Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is published by William Morrow. It tells the story of my adventures with Atticus M. Finch, a little dog of some distinction. You can also find our column in the NorthCountry News.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Winter Strategy

In winter it's all about strategy, all about what the mountains and the weather allows you to do. Atticus and I face restrictions other hikers don't. Since he is not what one would consider a "winter" dog, I will not take him above treeline in nasty weather. Other dogs, more suitable for the elements and weighing far more than his 20 lbs, can feel more comfortable in conditions he doesn't so we have to be picky about when we hike above treeline.

Right now there's not a whole heck of a lot of snow up here in New Hampshire, but that doesn't mean conditions are easy. Lots of rain here today will bring us lots of ice and high stream crossings tomorrow. If that weren't bad enough, there's also the high winds that will come rolling in tomorrow.

When the week started the original plan was to hit today with a Bonds traverse. Rain in the forecast altered our plans.

Tomorrow we will hike again, but the question is where to go where the stream crossings and the ice are not as big an issue. Perhaps the only choices for tomorrow are either Tecumseh or Waumbek, neither is sexy but they look to be the best alternatives.

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