Marvin prancing along the ledges on Welch Mountain
Marvin and I were originally planning to hike to the summit of Mt. Moosilauke on Sunday, December 4, 2011. However, one of us got a later than intended start, so we opted to amend our one mountain plan for a little shorter hike to the summit of two mountains via the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail. This is an incredibly scenic 4.5 mile loop trail to the summit of Mt Welch (2,605 ft.) and continuing on the to top of Mt. Dickey (2,734 ft.).
Marvin skillfully squeezing through a tight spot
Marvin did not appear to mind the change in hiking plans one bit. In fact, Marvin does not seem to be bothered by much of anything. He loved the car ride from his foster home in Southern New Hampshire to the trail head located off Orris Road in Thornton, New Hampshire. Marvin is sweet, friendly and extremely photogenic. This approximately 8-month old Golden retriever/German shepherd mix would be the ideal companion for an active family in search of a kind canine to enrich their home life.
Muddy paws pausing on the trail for a photo opp
For such a young dog who was most recently running free as a stray in West Virginia prior to ending up in an overcrowded animal shelter, Marvin did extremely well on his leash throughout our entire hike. While dogs hiking with Foster Dog Summit are not allowed off leash during our travels, many dogs do become excellent off leash hikers by responding well to voice commands and staying on the trails just ahead of their human companions. This is a behavior that is learned over time, however, and not something that I can risk with a dog I just met.
Taking in the views from top of Welch Mountain
Marvin was extremely responsive to my requests to stop and wait and even to turn for the camera. He seemed to enjoy posing for the photos, and there were several opportunities for him to show off his stunning good looks along the trail and at the summits of each mountain. Since the rocky ledges on both peaks were wet and icy in many spots, I was extremely grateful for Marvin's mindful leash manners. He was also very polite with all of the people and the one dog that we had the opportunity to meet on the trail. Everyone wished Marvin well and promised to share his adventure with their friends and family in the hopes that he would find a home in time for the holidays!
Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. is the rescue group who coordinates Marvin's foster home and adoption process. If you cannot adopt or foster a dog in your own home, please consider making a contribution this holiday season to assist in the costs of transporting and caring for a dog in need of rescue. To learn more about Marvin, please visit his profile on Petfinder.com.
A short video clip of Marvin's hike along the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail is also provided below. See you on the trails!
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