“It’s peaceful up here, I mean, why wouldn’t you want to be up here?”

November 13, 2022 12:24 AM

The Mountain Dogs follows two beloved golden retrievers, Sampson and Baylor, as they climb to the summit of the Pinnacle Trail in Stowe, Vermont each day without their owners.
posted by Johnny Wallflower (26 comments total)

Warning for the room suddenly becoming awfully dusty. That was so pretty and sweet, thanks for sharing.
posted by Mizu at 1:52 AM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

That reminded me so much of my Pippin. "He's leaning on me!"

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful.
posted by Zumbador at 3:05 AM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Very dusty indeed.

Lovely film. Now I need to hug a nice big friendly dog.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:22 AM on November 13, 2022 [3 favorites]

Oh my

This was the perfect way to start Sunday with my gal Pumpkin, who is so very sweet.

We’re going for a walk now
posted by Caxton1476 at 6:05 AM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Oh that got me. Crying into my coffee this morning. Such a lovely documentary. Thank you for sharing!
posted by glaucon at 6:12 AM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

I should go hiking, them dogs know what's up.
posted by PistachioRoux at 7:27 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

That was sweet.
posted by y2karl at 8:28 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Gah, just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this!
posted by lepus at 9:56 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Can attest that they are indeed very lovely mountain companions! We had the good fortune of meeting the pair a few years ago and were so charmed by their story.
posted by greatgefilte at 11:06 AM on November 13, 2022 [7 favorites]

Such good doggos!
posted by Glinn at 11:10 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

If I’d known about this trail (and that view, gosh)and the dogs when we visited Stowe a few years ago we would have definitely gone! Wonderful short, thanks for posting!
posted by bxvr at 11:23 AM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

If you could guarantee me that I'd meet some lovely trail dogs, I'd be far more willing to go walk up a perfectly good mountain.
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:00 PM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

I met s good doggies for the first time about eight years ago and we’ve had several joyful reunions since. It is a treat and a treasure when they share the trail for you. I didn’t see them on my last hike about a year ago so I’m heartened to see they are still making the climb. I’m sure they will as long as they can and I’ll always carry a piece of their joy with me.
posted by meinvt at 2:59 PM on November 13, 2022 [5 favorites]

Definitely a vacation location motivator. "Oh, we wanted to see these dogs..."
posted by rhizome at 3:21 PM on November 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Those are some extremely good dogs.
posted by merriment at 4:02 PM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

This is amazing.
posted by Grandysaur at 4:06 PM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

They need a puppy to train. If only to give the one who doesn't go first a bit of extra time.
posted by tigrrrlily at 4:49 PM on November 13, 2022 [5 favorites]

Coming back to comment again and say this was the nicest part of my day
posted by glaucon at 7:40 PM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

I agree with tigrrrlily - news stories say that Baylor passed back in 2020, so Sampson needs some company on his treks up the hill! (Also apparently Sampson got picked up by some seemingly well meaning strangers and then returned to his family)
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:04 PM on November 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

That was lovely, thank you
posted by pkingdesign at 12:38 AM on November 14, 2022

Aynsley is a great filmmaker. Her most recent film "Turkey Town" is about Turkeys in the urban environment, and was screened not long ago at the local theater. Be on the lookout for that one.
posted by Pliskie at 10:53 AM on November 14, 2022 [4 favorites]

Completely irresponsible
posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 11:25 AM on November 14, 2022

this party was missing a wet blanket
posted by kokaku at 12:33 PM on November 14, 2022 [9 favorites]

Yes it was missing. That's why I added it. As a big fan of both dogs and trails, it's disconcerting to see this conversation not even touch on the topic of responsibility.

To explain myself a bit better, my objections are that this practice is not a scalable use of the public commons. Primarily they are environmental in nature:

• Shitting: 2 dogs on the same trail every day for years adds up. Why should anyone carry baggies on the trail ever if this is so wonderful?
• Digging: it's almost certain these pooches tear up the landscape and disturb wildlife occasionally.
• Dinging: the bells used to protect the dogs from hunters also make hunting deer harder. Deer are an ecological menace in the eastern U.S. and hunting is the best tool we have to manage them.

But there is also the human angle: lots and lots of people are scared of dogs – some of that fear due to racism & oppression. Those people have a right to trail access too.

These dog owners* just seem to be taking more than their share of the resource, even after considering the joy the dogs add to some hikers' experience. This story makes a fun, sweet movie but the the reality is that it's irresponsible to let your dogs run free every day. I think it's important to acknowledge both.

* Owners being their word, not mine
posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 12:24 PM on November 15, 2022

That's a persuasive deontological argument. Fortunately, these two doggos are consequentialists.
posted by tigrrrlily at 2:41 PM on November 15, 2022 [5 favorites]

I'd say these doggos are existentialists and existentialists exercising their radogcal freedom
posted by Cogito at 4:08 PM on November 20, 2022