The steepest obstacles proved to be very challenging for my Australian Shepherd. For the first several, I could put her in my lap as I used chimney technique to get us up to the next level (I had my back pressed against one wall and feet on the opposite with a dog that weighed a little over half of what I did lying on my legs. I would inch my feet up carefully so as to not frighten her, then bring my back up to a similar level. Usually there would be a ledge or alcove close to the top that I could stuff her into so that I could quickly climb around her to the top & then haul her up by her harness the rest of the way. Usually. The last one did not have one and was too wide for my legs to reach across. After about an hour of trying various ways to surmount this obstacle, we finally emerged from the canyon and happily walked back to camp.
Maidenwater Canyon has a technical part (Upper) and a hikeable part (Lower). After subjecting my dog to being hauled up & lowered down in Moonshine, I thought a hike would be called for. The first part of Lower Maidenwater is dry. Closer to Tracheae Creek, first there are pools of water, then it becomes a riparian environment. It seemed that later in the year, when the vegetation had all leafed out, the bottom part would become quite a bash.
