Utah~Strut Your Mutt~May 19, 2007

[wolf_Q]

Jill~I hope you can come, and your friend is welcome too!

Craig~I'm sure Frankie will be fine sleeping in a tent. I'm glad its at least an easy (but long) drive...staying on the same freeway, hey I think even I could manage that without getting lost...maybe lol.

Kay~I think camping in the same campground is a great idea!

As for the campground, well I'm working on that. I think American Fork Canyon is the best choice, I haven't actually camped there in years, but it is one of the only places in the mountains that will possibly be open for camping in May. There really is not camping (with dogs) in the Salt Lake City area, this is around 40 minutes away, close to where I live.

Granite Flat would be my first choice in that canyon, but it is unlikely it will be open on those dates. The canyon is open year round up to Tibblefork, but past that it closes depending on the amount of snow. So I think Little Mill would be the best choice...if its open, Utah.com shows open date May 15 but the ranger station says it all just depends on snow. Now I've been trying to find out about reservations, reserveusa.com is showing it booked up until September..and I did not believe that, so I called them. They told me that you can't even reserve until May 24th for that particular area. There are first come first serve sites too, no groups sites. So I think the best idea would be to just try and get a spot in that campground, I'll admit I have not camped in May, but I can't imagine it being extremely busy until later in the summer.

If the canyon campgrounds are not available, there are campgrounds in the valley, everyone will be able to find a place to camp I'm sure. It may be in a city area not wilderness, but its still a place to camp. There are some pet-friendly hotels also as a back-up plan. Sorry for the long campground explanation.

[wolf_Q]

Just an open question for anyone thinking of coming and camping: What sort of amenities do you require? Is a flushing toilet and a shower a necessity? Or are you ok with a pit toilet and water? Lol.

[Vela]

I can't make it to the Strut your Mutt, Soda won't be 4 months yet by then and that's the cutoff, but I'd love to meet up with you guys outside of that and bring Cracker and Soda. (Ginger doesn't love other dog overly well so she would stay home). So when you guys get some things firmed up shoot me a PM so perhaps I can meet up with you all. I don't really want to go camping just yet, still kinda wet and muddy and I'm a weenie, but I'd love to spend a day visiting.

[Kfamr]

I would be more than happy to meet you, Cracker, and Soda, somewhere!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Just an open question for anyone thinking of coming and camping: What sort of amenities do you require? Is a flushing toilet and a shower a necessity? Or are you ok with a pit toilet and water? Lol.

Geez, sorry it took me so long to post a response! I would personally prefer that there is a shower somewhere in the campground- it doesn't have to be right next to the campsite, I can use an outhouse...but since I will likely be camping the whole time, I would like to be able to take a shower at least once!

[wolf_Q]

Vela, definitely, I would love to meet you, Cracker, and Soda. I was thinking maybe you could meet us at Sugarhouse park after Strut your Mutt (I think it usually ends around 12:00 pm), we could all have a picnic or something. If that won't work I'm sure we can figure out another time/place to meet.

Jill (and everyone else) I don't think we can really camp in the mountains, I only know of one place in the mountains that possibly has showers and its not very close. There are a couple of KOAs, I've checked out the one close to me (there's one in SLC too, looking into that one but I read they don't allow dogs so I'll have to see) it is in the valley, in the city of Provo. The one I looked at is not the best, there's a trailer park on one side of it, but a nice grassy park on the other side. It's a very small campground, but they do have bathrooms/showers and they are open year round. There is also a trail to walk on by the provo river with access from the campground. See more here http://www.koa.com/where/ut/44108/ I emailed them a while ago, but they haven't responded, I'll try calling.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

KOAs are usually pretty nice. I checked out their site, though, and their cabins are only $15 more than tent sites...I'd probably wimp out and go with a cabin (I'm sure Marta wouldn't mind, she prefers a bed any day)! I've stayed in KOA cabins before, they are usually pretty decent- although it doesn't look like they have WIFI at this one... (Am I a wimp, or what?)

[Vela]

Yeah that sounds great, to meet up in the park and have a picnic. Would be nice to get to see everyone.

[wolf_Q]

There's only one cabin at this KOA...possibly two. So I'd definitely recommend a reservation if we're camping there. I've stayed in KOA cabins at Glacier NP and they were nice.

Vela have you been to Sugarhouse park? It's a big park, but I'm sure we could figure out a place to meet...maybe by the pond or something.

I'm going to pre-register and start a dog pack (hoping that there will be at least 5 people as required). What do you guys want as our dog pack name? I was just going to put Pet Talk Dogs but if you all want something different let me know...