Doghiker - (Excelsior Editions) by Alan Via (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A comprehensive guidebook for dog owners that includes seventy-seven great hikes from the Adirondacks through the Catskills.

Much more than a guidebook showing readers great places to hike with their canine companions in upstate New York, Doghiker is a dog owner's operating manual and tool kit. A lifelong dog owner, Alan Via makes a strong case for responsible ownership and offers guidance on selecting a canine hiking companion, training, safety, appropriate gear, canine first aid, and keeping your dog fit and healthy. Covering the Adirondacks through the Catskills, and areas in between, this unique guidebook includes seventy-seven beautiful hikes that are great for dogs. Each hike has a custom topographic map showing parking areas, trails, viewpoints, water sources, and other points of interest. Included are a peak-finder map and chart showing every hike and a summary of rating categories, as well as information on total mileage, elevation gain, ratings for views, difficulty level, dog safety and hazards, hiker traffic, trail conditions, and whether a leash is suggested or required. Detailed driving directions for each outing, including GPS coordinates for key intersections and trailheads, are also provided. By presenting all of this information, drawn from Via's forty-plus years of hike leadership, readers can easily evaluate which hike fits their needs and get outside and explore the great outdoors with their four-legged friends.

Review Quotes

"...what makes this guide unique is the author's love for his canine comrades. He doesn't see himself as Toby's owner; they're companions." -- Adirondac

"...a phenomenal addition to any trail dog's bookshelf." -- Adirondack Daily Enterprise

"This is now one of my all-time favorite books ... Even people who have no dog will love all the information packed in this well-written and informative book ... It is clearly a love letter to hiking and especially to dogs." -- Jack Rightmyer, Albany Times Union

"...this one looks like another great buy for the local books collection." -- Woodstock Times

"Whether you hike with a dog or without, Doghiker is a must-have guidebook that will provide all the information you need to choose the right dog hike and help you enjoy the great outdoors." -- Catskill Canister

"Via's book should find a comfortable niche with Capital Region hikers." -- Albany Times Union

About the Author

Alan Via is an author and outdoor enthusiast who lives in New York's Capital Region. An experienced hiker, he has owned, trained, and hiked with dogs since childhood. He is the author of The Catskill 67: A Hiker's Guide to the Catskill 100 Highest Peaks under 3500′.