Reflecting on an Adventure Without Maple: Did I Make the Right Call?

“Should I have brought Maple?” That’s the question that keeps coming up in my mind. This past weekend, I went camping with my friend Zainab near Aspen in Independence Pass to catch the vibrant fall leaves. Our plan was to take in as much as we could, which meant some long hikes through stunning but challenging terrain. Physically, I felt confident that I could handle the distance, but I wasn’t so sure about how Maple would fare being out for three, four, or even more hours. So, ultimately, I decided to keep her at home with her Rover sitters.

While this blog is mostly about our shared adventures, not just my solo ones, I’ll say that Maple would likely have done fine on the trails we ended up choosing. What gave me pause, though, was the cold. Temperatures dropped into the high 30s and low 40s at night, which felt harsh. Maple has learned to snuggle into my sleeping bag on cold nights, but knowing we’d face such low temps, I worried it wouldn’t be enough to keep her comfortable. Ideally, I’d like for her to have a setup of her own, so she can stay warm independently.

Then, unexpectedly, our last night brought another surprise: a snow forecast of three inches! We weren’t ready to head home, so we relocated to a familiar campsite in Buena Vista where Maple and I had camped before. It felt like the right move, especially since we got hit with a downpour of rain as soon as we arrived.

As much as I enjoyed the trip, there’s a lingering guilt for not including Maple on this one. I can’t help but think that the struggles, uncertainties, and learning curves of each trip are all part of what makes us better companions to each other. I’m learning that even the challenging moments teach us something valuable about what we can tackle together.

Would you have brought your furry companion on an adventure like this? Or, if you’ve faced similar situations, I’d love to hear your thoughts on balancing caution with the desire to explore. Let me know in the comments!