Rat dogs must die!

Last weekend I drove to Lake City, CO for what has developed into an annual Man-cation. There usually aren't any strippers unfortunately, but we drink beer, talk smart, and bag a few peaks. This year was no exception, although instead of getting lost in the wilderness we kept to the forest 4x4 trails. The first 14er was Handies Peak and it was relatively easy.

On the way down from Handies Peak I was disgusted enough to have to share my experiences. First, there was the Father and Son team from Texas. They both were wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes, and very little wet weather protection. "Hey, do you think we could make it up? Is it safe with the storm coming in?" WTF? You are stupid and have no business hiking a mountain, even one as easy as this. But heh, I'm a big proponent of natural selection so I just reply "I dunno... watch those clouds." My hiking buddy puts in, "Its only 20 minutes to the saddle and then another 30 minutes to the peak. I'd do it if I was on the saddle". Yeah, I think he hates Texans.


We continued down as the rain turned to hail giving the grass and distance rock a nice wintry feel. I love being in the mountains when there is severe weather (as long as I'm prepared). Not more than 10 minutes after "guiding" the Father/Son team I feel a BIG FREAKING BOOM directly overhead. Oh shit...time to walk very fast down the mountain, thank god for trekking poles! The Father and Son team continue on up the mountain taking my friends advice and completely ignoring common sense. Oh well...

Later, after the sun had come out and instantly turned the hail into steam, I ran into a BBW from Texas carrying her little rat dog up the trail. The rat dog had a freaking coat on but was still shivering. I've never seen anything so pathetic and in need of euthanasia. WTF? Are you kidding me? Who the hell is breeding these abominations? If you need to put a coat on your dog during the summer and carry him 1/2 mile from the car then you need to put that thing to SLEEP, and I mean the BIG SLEEP. As we walked past, I turned to voice my disgust to my friend Shane, but he pointed and said "Keep walking". He guessed that we weren't quite out of earshot. Good thinking Shane. Then later, I see another BBW from Texas riding an ATV with her little rat dog in a compartment bolted to the front. I decide to have another ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon and just enjoy the scenery.

Disclaimer: So if you are from Texas don't get all offended since everywhere there are tourists, the locals make fun of them. At this very moment I'm sure there is a cheese head making fun of some F.I.B. because they were rude and obnoxious, and in Minnesota I can imagine all the jokes about the Iowegians.