Thinking Spring with Petey on Pack Monadnock

Petey making his way on the snow covered trail.

Winter got a late start this year in New Hampshire, and it seems determined to stick around long after it has worn out its welcome.  The skiing conditions have been wonderful, but I am now ready for a change of season.  Last Sunday, I was determined to get a taste of Spring on the trails, so I headed south for Pack Monadnock (2,290 ft.) in the hopes that the trails would be mostly clear of the white stuff yet not too full of the muddy stuff.  What I found instead was much more snow from top to bottom than I had anticipated.  And while that would not otherwise have posed a problem, I also realized at the trailhead that my microspikes were not in the back of the car where I thought I had left them.

Petey questioning my preparedness

Thankfully, my boots have good tread and I was able to choose a route that was mostly in the sun.  So, my hiking companion Petey and I set out for the top of Pack Monadnock via an out and back 2.8 mile trip along the Marion Davis Trail.  While the trail was well packed and mostly slushy and not icy, the spikes would have made for a quicker descent.  Of course, I did not have to worry about Petey pulling on a leash or otherwise complicating our hike in any way.  So, we did not mind taking our time and carefully watching our steps along the way on such a beautiful and sunny day. 

Enjoying a sunny, dry section of the trail

We only encountered two other hikers on our way to the summit.  As I introduced my companion with, "This is Petey," the first hiker replied, "So am I, and so is he."  After chatting briefly with the Peters and asking that they share Petey's blog post with family and friends, we continued to the top of Pack Monadnock where we met with a few other hikers.  Petey kindly made the acquaintance of more hikers and posed for several photos.  He is a perfect gentleman in every way.

At the summit of Pack Monadnock

Found wandering as a stray in West Virginia last year, Petey made his way to New Hampshire late last fall and has been wintering in a foster home while waiting patiently for a family to adopt him.  Peter's early grey muzzle makes him appear older than his estimated six years of age, but he hikes like a dog half his age.  In addition to his distinguished appearance, Petey is completely friendly with everyone he encounters, including humans, canines and felines of all ages and sizes.  They say that 10 is the new 5 in dog ages, so the family who welcomes Petey into their home will have many happy, rewarding years of companionship ahead of them.

Smiling for the camera and the new friends he met!

You can learn more about Petey, share him with family and friends, and submit an application for adoption here on his Petfinder profile page. A full album of photos from Petey's hike to the top of Pack Monadnock is available online here at the Foster Dog Summit facebook page.  To support the efforts of Petey's rescue group with a contribution or to inquire about fostering a dog, please visit Canine Guardians for Life, Inc.

See you on the trails!

Carley Seeks Second Home on Sandwich Dome

Carley at 10 months of age hiking on Bald Knob

When I first hiked with Carley on Turtleback Mountain back in January, the 10-month old Labrador retriever/terrier mix was pending adoption to a new family along with her sister Juney.  Unfortunately for Carley, the family quickly determined that they were better situated to adopt only one dog, and they opted for her sibling Juney.  Shortly thereafter, Carley was adopted into a new home where she resided for the last eight months before being returned due to changes in family circumstances that were beyond her control. 

While I felt sorry for the many bumps on the road that Carley had experienced en route to a permanent home, I was not at all disappointed to be hiking with her again recently on Sandwich Mountain (3,980 ft.) during Labor Day weekend.



Carley at 18 months on the Sandwich Mountain Trail

Rescue groups do their best to ensure a perfect match for each of the dogs with a thorough application process, but there are instances when an initial placement is not a good fit and the dog needs to go to a different home.  The reasons for a dog needing to be put back up for adoption are varied.  The dog may not get along with other pets in the household or a family's situation may have changed to the extent that their schedule or income can no longer support a pet in the household. 

