Write up in Littleton Courier by Mike Dickerman about our Winter Quest for a Cure

Mike Dickerman gave some press to our Winter Quest for a Cure in his January 10th hiking column in the Littleton Courier (Littleton, NH). Mr. Dickerman has written his well known and well read column "The Beaten Path" for more than two decades now. In this past Wednesday's column he wrote about three subjects, one of them was our Quest for a Cure. The title of the column this week was, “Record warmth heats up summit, melts meager snow cover”. The rest comes directly from the column with permission from Mike Dickerman.

Winter Quest for a Cure

Count Tom Ryan of Newburyport, Mass., and his miniature Schnauzer, Atticus M. Finch, among the many outdoor recreationists taking full advantage of this year’s mild winter weather.

Ryan and his faithful canine companion are tackling the region’s 4,000-foot mountains this winter with one eye on the trails and the other on helping to find a cure for cancer. “Tom and Atticus: Winter Quest for a Cure” is in its third week with Ryan and his dog hoping to climb all 48 of the White Mountains’ 4,000-footers this winter, while at the same time raising money for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

In this, just Ryan’s second year of winter hiking, he had already reached half of the 4,000-footers on just the 17th day of official winter. His travels thus far had taken him across the remote Bond Range in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, over the Carters and Wildcats near Pinkham Notch, and over the three peaks of the Willey Range near Crawford Notch. Atticus has joined him on most, if not all of the treks, including the 23-mile traverse of the Zealand-Bond Ranges.

For every peak the two reach this winter, Quest for a Cure sponsors are being asked to donate a predesignated amount per summit. There is no minimum or maximum amount, so sponsors may pledge anything from a penny a peak to $100 a summit. Sponsors may also choose to donate a flat fee for the entire winter quest, or sponsor a single mountain.

According to the official website of Quest for a Cure, all proceeds and pledges will go directly to the Jimmy Fund. Travel, lodging and equipment costs for both Tom and Atticus are being picked up by several major corporate sponsors, (including Eastern Mountain Sports and Muttluks of Toronto, Ontario). Hiking enthusiasts and anyone interested in sponsoring the pair are encouraged to visit www.tomandatticus.com for more complete information and for daily updates on their winter adventures in the Whites.