LOCALadk Magazine

60 Fall 2020 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Anyone who knows Alan Via is aware of his two great passions: hiking in the mountains and love for his dog. He's brought the enthusiasm for both to his new Doghiker hiking guide. Following the success of his first book, The Catskill 67, Alan devoted years of research and hundreds of investigator y journeys into the Ad- irondacks, Catskills, and beyond to document the best hikes for canines and their owners. Doghiker, Great Hikes with Dogs is the result of his meticulous labors—but they were all labors of love. As Alan says in the foreward, "You'll quickly realize Doghiker is not the typical trail- head-to-destination hiking guide. I've tried to put myself in your boots (and paws), pointing out terrain features and those of the surround- ing forest." The guide does much more than that. Alan "walks" potential dog owners through the se- lection process with factual data and personal experience that will help guide them to their new best friend. The section devoted to train- ing provides helpful tips that will keep your four-legged partner both safe and healthy. I've hiked many times with Mr. Via and Toby and am always amazed at how well-behaved and recep- tive to verbal commands Alan's beautiful Labra- dor is. Doghiker's first-aid and safeguarding segments offer insights on handling ever ything from snake and porcupine encounters to field splinting. The main attraction for me, however, is the wealth of in- formation Alan brings to Doghiker about where to hike. No amount of dog training can substitute for "location, location, location." Bringing your pup to a popular summit or hiking hotspot can bring less than satisf ying and sometimes dan- gerous results. Vehicle traffic, unattended children, or just plain crowded conditions make for a bad day for all. Alan's vast travels through the Adirondacks and Catskills have giv- en him a keen awareness of where those off-the-beaten-path gems are to be found. Fancy a trip to a remote body of water? Check out the chap- ter on Clear Pond and the Chain Lakes on the Hamilton/Essex County line (Adirondacks). How about a Catskill summit with sweeping views? Read of Alan's descriptive Plattekill journey in western Delaware County. If a theater overlooking the Adirondack High Peaks is on your horizon, then let Doghiker lead you to Hopkins Mountain. All these treks—and 74 more, for a total of 77—are summarized in the unique Via style of painstaking accuracy and humerous and heartwarming nar- ration. This guide gave me a few surprises, too. I hadn't been to Thunder Mountain in Washington County, a town park near Greenwich where dogs can swim and hikers can enjoy a wide variety of wildflowers. The views from Cook Mountain, near Lake George, are also on my bucket list after reading Doghik- er. Alan also gave me a different perspective of the Catskill Scenic Trail, leading (or being led by) Toby, hoofing this pic- turesque bike path rather than pedaling. The gorgeous color photography enhances the hiking summations—providing that you-are-there feeling—as you follow Alan and Toby's journeys to the mountains and for- ests. Liz Cruz's cartograpy is an exceptional aid in seeing just where these hikes lead through the topographic levels with easy-to-read maps. GPS locations pinpoint how to get to the adventures that await you and your puppy-partner. What comes through loud and clear from Doghiker, above all else, is the love the author feels for his canine companion. It's what makes this guide so enjoyable to read and valuable as, dare I say, another "bible" for outdoor enthusiasts and dog owners. You see, Mr. Via doesn't see himself as Toby's owner; Alan and Toby are companions. Little else needs to be said to recommend this book as a must-have addition to your librar y. The Bookshelf By James Hopson

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