Crossing the brook

When I began Foster Dog Summit and wanted to devote my volunteer efforts to hiking with and blogging about dogs in need of a second chance, I sought assurance from the rescue groups that all dogs who were placed for adoption would receive adequate follow up and, if necessary, would be replaced into second or even third homes if an initial adoption does not succeed.  I did not want any hikers to be placed for adoption and then possibly be surrendered to an animal shelter because the rescue group was not able to handle a second placement for them.  Both Almost Home Rescue of Maine and Canine Guardians for Life, Inc. are very reputable rescue groups who stand by their commitment that a dog can be returned and will be placed into a home that is a better fit.

When I arrived to pick up Carley for our second hike to the top of Sandwich Mountain, I was thrilled to learn that another family had already made an application to adopt her into their home.  I was not at all surprised that Carley would find another home so quickly.  She was as kind and gentle as she had been during our first hike eight months earlier.  With a rainy start to our steep climb up the Sandwich Mountain Trail, I was more than a little grateful for Carley's careful pace and skillful leash manners. 

 

The view from Noon Peak

As we made our way to the summit, the sun began steadily peeking through the treetops, and I had high hopes for some wonderful views en route to the top of Sandwich Dome.  Carley and I enjoyed a peaceful water break at Noon Peak where the suddenly brighter weather provided a spectacular backdrop for photos.  And since Carley seemed to be enjoying the views as well, I chose to photograph the ledge from her perspective.

We met Sam the Puggle on Jennings Peak

As we continued our trek along the Sandwich Mountain Trail, we did not encounter any other hikers until we reached the top of Jennings Peak where several hikers and a few dogs were enjoying the early afternoon sunshine and discussing the various routes they had traveled along Sandwich Mountain that morning.  Carley was very respectful of her fellow canine hikers, and we were delighted to make the acquaintance of Sam the Puggle.

Meet and greet with Tilly

A bit further up the trail as we made our way down from Jennings Peak and towards the summit, Carley and I had the opportunity to meet Tilly and her hiking companion who insisted on taking a group photo that we promised to share.  The hikers and I are always grateful for volunteer photographers when we meet on the trails.

Carley at the summit of Sandwich Mountain

After experiencing a thankfully dry climb to the summit and taking in so many sunny views, we did not spend too much time at the summit as the clouds started to roll in overhead.  We snapped a few photos and chatted with some hikers at the top of the mountain before making our descent down the Drakes Brook Trail.

Carley looking beautiful on the descent

While my posts from the trail usually conclude with a request that readers visit and share a dog's Petfinder.com profile, I am happy to report that Carley's pending application for adoption was approved!  She has been happily residing with her new family for several days now, and they are very excited to have her in their home.  We do invite you to view her online photo album here.

See you on the trails!

A Hike for Dogs of All Ages

Fifteen going on two and still tackling the trails!

With recent visits from out of town guests and a trip to Boston over the past few weekends, there has been little time available for hiking.  While the majority of trips with Foster Dog Summit take an entire day to complete, especially when factoring in driving distance and trail time, there are a number of shorter hikes with rewarding views much closer to home in the Lakes Region.

Umbry taking in the views over Lake Wicwas from
Crockett's Ledge

One of my favorite local spots is the Hamlin-Eames-Smyth Recreation and Conservation Area located in Meredith, New Hampshire.  This network of trails features a variety of short hikes of very moderate difficulty with several interesting ponds and wonderful ledge views overlooking Lake Wicwas and Lake Winnisquam.

Neely and Bandit at the summit of Cannon in 2009

Most importantly, the trails are still within the range of hiking ability for my 15-year old soul mutt - a German shepherd/Labrador mix named Bandit and his 14-year old canine sibling Neely who is also a mixture of German shepherd and who knows what other breeds.  They have traveled many miles with me over the years and were still climbing 4,000 footers up until a few years ago.

While I had hoped that both dogs would be able to join foster dog Umbry on this recent adventure, Neely's osteoarthritis has been acting up recently so she can travel only on short daily walks around the neighborhood for now.

The hiking duo!

