with Fletch, is another beautiful heeler mix named Slack. He is a fine, handsome dog! He is perfectly behaved, and loved by all, humans and dogs alike!

His human Larry, a local slackliner and highliner, is very understanding of my great passion for Slack, and lets him come over to my house several times a week, often even for sleepovers, which Fletch enjoys very much.

These heeler mix dogs are amazing, and are overall the best dogs I’ve ever met. They are smart, affectionate, strong and active. I have observed that purebreed heelers can sometimes have some qualities that are difficult (being territorial or barky), but the mixes seem to have all the good qualities and none of the not-so-good ones. I love all good dogs, but definitely have a real special spot in my heart for heeler mixes.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that dogs who have been saved from hard places seem to be extremely appreciative and loving. Another of my favorite dogs is a beautiful whippet-like creature named Nexpa. She lives with our friend Sean Leary, and spends her time between Moab and Yosemite. Sean found her as a tiny puppy in Mexico, with her throat cut. Unbelievably, she made it, and is one of the sweetest, most athletic dogs I’ve ever known, but is also perfectly fine with long road trips, or mellow rest days. She loves to cuddle, especially since her short hair makes her want to snuggle up for warmth. And Nexie can run like a greyhound. She is an astonishing athlete. Fletch and Nexie are also great friends, and seem to have a deep understanding of each other, due to their hard puppyhoods.

Sometimes it’s not easy to be the object of so much affection, especially if you are an independent creature like Fletch (who very adamantly has never liked to cuddle!). Can you imagine how annoying it is for her when Dean decides to play dress up, with matching Fletch-Papa outfits? Ugh.

The upside for Fletch is that she knows for a fact that Dean will always share all of his food with her, even if he has to starve…..

When we went to Elephant’s Perch on our honeymoon, and I packed food for people who eat like me rather than people who eat like Dean and Fletch, we ended up feeding her our own dinners and oatmeal, and going hungry until it was time to hike out. Fletch thought it was very romantic 🙂

Since Fletcher was my first dog, for years I couldn’t imagine the idea of ever living without her, or ever being with another dog. Now that she is thirteen, and has gone into a gentle retirement (for hopefully another decade, at least!), I’ve had a lot of time to think about what it will be like without her someday. And knowing Slack, in particular, has shown me that one day I may meet another dog as perfect as Fletch, who will also be looking for a human to live with.

I know you will meet the perfect dog, who has been looking for you too.
xx Steph