Every dog had its day at the first annual Dog Day at Mt. Hood Adventure
Skibowl.

During the Sept. 26 event, dogs did just what they like to do best — get
muddy, walk on the trails, sniff, slobber, visit with other dogs, or just snooze
away the day on a blanket.

Monica Cory, media manager of Skibowl — a self-professed dog lover — came
up with the idea of a Dog Day at Mt. Hood Adventure Skibowl as she loves to
walk her own dogs along the trails. She thought that if more people knew
about it they would take advantage of it too, so she approached Kirk Hanna,
the owner of Skibowl, about her plan and he said, “Let’s do it.”

Her idea clicked and it was decided to hold Dog Days the last weekend in
September and to tie this into a benefit at the same time.

“It seemed fitting to benefit Guide Dogs for the Blind,” Cory said. “Skibowl is a
perfect place for this event with its 40 miles of trails and the accessibility and
services. People can also come up anytime they want and take a trail hike
with their dogs.”

The event featured a fun run/walk with a choose-your-own-pace stroll from a
1-mile, 2-mile or 4-plus mile course along the trails, with dog-friendly vendors
selling everything from leashes to treats, a “best pet trick contest,” a raffle
and lastly, a hose down for muddy paws.

Steve Rose, a volunteer with Guide Dogs for the Blind and also a member of
PAWS, traveled from Milwaukie with two black labs.

“Jalina is a guide dog, and Maizie was a guide dog and has recently gone
through a career change,” Rose said. “She is now a therapy dog and animal
companion. We are now raising our third guide dog puppy.”

Hilari Kolstad, of Brightwood, and an employee at Skibowl, registered dogs
and handlers under the tent. Her assistant, Cali, a huge brown mastiff,
appeared totally unruffled by the comings and goings preferring to take her
day easy, reserving her energy to sniff the occasional passing golden
retriever.

Delilah, a Yorkshire terrier, appeared overwhelmed by the excitement and
opted to stay wrapped in her blanket while Jackie Catto, with Fido’s City Guide
and one of the vendors at the event, helped clients.

But for Tabatha, a sleepy five-month-old puppy in guide dog training, it was
all a bit — yawn — exhausting.

Oregon Guide Dogs for the Blind, which has a campus in Boring, provides 350
guide dogs free-of-charge to visually impaired people each year. For more
information about guide dogs, visit their Web site at:
www.guidedogs.org.