Umbry, Bandit and I enjoyed an early afternoon walk along the 2.7 Crockett's Ledge loop trail.  We encountered only one other hiker at the beginning of the trail.  She and her two canine companions were just concluding their trip.  After the dogs barked a boisterous hello to one another, the trails were peacefully quiet for the remainder of the trek. 

Thankfully, Bandit and Umbry are getting along even better than I had expected.  I had reservations about taking a foster dog into my home because I feared that Bandit would not be accepting of a newcomer.  I am overwhelmingly surprised by and grateful for how readily Bandit has welcomed Umbry and has adjusted to his significantly higher activity level.  It seems as though Bandit understands that he needs to cut the foster dog a break since he does not have a home to call his own.


Bandit and I strategize about foster dog Umbry

Bandit and I are confident that Umbry will find his forever home soon, but we are also enjoying the time that we get to spend together.  The fostering experience has offered many rewards, and taking temporary care of Umbry has had very few challenges.  He is fully housetrained and quickly responds to voice corrections such as "Down", "Leave it" and "No".



Cat manners 101

Umbry is still learning to get along with my cat, but his chasing is playful, and she is able to convincingly stand her ground.  At this point, Umbry would do best without cats or with cats who are very skilled in handling dogs.  I also feel that Umbry's energy level is best suited for active adults and older children.  He is a wonderful walking and hiking companion, and he also politely and calmly settles into and simply hangs out in his dog bed when requested to do so. 

If you or one of your friends or family members is interested in learning more about this sweet, smart and playful Terrier mix, please inquire further with Almost Home Rescue of Maine.

Quina Hikes with the Big Dogs on Mt. Kearsarge

Quina on the summit of Mt. Kearsarge

On Sunday, May 27, 2012, Quina and I enjoyed a spectacular day traveling to the summit of Mt. Kearsarge (2,937 ft.) located in Wilmot, New Hampshire.  The 2.8 mile round trip was ideally suited for this young terrier mix who recently arrived from an overcrowded shelter in Arkansas thanks to the life saving, volunteer efforts of Almost Home Rescue of Maine.

Quina may be only six months old, but she has proven that she can hike with the big dogs.  Quina has spent approximately five weeks in her current foster home where she has quickly become well socialized with the 7-year old child and four dogs who share her temporary living quarters.  

Meet and greet with Bailey and her family

Her foster family indicated that Quina has not had much experience with walking on a leash or riding in a car, so I was extremely impressed with her leash manners and with how quickly she settled in for the ride to Winslow State Park.  Having previously hiked Mt. Kearsarge with former foster dog hiker Bertie, I elected to take a reverse route to the summit by traveling up the longer Barlow Trail and descending via the shorter, steeper Winslow Trail.  The holiday weekend brought many human and canine hikers to the trails, so Quina and I had plenty of opportunities for meeting and greeting.  She was consistently friendly and occasionally yet understandably a bit cautious with the people she encountered.

Climbing high on the Barlow Trail

Quina happily accepted a number of welcoming compliments from fellow hikers such as, "Oh - look what a cute dog!"  She was equally excited about pats on the head from people of all ages.  Two young girls, ages 4 and 6, spent several minutes talking to and petting Quina at the summit as we took a break from photos and enjoyed the views.  The young girls' father was amazed at how calmly Quina accepted the attention by sitting patiently while the sisters took turns patting her head and talking excitedly about their hopes of having a dog of their own in the future.

Hiking with the big dogs - literally!

If you or someone you know is looking to add a canine member to your family, sweet Quina would be a wonderful addition.  You can view a full album of photos from Quina's hike.  Additional information and an application for adoption are available on her profile at Petfinder.com

Jamis Jingles to Mt. Shaw Summit

Jamis ready to hit the trail!

Winter has been slow to arrive this year in New Hampshire.  It was beginning to look a little like Christmas as Jamis and I set out on our hike early in the morning on Sunday, December 18th to the top of Mt. Shaw (2,990 ft.) - the highest peak in the Ossipee Mountains.  This handsome Labrador retriever/Great Dane mix weighing nearly 90 pounds certainly had the energy to keep himself warm on a chilly day.  The temperature was only 15 degrees when we arrived at the trailhead, but Jamis was ready to face the cold and start hiking.

