A**HOLES W/DOGS

“ouch!!”

“there's the hartman that we all know and love! LOL!!!!”

“Let me ask you this...If I was messing w/ your wife, in front of you while holding a gun on you, wouldn't you find a way pay me back? It not as traumatic as you all think and I don't know why everyone insists on playing Dr. Laura; I actually laugh about it. The Doberman thing is true and I really don't care if people believe it or not. Despite how wild Southerners think they are, the rural mountain West is by far wilder. I challenge anyone on this board to be in a remote location and have two 80lb, sheared and bobbed Dobs barrelling down on you with the owners frantically shouting and running. They tried to climb a tree but as I explained it's P-J territory and lakeside trees are too small. Also, in my state we have a lot of rots and pit bulls that have mauled several small children. I don't fear dogs, to me they're just too stupid and inbred.
As for NZ, I've only flown into Auckland and stayed overnight on my way to AU. Some of the guys I've worked w/ have spent some time there on vacation. I don't find it too much different then some parts of the West. The other thing is it really doesn't have a unique culture except for the Polynesians (Mori, I think). There aren't any big predators and there's alot of sheep ranching. NZ is actually losing population. If you want some nice images watch Lord of the Rings. I'm actually going to Darwin, AU in three more weeks. I was there last fall (Sept) and managed a little trek thru parts of Kakadu. Tough terrain, coastal plain, hot, dry, mosquitos, little black bugs, can't go in any water cause of crocs, some 4-5-6 meters. mangroves right to the oceans edge in most parts. Makes parts of Louisiana look like a kiddies park. Most people see Kakadu by air. Most of AU is some of the most rugged, inhospitable land on the planet. The spinifex grass takes up silica and will cut boots off your feet in a few months. Anyway, I don't want to be too boring. Papua New Guinea is my favorite place. One of my PNG associates was born a highlander. He and his cousin and some friends took myself and a work buddy from Kiap-Kompian. Some road walking but mostly forest path. Those people are the consumate hikers. Most in the lowlands don't even wear shoes. I've been fortunate because just like the US and other parts of the globe, the wildness is goin' fast. The best advice I can give is save your money and see the wild places of the world. Except for Alaska, America ain't wild no more. Large animals are managed, the outdoors are well managed by gov't and special interest including gear sellers. Personally, my local trips are now off-trail and off-season. Backpacking is almost too fashionable unruly dogs on the trail degrade the experience and lessen your chances of seeing wild animals.”

“You're a teacher, right?
So you've been to a few developed countries. You're right, you have no right.”

“Someone desperately needs to get off their high and mightier than thou pedistool.”

“shoot my dog for any reason, and you will have to shoot me too, cause you won't get out of the woods, cause you'll be dead too. And when I'm done killing you, the police can have what's left.”

“is this, the Johnny Reb thread? That "pedistool" is great though. You're making progress.”

“You're not even a contender. Go back into your corner and whittle some more wood. I have a feeling you really couldn't kill anyone and would probably cry if your "dawg got kilt".”

“I've met some real ignorami in my day, but I think you are truely in a class by yourself. Obviously you lack any compassion or remorse, since you seem to need this forum to boast of your accomplishments and thereby relive your "mighty" victory over your evil encounter. My god, you will truely reap what you sow and I hope you get out of life what you deserve. If "winning" is all your about, I feel sorry for you. You must be miserable in your mundane existence and feel that what you have done elevates you to some holier than thou level. Actually, it shows how shallow you and your life is. When I was a kid I used to say..."you think you're hot sh!t on a silver plater, but really all you are is cold diareah on a white paper plate" the other line that applies to you is "eat sh!t and die".”

“I didn't start out to "win". There isn't anything to win, there's only the battle which you seem to be losing. In your case I think you lost a long time ago, probably before I even posted here.”

“Aahhh, yes. Wintertime in TT land.”

“This thread has now been placed among the top 5 of All-Time TT Classics!”

“I did ask him about New Zealand-

By the way if you were messing with my wife while I was present you better hve two guns, one on her and one on me.She is a whole lot meaner than I am.

