The “Bluff” just west of Spokane’s South Hill is a dog walker’s playground shared with runners, mountain bikers and conversational walkers. The open space extends for several miles along the east slopes of the Latah Creek Valley from Interstate 90 to Hatch Road. The best access is from High Drive which provides several points of entry from the top of the extremely steep slopes. Dozens of trails crisscross the terrain, ranging from single track to retired logging roads. The only 
problem is that the steep hillsides are bone dry and Latah Creek proper is too far away to provide relief to the thirsty canines who roam off-leash with their human companions.
Our dog, Sophie, is coal black and starts lagging with her tongue hanging out after about thirty minutes on a hot day. I could use some water about then as well. My prior solution was to run with two bottles of water, one for me and another for her. There is a bowl shaped rock along the trail about twenty minutes from where I start that I discovered and began to use as a dish. But I hated having both hands full on the steep trail. So, one Saturday in early June I started my run very close to the stone bowl and carried two gallon milk jugs down the hill, filled with water and a message penned on the jugs inviting folks to use and refill them. The next Saturday, I returned and found the jugs empty. Somewhat disappointed, I exchanged them the next day and was then gone for three weeks.
A month later, I started out again on the trail and brought some water for Sophie because I didn’t expect any remaining for her at the stone bowl. One of my original jugs was full and there were three additional jugs with funny notes like, “This water brought to you by Baxter, the ‘Dane.’” Two miles down the trail, I found my missing jug along side two other full ones at a smaller stone bowl.
On my last Bluff run, Sophie and I found ourselves using the stone bowls as a place to meet up with other dogs and humans. Given an opportunity, community is waiting to break out–even in the dust.
–Breean Beggs
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