Taking in the views

In the interest of taking pictures, I do allow the dogs with Foster Dog Summit to take the lead and travel ahead of me.  While I do my best to continue reinforcing good leash manners, a 90-pound dog hiking in front of you does resemble more of a towline at times.  With Jamis, however, I knew that his occasional pulling was equal parts enthusiasm for a walk in the snowy woods combined with his sheer size and strength.  He did respond well to my requests to wait and slow down while we charged our way to the top of Mt. Shaw with scenic stops at Tate Mountain and Black Snout en route. 

Looking handsome in his holiday collar

We did not encounter any fellow hikers on the trail until we were approaching the lookout at Black Snout.  Despite having hiked several miles alone, Jamis was curious yet accepting of the hikers as they approached.  We spoke briefly with one other person on the summit of Mt. Shaw who commented how handsome Jamis looked in his holiday collar complete with jingle bells.  

For a dog with roots in warmer climates, Jamis quickly discovered the excitement of making fresh tracks in the snow and the importance of getting a good claw grip on black ice.  He will easily adapt to four season living here in New England.

Hiking and fishing in December!

Most of all, Jamis really just wanted to continue following the scents of the trail.  I think he would have preferred completing the entire 7.7 mile loop without taking a break for photos or even water.  Of course, the Labarador in Jamis could not resist wading and splashing in the streams.

As we neared the end of the our journey, I wished that I had time to hike even longer with Jamis on this day.  I was equally happy to have his company in the car where he quickly settled in for the ride home and took a nap.

Jamis is currently residing in foster care with a family who volunteers with Almost Home Rescue of Maine.  His foster family reports that Jamis is a true gentle giant who loves to snuggle with kids. 

Jamis would be thrilled to have a new start in a new home for the new year.  Jamis was previously adopted from an animal shelter in 2010, but his family very reluctantly had to surrender him when their living situation unexpectedly changed.  Please help Jamis keep his New Year's resolution by sharing his trip report and complete photo album and visiting his online profile at Petfinder.com.

Happy Holidays!  See you on the trails.

Maribel Marches to Mt. Tecumseh Summit

Maribel at the summit of Mt. Tecumseh

Okay, so perhaps marching is a bit of an exaggeration for this lovely yet lanky Labrador/Weimaraner mixed breed who recently arrived from an overcrowded animal shelter in Arkansas.  Ten month old Maribel was found wandering as as stray on the fairway of a local country club.  So, while we knew Maribel was capable of walking eighteen holes, we wanted to see if she would be equally interested in hiking four thousand feet.

Sure, I'll try a munchkin

Our adventure to the top of Mt. Tecumseh (4,003 ft.) began with a stop at Dunkin' Donuts where Maribel graciously accepted the offer of a complimentary munchkin to fuel her way to the summit.  Maribel was extremely well behaved in the car though she did need a little bit of a boost to get in the backseat since she is still getting familiar with how to jump into a car.  Thereafter, she was perfectly content with her car ride and had no problem jumping out and hitting the trail.

To be fair, Maribel is far more spectacular and sweet than my amateur photography skills may convey.  Pointing and shooting with my right hand on the camera and my left hand on the leash does not always produce the most centered, focused or appropriately lighted shots.  Photographing a dog that is nearly all black while hiking along the trail can be especially difficult.  Sometimes, I am disappointed when a photo that I had high hopes for turns out to be blurred when later downloaded from the camera after a hike.

Taking a flying leap

Then there are times when I am surprised by a candid moment that I did not realize I had captured.  Such was the case with one of the first photos I snapped as Maribel faced crossing a stream on the Mt. Tecumseh Trail.  After hesitating briefly and seemingly aware of how cold the water would be if she did not hit each stepping stone, Maribel nearly took to the skies in an attempt to keep her feet dry.  Thereafter, Maribel confidently trekked across the streams, up rocks, around trees and over ice. 

