As we rolled up to the parking area, I shivered a little bit. I have this habit of leaving my house in sandals – we are in California after all. My toes were already cringing with the anticipation of the freezing temperatures. The sun hadn’t hit the small valley we parked in yet and I could see ice crystals on the tree branches. I put my truck into park and Astro, my dog, pawed at the door. He knew we were on an adventure the moment I turned down this road. I released the beast and he barreled out of the truck to mark his territory on all the faded yellow snow from a winter filled with adventurous souls and their pups rolling through.