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Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship
| Title | Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship |
| Writer | |
| Date | 2025-07-11 19:29:05 |
| Type | |
| Link | Listen Read |
Desciption
After a close friend died of cancer, middle-aged, overweight, acrophobic newspaperman Tom Ryan decided to pay tribute to her in a most unorthodox manner. Ryan and his friend, miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch, would attempt to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s four-thousand-foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity. It was an adventure of a lifetime, leading them across hundreds of miles and deep into an enchanting but dangerous winter wonderland. At the heart of the amazing journey was the extraordinary relationship they shared, one that blurred the line between man and dog.Following Atticus is an unforgettable true saga of adventure, friendship, and the unlikeliest of family, as one remarkable animal opens the eyes and heart of a tough-as-nails newspaperman to the world’s beauty and its possibilities
Review
5★I have not written reviews of books I read prior to joining GR. In this case I wish to make an exception, although it's more of a homage.My husband and I read this one out loud together over morning coffee. It is still one of the best human-reinventing-his-life-with-his-dog books I have ever read. I continued to follow Tom and Atticus' adventures through their blog and Facebook page. Anyone who loves dogs (especially miniature schnauzers), hiking, or heartwarming, life affirming adventures would love this story. Not long ago just prior to setting out on another trip, Atticus, the dog, fell seriously ill with a stroke. While seeing to his care, Tom, the human, was unexpectedly hospitalized with a heart attack and complete loss of kidney function. Recently his kidneys, again unexpectedly, returned to full function and he was released and reunited with his beloved companion. A few days ago a picture of the two of them taking a gentle walk in the woods was posted.Today it was announced that Tom held Atticus for the last time this evening as his vet put an end to the suffering. Apparently he had a brain tumor. The doctor said it was clear he waited for Tom to return home so they could share one more week together and say goodbye.If I live long enough, I will have to go through this scenario myself at least three more times. Like Atticus, my dogs have had the best life possible. The problem is, it's just not long enough. Thank you Tom for sharing your love and adventures with us. I wish you physical and emotional healing.“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” Will Rogers