As to the two dogs-if they were as groomed and aggressive as you say they very likely had been through some sort of obedience course,and would not have attacked you unless you showed fear.The old wives tale about dogs being able to smell fear is true.
Again-your travels are impressive-
Your statement about the west is also true-
Be that as it may Southern heritage is a good and honorable thing and manners are very high on our list of things, until you step on someone elses toes-in particular ones considered friends,If it seems that "we" are ganing up on you it is because we are.
I deal with dogs all the time-my job has me at peoples houses when they are not present.The bigger the dog and the more aggressive the breed does not always determine the likelyhood of being bitten. A poodle or Spitz is much more likely to bite than a Doberman. Pitt Bulls and Chows are the most un-friendly.
Have you ever run into an emu? They are raised here for meat,one of those bastards will run you off before any dog will.”

“Now EMUs on the trail really> piss me off!”

“Don't dobermans' just pinch?”

“Couldn't we find something better to argue about than this overdone topic?

Dog Haters: You will NOT talk any dog lovers into leaving dogs at home.

Dog Lovers: You will NOT talk any dog haters into loving your dog on the trail.

END IT!”

“By the way... Who loves boobs?

Then, get over to the Save Boobs, Save Lives thread.”

“Click on my name and go to my bio page (unlike you, I am legit). From there, you can access my Photopoint page, which will show you but a few of the places I've been. Though I'm Southern, I've actually spent more time in the Rockies backcountry than the Appalachians.
Again, we TTers have been around the block a time'er two.

There are many many places I've yet to hike - but there's only so many days in a lifetime! For instance, I have just recently covered the regions of the Rockies that I've wanted to see. Next summer will be my first opportunity to travel farther west to the Sierras, etc. Next will be Alaska. Not until I've seen my country will I do the Swiss/French/Italian Alps - summer 2004?
New Zealand and South America are, indeed, on my long list...


"Skeery" encounters?
Hmmmmmmm...
I prefer to use the word "exhillerating".

Rounding a clump of wiregrass while wading Lake Whitney, Cumberland Island, GA, (looking for a canoe that I JUST KNEW was somewhere around there) I found myself thigh-to-snout with a full-grown gator. I froze, and Wally eventually sank and bubbled away.
Exhillerating!

Wading the blackwater sloughs of Conecuh NF, AL, (gotta LOVE water!), I yeilded to several copperheads, banded water snakes, and moccasins (prolly six total during that day of orienteering).
Exhillerating!

While walking point far ahead of two guys, two dogs, and six pack goats in the ID rockies, movement up and to my left caught my attention. Standing <100' away was a full grown grizz. We scoped each other for what seemed like an eternity before he bolted into cover.
Exhillerating!

Bison in The Blax.
"Grunt at me, you som'beeyatch!"

Rattlers EVERYWHERE!
(step around or over and keep on truckin').

Prairie dogs in ND.
OH! THE HUMANITYYYYYYY!”

“I lived in the South (Atlanta, Lexington,KY) Spent alot of time up in northern Georgia and on the Chatahootchie also Red River Gorge back when it was still relatively unknown and remote. The music was great. Saw Allmans several times, MArshall Tucker, the full live Skynrrd. Anyway, I don't think Southerners have any more or less honor than any other group. Let's drop the pretenses, that's one of the reasons I didn't stay there -it's pretentious. BTW, I'm sure you have a beautiful wife but I'm not interested in anyone elses wife.
Emus, yeah, we have a few ranchers/small farm people that are experimenting. Those Cassowaries in AU and PNG have a middle claw, much like the raptors in Jurrasic Park. They'll leap up and try to slash you if you come near the nest or surprise them. They've killed a few people in AU and PNG. Unfortunately, they're endangered, dogs being one of their main problems (kill the chicks) as well as loss of habitat.
One thing I like about AU is that dogs are prime prey for crocs in the Northern Territory. Doesn't that sound more like the natural order of things? To me there is something rather disturbing about this pre-occupation dog equality. Dog-tosser Andrew Burnett and little Leo is a most disturbing example.”

“Smart. just like a hick. Keep giving away all the great places you've been on the web and soon you'll be running out of places to go. I have a little more discipline. You don't see me giving away too many specific locations of places I've been, there are some no one will ever know. I and a few friends that still backpack have earned them. If you want to keep 'em special you minimize human impact. Only way to do that is withhold info. Now you see what I mean when I say backpacking has become "fashionable". I think you can get your story across using fake locations.”

