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Long Haul Trekkers - Jen and Sitka

About Us

Hi there. Nice to meet you!

I’m Jen, the owner, writer, photographer and dog mom behind this blog. You’ll see a variety of dogs referenced in my photos and posts. My current adventure buddy is Sitka, a rescued Red Heeler from Hood River, Oregon.

Long Haul Trekkers was born in 2015 at the start of a two-year bicycle tour across Europe and South America.

In 2011, I attended a sustainable business school program, where I met Dave. Both of us were desperate to find a new way of life beyond the standard nine to five.

One year after graduating, Dave found himself in the same job he’d held for the past seven years and I discovered that even my dream job proved not so dreamy.

After an unsuccessful attempt at a start up business and a two-week venture in Colombia, we began to question the lives we chose.

We had a cute yellow house in a desirable neighborhood in SE Portland, two dogs, two cats, and two chickens, a beautiful garden that provides us with food throughout the summer and fall, and plenty of money to travel and play outside.

Only we couldn’t travel and play outside as we wanted. Our jobs told us where to be and when.

Our Australian Shepherd, Sora saw how work controlled our lives. She wanted to spend more time with us and see the world, so she convinced us to take her on a world bike tour. We thought it sounded like a great idea.

We began our adventure in Oslo, Norway in May 2015 and slowly made our way to Athens in December, via the Balkans and Turkey. In  January 2016, we flew to Ushuaia, in Patagonia, slowly crawling over the Andes toward Colombia.

A few years after that adventure, Dave and I parted ways, but one thing remains the same: If we go, they go. We never leave our dogs behind.

We hope to inspire you to leave your job if you don’t like it, take your dog along on your adventures, and show you that there are different ways to live than the prescribed American Dream.

Meet the Team

Jen

Jen is is a trail runner, mountain explorer, damn good vegan cook, and a fan of craft beer and dessert. She’s also dog mom AF.

Having grown up with cats, she always wanted a dog. To get her fix, she became the neighborhood dog sitter and walker. When she finally had the chance to have a dog of her own, she took that dog with her just about everywhere she went, wondering why anyone would ever leave their dog behind. She is always planning her next dog-friendly adventure.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, she developed a love for the mountains, waterways, and beauty of the region, aiming to explore as much as she can.

Jen is also a freelance journalist and content marketing writer and content creator for brands. If you’d like to work with her, please check out her other site at jensotolongo.com

Sitka

Sitka is a Red Heeler adopted from Hood River Adopt a Dog. He is a sweet boy with plenty of energy and spunk. A fence jumper in his first life, these days, he is learning the ropes of what it takes to be an adventure dog.



Dave Hoch

Dave manages the blog behind the scenes, running the technology and website side of things. He also used to write for the blog on occasion. Dave currently lives in Granada, Spain with his dogs Laila and Riia. He is a web developer and technology consultant for small businesses at DaveHoch.com.

Sora

Sora was the dog who inspired this blog. She was an Australian Shepherd adopted from Family Dogs New Life in Portland, OR in 2008.

She joined Dave and Jen on their two-year bicycle trip across Europe and South America. After a recurring battle with cancer, she went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2018.

Sora traveled to nearly 30 countries on her adventures, graced the cover of a magazine and served as the face of adoption for an animal rights group in Medellin, Colombia.

Sora was the original adventure dog of the pack and inspired this blog. She was Jen’s heart dog and the love of her life.

Laila

Laila is a rescued street dog from Spain. We are pretty sure that she is part hyena, African Wild dog, and a little bit kangaroo. She loves to cuddle, chase lizards, and will eat just about any vegetable you put in front of her.

Riia

Riia is a Border Collie that we acquired from our veterinarian who had to rehome her. She is a funny gal who lives for fetch and loves to run.