Maribel, Roxy and Tucker

I was expecting a 10-month old dog to have fewer leash manners and to be a bit rambunctious when meeting and greeting people on the trail.  Maribel was completely the opposite.  She walked rather calmly on her leash, and she approached both human and fellow canine hikers on the trail very politely.  When two high energy hiking hounds named Roxy and Tucker came galloping up the trail during our descent, Maribel greeted them with a quiet enthusiasm and seemed ready to accompany them for a second trip to the summit.

Hoping for a home for the holidays!

Overall, Maribel fully enjoyed her hike and was especially curious of the snow which she sniffed and accumulated around her chin for the majority of the trip.  If you are interested in adopting Maribel or know someone who is looking for a canine companion, you can learn more on her Petfinder.com adoption profile here.  Maribel is currently residing in a foster home in New Hampshire with a volunteer from Almost Home Rescue.

A full album of photos from Maribel's hiking adventure is also available for viewing.  See you on the trails!

Take Two for Tipper on Indian Head

Tipper at the summit of Mt. Pemigewasset (Indian Head)

Watching Tipper tackle the trail on Mt. Pemigewasset (2,557 ft.) on a beautiful autumn day was especially rewarding as I recalled that this sweet six-year old Labrador mix recently spent four years living at an animal shelter.  Tipper relished her time in the woods and displayed an increased level of comfort and confidence over our first hike to the top of Red Hill in early September.  
 
Since my time was limited for hiking this weekend, we chose the approximately three mile out and back trek along the Mt. Pemigewasset trail where Tipper and I could enjoy spectacular views from the ledges several hundred feet above Franconia Notch.  On a perfectly clear day without a cloud in the sky, our journey did not disappoint. 

Tipper at the start of the Pemigewasset Trail

Tipper was eager to get started on a hike that included several stops for photos, a few stream crossings, and the opportunity to meet many new people and a few dogs as well.  She calmly greeted fellow hikers and was especially fond of meeting fellow canine climbers Bella, Scarlet, Barclay and Mike.

Tipper meets Scarlet and Barclay at the summit

Since Tipper and I got a relatively early start, we encountered only a few other hikers until we reached the summit.  Our final steps to the summit can be viewed on this short video clip.  After carefully peering over the ledge from the summit and taking a few photos, Tipper and I made the acquaintance of fellow rescue dogs Scarlet and Barclay who were enjoying the views after having climbed via the Indian Head Trail.  Scarlet and Barclay were both very friendly and proudly modeled their fleece coats while I spoke with their human companions about Tipper and how she was hiking for a home as part of Foster Dog Summit.

Tipper's friend Mike whom she met on the trail

After spending some time enjoying the warm sunshine at the peak, Tipper and I began our descent where we had the opportunity to meet several more hikers.  Everyone was interested in hearing about Tipper's hike for a home and looked forward to sharing her story.  We also met a very enthusiastic cairn terrier named Mike who has climbed several of New Hampshire's 4,000 footers and also enjoys accompanying his family on cross country skiing trips in the winter.  Mike was very excited to make Tipper's acquaintance and to have his picture taken.  He was delighted to pose for a few photos while Tipper enjoyed a break from the camera.

Getting ready for the trip home.

Tipper enjoyed every aspect of her second hike from the trip to the trail head to the stroll to the summit.  A complete photo album of Tipper's journey to the top of Mt. Pemigewasset is available online.  

To learn more about Tipper and to make an application for adoption, please visit her profile online at the Almost Home Rescue page on Petfinder.com.   Tipper hopes that the next time she meets you on the trails, she will be able to introduce you to her new family.  Please share Tipper's story and help find her a home.