“Click on my name and go to my bio page (unlike you, I am legit). From there, you can access my Photopoint page, which will show you but a few of the places I've been. Though I'm Southern, I've actually spent more time in the Rockies backcountry than the Appalachians.
Again, we TTers have been around the block a time'er two.

There are many many places I've yet to hike - but there's only so many days in a lifetime! For instance, I have just recently covered the regions of the Rockies that I've wanted to see. Next summer will be my first opportunity to travel farther west to the Sierras, etc. Next will be Alaska. Not until I've seen my country will I do the Swiss/French/Italian Alps - summer 2004?
New Zealand and South America are, indeed, on my long list...


"Skeery" encounters?
Hmmmmmmm...
I prefer to use the word "exhillerating".

Rounding a clump of wiregrass while wading Lake Whitney, Cumberland Island, GA, (looking for a canoe that I JUST KNEW was somewhere around there) I found myself thigh-to-snout with a full-grown gator. I froze, and Wally eventually sank and bubbled away.
Exhillerating!

Wading the blackwater sloughs of Conecuh NF, AL, (gotta LOVE water!), I yeilded to several copperheads, banded water snakes, and moccasins (prolly six total during that day of orienteering).
Exhillerating!

While walking point far ahead of two guys, two dogs, and six pack goats in the ID rockies, movement up and to my left caught my attention. Standing <100' away was a full grown grizz. We scoped each other for what seemed like an eternity before he bolted into cover.
Exhillerating!

Bison in The Blax.
"Grunt at me, you som'beeyatch!"

Rattlers EVERYWHERE!
(step around or over and keep on truckin').

Prairie dogs in ND.
OH! THE HUMANITYYYYYYY!”

“"Run out of places to go"?
LOL!
There must be thousands - nay!... MILLIONS! - of acres of backcountry here in the USofA!
hehehee!

Did ya peruse my Photos?
Not bad for a hick, ay?
Freteth not, my son, for I gaveth not away my "sekert" places.

I do trip reports and photos so's my kindred outdoorspeople can share in my experiences - if only vicariously.”

“Wow, I hope I don't get caught in the crossfire here, but it seems inevitable. One of my good friends shocked me by telling me he had killed two dogs. He lives in the foothills and had observed two dogs chasing deer across his property on more than one occasion, so once when he had his rifle with him, he shot them both. They were not wild dogs, they were just allowed to run loose and chase wildlife. I was aghast at his story at first, but then he explained that deer can outrun a dog for a short distance, but the dogs will eventually catch the deer and often severely injure or kill it. I guess that even if the dogs don't catch the deer, this expenditure of energy in winter (when this occurred) often weakens the deer enough that they die or become easy prey for other predators.

I personally feel that there's a better way to handle a situation like that. Maybe call the Fish and Game folks? But it happened, so keep your dogs leashed.”

“Don't confuse the two separate topics. There is a large difference between a trained dog accompanying a hiker on a trail and semi-feral packdogs allowed to roam uncontrolled.

If you don't like dogs then restrict your hiking to National Parks and other trails where dogs are restricted. The rest of the trails are open to everyone, not just those that pass your personal PC purity test.”

“Sounds like the confusion is more on your part. They're two different topics that you have defined, not me. If you wish explain what defines "trained" then do so. The idea of "trained" is subjective to the dog owner but more objective the non dog owner. Maybe if dog owners really listened to what non dog owners expect instead of being arrogant, such as yourself and others, understanding could be found. You surely haven't contributed any. Restrict my hiking because of dogs? I don't think so. You don't bother me, then I won't bother you. If people with dogs know that there are people like me out there (although I probably won't be on the trail per se) maybe they'll think twice about how their pooch acts. Also, PC, Me? You haven't been reading about my original antics, have you?”

“Too bad.”

“Mapper, here in Mi, at least 20 yrs ago, the fish & game would order a dog destroyed if it is seen chasing deer. This, at least, I know as a fact.”

“I would make every effort to shoot a dog that I saw chasing deer...
then I'd BLAST the bambi!
LOL!
If it were a dog simply milling around in the woods, I'd let it walk...

I shoot cats, too. Prolific hunters, they are! (just ask the quail, rabbits, etc)

I wouldn't hesitate to unleash my wrath on an unruly dog in the backcountry. I haven't had that need yet, tho. Then again, I've only encountered mebbe 100 dogs.”