Hosted by the Cascade Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club, this Pack Dog event allows teams to complete for one leg toward a GSMDCA Pack Dog title. Cost per dog/handler team is $15.00 and registration must be received no later than May 12, 2008. Dogs competing in the event must be weighed, have their weight recorded on veterinary clinic stationary and signed by a veterinarian no more than five days prior to the hike. A team competing to earn a leg on a title is one handler per dog for the entire ten-mile hike. Dogs are required to be on leash for the entire hike. Hikers will be responsible for bringing and carrying their own lunches, snacks and water for the hike. Pizza and beverages will be provided at a local pizza place following the hike.

The Trail
Forest Park is one of Portland’s prize jewels. Encompassing over 5,000 lush acres of native fir, cedar and spruce, it is the largest city park in the United States. The beautiful Wildwood Trail (view at http://explorepdx.com/forpark5.html) in Forest Park covers almost the entire length of the park, stretching 26.3 miles. This will be a ten-mile out and back hike beginning at the Hoyt Arboretum parking lot, going out five miles to the Portland Public Park next to the Portland Audubon Society and then retrace back to the Hoyt Arboretum parking lot. Along the way, the trail accesses several points of significant interest including the 75 acre Hoyt Arboretum, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Pittock Mansion and the Audubon House and Visitor’s Center.

Check-in at the Hoyt Arboretum parking lot (4000 SW Fairview) will be at 9:00 a.m. and the hike will begin at 9:30 a.m. Participants should consider this a "moderate" hike with some elevation gain

Click here to view the printable application.

Dogs are required to be weighed by the handlers' veterinarian office staff within 7 days of the hike date. The handler must provide, on veterinarian office stationary, the dog's name, weight, date and staff signature prior to the start of the hike.

Not ready for a 10 mile hike, or your dog is not ready to carry the minimum weight? No problem. You can join us from the beginning or half way through. Contact me for more information on entry points to the hike.

Contact Laura D. Machado de Wright at mmwldw@comcast.net or
(425) 898-8618 if you have any questions.

See you in the trails!