Sasha Pursues Happiness on Mt. Liberty

Franconia Ridge Trail just below summit of Mt. Liberty

The weather forecast was for mostly cloudy skies on September 25, 2011, but foster dog Sasha and I decided to head for the hills and hope for some clearing by the time we reached the summit of Mt. Liberty (4,459 ft.) in the middle of the afternoon.  This wonderful, approximately 5-year old, 55-pound Doberman Pinscher/hound mix was perfect company for the 8.0 mile out and back round trip along the Whitehouse, Liberty Springs and Franconia Ridge Trails.  Our gamble paid off, and we enjoyed magnificent weather throughout the entire hike and were greeted with fantastic 360 degree views of fall foliage from the summit of Mt Liberty. 

More photos for Sasha's adoption portfolio

Sasha, who is known for her calm, quiet demeanor, can be a bit shy when meeting people for the first time.  Her initial shyness disappeared quickly as we became instant friends in the car while Sasha enjoyed a few dog biscuits and settled in for the journey to the trailhead.  Since Sasha currently resides in a foster home with two other dogs, I was excited for the opportunity to photograph her interactions with fellow canine hikers. 

Always grateful for volunteer photographers at the summit

Unfortunately, it appears as though the other dogs must have believed that cloudy weather forecast and scheduled their hikes for another day.  While we did not encounter any other dogs on our climb, we did meet a number of very helpful and friendly human hikers who were more than happy to learn about Sasha and the other rescue dogs who have recently participated in Foster Dog Summit.  We were extremely grateful for their assistance with photographs, and we enjoyed hearing about their various routes to the summit of Mt. Liberty that day as well as the many other peaks they have climbed throughout New Hampshire and beyond.

Climbing at a calm, steady pace on the ascent

I explained how grateful I was to have Sasha along for a journey that had a number of slick spots on the trail thanks to several days of steady rainfall.  Sasha was excellent on her leash and always careful to never pull ahead and knock me off balance.  She kept an especially cautious pace on the way down the mountain and frequently stopped and looked back at me as if to seek approval.  While many hikers gain a level of trust and voice command with their own dogs to allow them to walk off lead, I cannot take such risks with dogs that I have just met.  Foster Dog Summit hikers are on a leash the entire way.  While some of the most energetic dogs have had to walk behind me on the descent in order to ensure my safety; I was very comfortable allowing Sasha to be a few steps ahead of me for the entire hike.

It's official - I'm a rock star!

Sasha proudly collected numerous pictures which will become part of her adoption portfolio with Almost Home Rescue, and she invites you to view and share her online photo album and other details with anyone who may be interested in a adopting a dog into their family.  Sasha's life in a foster home with people who care for her and other dogs to socialize with is far better than the one she had residing in an overcrowded animal shelter. 

Now, Sasha is in pursuit of the ultimate happiness, and we hope that the story of her climb to the top of Mt. Liberty will help find her a permanent home!  To learn more about Sasha, please visit Almost Home Rescue and see additional details on her profile online at Petfinder.com.

Four Paws Four Thousand Feet for a Home

Bowie at the summit of Mt. Osceola

Bowie may weigh only thirty pounds, but please don't let his size deceive you.  His four paws are capable of climbing with the big dogs.  This adventurous Golden retriever/spaniel mix reached the summit of Mt. Osceola (4,340 ft.) on September 11, 2011.

Ready to tackle the Mt. Osceola Trail

Bowie and I ascended via the Mt. Osceola trail for a round trip out and back hike of 6.4 miles.  Bowie proved very capable of  climbing over or finding a quick way around any obstacles he encountered along the way.  A few times along the route, I would be ready to give Bowie a boost, but he had already jumped up and over whatever was in his way!  He was also very welcoming as we crossed paths with other hikers and dogs.  Bowie walked politely on his leash and accommodated my countless requests to take his picture.