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7 comments

I've been sending more snail mail than ever lately, not always for correspondence (hey, government agencies and banks, it's 2020, let's get on board with scanning and email!), but I have this postcard book I purchased by @meganmariemyersart when I was in Bend in December and wanted to mail a couple out. They're stamped and ready to send! . And Sitka asked if he could send two to two of you. . Of course, I couldn't say no! . And since I'm currently obsessed with @officeladiespod (seriously, Office fans, go download, now!), I want to know your favorite scene, line, or episode from The Office. "That's what she said" doesn't count. 😉 . I'll pick two winners at random tomorrow morning. One of my favorite scenes is when Dwight runs a test fire drill, causing panic throughout the office and Angela tosses her cat into the ceiling.
For about four weeks now, Sitka and I have been going on structured walks 2-3 times a day for 20 minutes each. . We have no agenda in mind. There's not route. We go where stimulation allows. Yesterday, we followed the garbage truck up and down the street for 10 of our 20 minutes. Our first week, we'd go maybe half a block because everything was so distracting. . I am blown away by how much progress we've made with these structured walks. We haven't hiked, gone to parks except by car, or run together all month. . So often, we get our dogs and hit the trails before they're ready. I can't wait for that day with Sitka (and you know, when trails open again). . While we're all stuck at home, I encourage you all to step back and work on basics with your dogs! What skills are you working on with your pup right now? . Thanks @roohadymoose for introducing me to the #upnorthphotochallenge3!
Yesterday, I tried out @hergiantlove 's #letthetreatdrop challenge and thought it would be a piece of cake. . Set up photo. Get treat ready. Toss and click. . Not so! It was much more challenging than I had thought it would be! . I started by tossing the treat and that was a bust because I couldn't judge where Sitka would jump to catch the treat. . So then I tried dropping it from above, which worked a lot better, but getting the focus proved tricky as well. . I had a lot of fun and will definitely practice more. I also have a lot more respect for these photos! They're not so easy! . #sponsored by @zukespets #ZukesPack #LiveLifeOfLeash #LetsGoZukes
Apparently yesterday was the first day of spring. My mom mentioned the fact and my dad and I didn't believe her. . ”It's the 21st,” we said. It's always the 21st. "All equinoxes (equini?) fall on the 21st!" . Not so, we learned. . Turns out that mom was right. BUT it hasn't fallen on the 19th since 1896. . I also learned that it hasn't fallen on the 21st since 2007 and won't again until 2101! . Call my mind blown! . Does it feel like spring where you live? It sure does in the PNW. Normally we'd still be under water, but we've had gorgeous weather lately.
At least we can hang out with multiple dogs at once. . It's funny, and also makes sense in a lot of ways, but I've seen more neighbors out and about now than I ever have. . It seems like everyone is out walking, tending to their yards, and enjoying a short break from being inside. . I hope this creates a new habit! I hope it shows people how therapeutic the outdoors can be, whether it's just a walk around the neighborhood or a solo trek in the woods. . Has anyone else noticed more lively neighborhoods lately? . #sponsored by @zukespets #ZukesPack #LiveLifeOffLeash #LetsGoZukes
Several years ago, I had a job I hated. . I'd come home crying nearly every day. I dreaded waking up in the morning. But I was stuck there until I could find something else. . A teacher I had at the time reminded me that that job was temporary. It was not the period in my life. It was a bend in my river of life and I'd be back on a gentle flow in time. . I kept that in mind every.single.day. . It's just temporary. . I'm telling you this story to remind you that this is all temporary. It's going to really suck for an unforseen amount of time. For some, it will really, really suck. . I want to encourage everyone to be cautious, but not to let the fear guide your decisions. . If there are two cans of beans left at the store, leave one for someone else. . Refrain from using language like "stock up now" and "before it's too late." . We must keep our confidence as high as we can and weather this storm together. . And please, please keep showing up. Call your grandparents and your parents. Get outside. Practice yoga. Meditate. Get that project done you've been putting off for months. . And check in here. You guys got me through a very lonely period in my life and I am counting on this community here to keep us going now. . Sending you all a big hug, from well over six feet away.
Let's generate some positivity this morning. . In which ways do you think this virus will have a positive effect on society? What will we learn from this era that will teach us new skills, or change current behaviors for good? . I'll start. . I think we'll learn to live more with less. We can't go out, we're afraid to make purchases, so we'll see that most of what we need, we already have. . I hope this means that we will band together as a community and help those who need it. I'm seeing a lot of offers to help, and that makes my heart feel full and gives me hope. . Your turn.
Mine and Sitka's walks are very different these days. We're under a strict training plan, and while we created a good base before starting with @kindreddogpdx, we're fine tuning the details. . Three times a day, we go out and I set a timer for 20 min and we practice walking. I seek out distractions, like dogs barking from inside homes, people getting out of their cars, cyclists riding down the bike boulevard. We walk back and forth and back and forth like weirdos to acclimate him to the sounds within his threshold. . Sometimes, we walk in a plus sign down two roads. Other times we might make it to the next block. If I want to practice place training and impulse control at a park, then we drive, even if it's just a few blocks away. . I can't be lazy or let anything slide. If I don't want a behavior, I can't allow it to happen. I can't put him in situations where it might happen. For 20 min, 3x per day, he has my full, undivided attention. . Dog training is really, really hard work and it takes dedication. I really admire trainers and those committed to training. It's not easy and it takes a lot of time. I'm very grateful to have the time to spend working with Sitka and I'm hoping that others will find some now that so many are working from home right now. . Do you have a training routine?
Last time we went traveled, I forgot Sitka's bowl by the door. Luckily, he has no problem slurping his food straight from the jar. 🤣 . I love these @onlynaturalpet soups! They're sealed so you can bring them camping and they're filled with real human-grade food. . Use code AFLONGHAUL15 for 15% off your entire order. Link in profile will take you there directly. . What is the most innovative thing you've had to use as a bowl for your dog? I've used poop bags on a number of occasions.
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