Bivouac and cani-rando in the mountains
I discovered a duo Trop W'ouf which comes straight from Isère in the Alpes. This is Marion and her dog Aya. Do you remember them? They gave us good holiday plans for go to the Alps with your dog in the article "They share their dog-friendly tips with us in the Alps"
Today, they tell us about an experience they tested together. This is the bivouac. An exceptional experience to live with your dog, especially if you like canine hikes or cani-rando.
The bivouac, what is it? This is a temporary outdoor overnight camp with or without a tent.
Aya and Marion have chosen the tent to sleep in the mountains when they go hiking and you will see that camping with your dog It's worth the detour. I myself tested the experience several times with Musher: we loved it.
Aya, pretty malamute
Aya is crossed malamute, she is 2 years old. She is a very enthusiastic, sporty, cuddly dog and she is also a walking clown! Impossible to get bored with her.
My spouse already having a dog (an akita inu named Haïko) we wanted him to have a friend to share his life. Moreover, it was a childhood dream for me to adopt a dog.
I was just waiting to be ready to take it on completely! So we were looking for a female, it was our only criterion. Indeed, Haiko has more difficulty making friends with males...
When we went to the shelter with my partner, we saw a very playful white dog, really magnificent… We then asked at the reception if they had any females. They then told us that they only had one. Our very favorite!
We then went on an outing with her and what a joy… She jumped into my husband's arms, she was so happy! She pulled a lot, jumped on everyone, we knew it was going to be difficult but it was obvious… She was made for us! We came back a few days later with Haïko, 1 hour later he had already adopted the louloute.
The first few months were quite complicated. We had the right to needs everywhere in the house and destruction of objects… On the way out she pulled so much that my spouse sprained herself… She jumped on everyone so happy to see people, she also went hunting, we had to wait 20 to 30 minutes for her, she ran and barked at the cows and horses… In short, she discovered life! Fortunately, now she has nothing to do with the dog we knew a year ago.
We sometimes do canicross together as well as cani-rando.
We always go on vacation with our dog! We never leave each other. The longest we've been apart is 12 hours!
Bivouac manual
Camping with your dog, it's going on an adventure! Being able to land in front of a superb landscape, contemplate a sunset and sunrise in the middle of nature: it's magic!
Sophia: "I confirm. If I tried the experiment with Musher it is for the same reasons. It's great to be able hiking with your dog and enjoy the spectacle of nature without the stress of having to go home. Wherever you find a nice corner, you unfold your tent and you look, you observe, you listen, you smell... What a joy to be able to live to the rhythm of nature for a few hours. We reconnect to the essential things. Me, when I find myself alone with Musher in my little tent at the foot of the mountain, I feel very small. It puts things in their place, I find: in the face of the elements, we are not much. It makes you humble.”
Bivouac: what equipment?
A 3-person ultralight tent, a mattress and a duvet (a mid-season special). To eat we had freeze-dried and a stove. I also had enough to dress me warmly for the evening and the morning. For'equipment for the dog in the bivouac, we had a retractable bowl, a blanket for the floor and its croquettes. I spotted a dog duvet with mattress integrated for the next times. We also had a corkscrew tie-up post to tie up the dogs. This is practical when you need to keep your dog close to you.
Musher and Sophie: “For my part, I know that in a bivouac in the mountains, the nights are very (too!) cool. During our first camp, Musher got cold, so the next few times, I put his blanket on a survival blanket which insulated her very well from the ground and I put on her dog coat. She can move as much as she wants, it stays in place on her. I also equip Musher with a bag of packs / dog backpack. We often leave in bivouac over several days. She carries her croquettes and her water.
Aya's experience
Not being used to it, Aya moved around all night in the tent for the first few nights. The first night of bivouac with our dog was quite comical, not having much space she did not hesitate to put her posterior on our heads to sleep, neither she nor we were well settled! :)) This time there were 3 of us in the tent with the dog. It was complicated for her (and for us) to find her place. Now it's going really well, she curls up and doesn't move all night. On the other hand, she is always in a hurry to be able to go out in the morning to explore the place.
Musher and Sophie: “Musher also struggled to fit in the first few times. And then, at night, there are strange noises all around the tent. She listened to the slightest rustle of leaves. She was on alert. Now she understood that in the tent she was safe with us, a bit like at home. Musher is not a female dog who fiercely defends her territory… in the tent, that's another story. We had settled 50 m from a path. She forbade the passage to the first hikers of the morning. I had never seen him do that. She took her role as a dog very seriously.”
I bivouacked in mid-November with a night at -5 degrees, I will rather opt for nights in an unmanned refuge during this winter. I have to equip myself with a insulated dog mattress if i want to continue bivouac with my dog this season.
I often go to the Col de la iron cross in Savoy: there are different lakes and a magnificent view of the Aiguilles d'Arves. I went there twice and I never tire of the scenery. In addition it is 2 minutes from the road. For those who want to get into the bivouac with their dog it's perfect. Even with a well-filled bag, it doesnʼt matter since you donʼt walk much. And if the night is really uncomfortable, it's easier to go home.
Isère and Savoie mountain advice
My first advice is to find out before leaving for a vacation spot with your dog. Indeed, reserves and most national parks are forbidden to dogs, it is important to be vigilant. We have already had to drive 3 hours before finally having to turn around because we were in a reserve and a game warden confirmed to us that we had to leave. Moreover, when we leave hiking with his dog, we always use the iphigénie application which is very practical for planning your journeys and which allows you to avoid getting lost in the mountains. It is important to remember to insulate the ground of his bivouac tent so that the dog does not get cold at night and neither do you. And also favor places where there are lakes or snow so that there is no worry of having to carry a lot of water for your dog. Finally, remember to travel as light as possible, especially if you are leaving for several days!
Musher and Sophie: “A small clarification before you start: the mountain is a playground that requires you to be in good shape; for you and for your dog. Choose a route that suits both of your abilities to be sure not to put yourself in danger. You should also know that in the mountains, the weather can deteriorate very quickly. Even if the weather is very nice at the start, you may encounter a thunderstorm or snow at altitude. You have to be prepared and well equipped. It is a demanding but beautiful and magical environment!”
-
If like Aya and Marion you want to try this Too W'ouf activity with your dog, I advise you to read the article “My dog also has his hiking bag!“I went on a trek, a multi-day hike, with Musher. So I tested two bags of packs for dogs, very useful when hiking with your furry ball!
You now have all the cards in hand for test the bivouac with your dog. Here is Aya and Marion's Instagram account: @gervasimarion in which you will find magnificent pictures of their bivouac experience.
Remember to come and share your bivouac experiences with us below in the comments of the article if you have already done so 🙂