17 years I’ve be hiking up this (Cowles Mtn.) mountain with Airedales. We have taken in many great sunsets over the Pacific, but until December 12th., we never did a sunrise hike. This is our larger Airedale Terrier sunrise hike on Cowles Mountain in San Diego California.
These larger Airedales are also known as Mountain Airedales because of their size. But, they certainly look forward to and enjoy all our mountain hikes.
Airedale Terrier Sunrise Hike
If you are hiking with a dog, be sure to always use the Barker Way Trail.
This trail is a better workout than the front or main trail that’s on golf crest Drive and Navajo Road. Also, the trail is much wider and because it’s much less crowded than the front trail, that you and your dogs enjoy the views without all the constant chatter that you pick up on the front trail.
But, perhaps the most important reason for using this trail, is that if you go up late in the day like I do, to avoid the heat, you’re going up on the east side of the hill, and late in the day it’s much cooler because the trail is in shadow most of the time.
Another thing to keep in mind, is always carry water for your dogs and have frequent water breaks. Naturally, there are signs on all the trails saying don’t take your dogs when it’s really hot out. Yes, this is common sense but you’d be surprised how many people seem to lack common sense.
So except for the winter months I usually tie my hikes up to get to the summit just before sunset. This provides a much cooler hike for the dogs as well as fantastic sunsets over San Diego and the Pacific Ocean.
Lastly, keep in mind this is the highest point in the city of San Diego and the city of San Diego requires that all dogs are on leash. Also, always view the sides of the trail, and try to keep your dogs near the center of the trail to avoid the occasional rattlesnake. This is another good reason to keep your dog on a leash.
After the First World War, the Airedales’ popularity rapidly increased thanks to stories of their bravery on the battlefield and also because Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding owned Airedales. President Harding’s Airedale, Laddie Boy, was the “first celebrity White House pet”. President Harding had a special chair hand carved for him to sit on at very important Cabinet meetings. In the 1920s, the Airedale became the most popular breed in the USA.
President Roosevelt claimed that “An Airedale can do anything any other dog can do and then lick the other dog, if he has to.”
1949 marked the peak of the Airedales’ popularity in the USA, ranked 20th out of 110 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
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