Treen started her life as Josey on a path to become a service dog with Canine Companions for Independence. She was raised locally and then traveled to "college" in California. Life as a service dog wasn't quite right so she returned and became a Moosefish named "Treen."

Those early days were probably a rude awakening for her. She was a slight, respectful, well trained two year old puppy suddenly thrust into a life of constant adventure in the mountains and chaos at home.

Tokul was 11 when Treen joined our family. Having a young dog in the house breathed life back into her old bones and it extended her life.

Unlike Tokul's gradual introduction to the mountains that paralleled my own, Treen didn't get to warm up. A day after she officially joined our family she was climbing Mailbox.

From those early days to a week before she passed, Treen had 524 adventures. Some were short like a quick after work walk to Fishy Rock and others were not so mellow. In the end she racked up almost 2,500 miles and over a million feet of elevation gain. She transformed from a sleek adolescent puppy to a thick-furred mountain dog.

She never met a dog that she didn't like and became such good friends with some of my hiking buddies they would take her hiking even when I couldn't.

Her battle with cancer began in 2016 when I found a lump on her leg. It was removed and we thought she was in the clear. She showed no symptoms except an insatiable thirst beginning in the spring of this year. A month ago she collapsed on Snoqualmie Mountain. I carried her down and she spent a night at the vet. She seemed to recover, but an ultrasound found masses on her spleen and liver.

Without knowing how much time she had left we decided accelerate our plans to add a puppy to the family. Treen welcomed Tinkham into our family with patience and tolerance. She helped Tink adjust to a life without her littermates.

Her last adventure was Tink's first. We did a short walk into the mountains to find snow and visit Tinkham's namesake. Treen was in her element one last time. She rolled in the snow and showed Tink how much fun winter could be. It was good to see Treen so happy again.

I will forever see her standing on the summit of a mountain watching the sun set. Roll in the snow to your heart's content, sweet Treen. I can't wait to hike with you again.

(Many more pictures in Treen's gallery.)