Flag on the summit of Mt. Osceola on 9/11/11

Upon reaching the summit of Mt. Osceola, Bowie and I were privileged to be able to see one of the 48 American flags that were being flown on the top of New Hampshire's 4,000 footers in honor of all those who were lost on September 11th.  The flag was brought to the summit by members of the hiking community who were participating in the annual September 11th Memorial Hike.   Accompanying the American flag on its journey were a 9/11 memorial flag and an official flag of the Wounded Warrior Project -  an organization that provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life. To learn more about the September 11th Memorial Hike, visit Flags on the 48 .

Bowie still patiently posing on the descent

After taking photos of this magnificent tribute, Bowie and I overheard a fellow hiker on the summit comment, "Now, that is a perfect sized dog!"  Of course, we took this opportunity to introduce ourselves and explain that he was a foster dog hiking for a home.  We kindly asked if she would share Bowie's information with anyone who may be searching for canine companion. 

A nap for the ride home!

Bowie is currently residing in a foster home made possible by the volunteer network of Canine Guardians for Life, Inc.  He has been a welcomed addition to his foster home where he enjoys the company of three other mixed breed dogs of similar size.  In addition to being an enthusiastic hiker, Bowie is also housebroken and crate trained, and he enjoys the company of people and other dogs. 

Please share Bowie's adventure and  be sure to check out all of the photos from his hike in his Foster Dog Summit photo album.

Tipper Tops Red Hill

Tipper at the Eagle Cliff viewpoint

Tipper is hoping that her recent hike to the top of Red Hill (2,030 ft.) will be her final journey en route to finding a family to call her own.  This approximately six-year old mixed breed has been on a mission to find a forever family for a long time.  The first two years of life for this friendly Labrador/rottweiler are a bit of a mystery, but we do know that Tipper resided in a shelter for the past four years.  A few months ago, Tipper was fortunate to find her way to Almost Home Rescue and their caring network of volunteer foster families who provide temporary homes for dogs waiting to be adopted. 

Tipper and I on the summit of Red Hill

With so many years spent in a kennel, Tipper needed to catch up on her outdoor time, and a scenic hike to the top of Red Hill located in Moultonborough and Sandwich, New Hampshire seemed an ideal place for her to start.  Tipper was a bit shy when I first met her, but she quickly warmed up to me and my friend Karen who accompanied us on our 4.3 mile hike.  With the benefit of two cars to park at separate trailheads, we elected to ascend via the Eagle Cliff trail and descend using the Red Hill trail.  While the Eagle Cliff trail is a longer and more challenging route to the summit, the views from along the cliffs are worth the extra effort.

Uprooted trees were no match for Tipper

Tipper politely led the way and climbed over boulders and trees as if such hikes were part of her daily routine.  Several trees that were recently blown down by the force of Hurricane Irene were no match for Tipper's hopping ability.  She easily found her way up and over or around such obstacles.  Tipper also did not let her initial shyness prevent her from interacting with people and pets along the way and during our stay at the summit.  She enjoyed the company of fellow hikers of both the human and canine variety.

Hanging out with some new friends at the summit

While spending time atop Red Hill, Tipper enjoyed a few treats and several drinks of water while interacting with a number of people and dogs.  Of course, she also posed for several more photos while we explained that Tipper was hiking in search of a home as part of Foster Dog Summit and indicated where her adoption application details could be located online.  We were especially interested to hear fellow hikers' stories of their own rescue dogs, and we encouraged them to consider becoming a temporary home for a dog in need of rescue from an overcrowded animal shelter.  They were very polite in allowing Tipper to interact with their canine companions and have photos taken.  Be sure to visit Tipper's online photo album for more pictures of her adventures on the trail. 

Taking a break at the summit with Karen

One hiker remarked that, "Tipper is a perfect medium size dog that many people should consider adopting!"

We completely agree!

Celebrating the end of the hike!

Please visit and share Tipper's page on Petfinder.com and help find a home to call her very own!  If you are interested in supporting a foster dog program or would like to learn more about how to become a foster family for a dog in need visit Almost Home Rescue.  The sooner a homeless dog is provided the opportunity to live in a foster home, the better he or she will become acclimated to a variety of people, pets and situations - all wonderful experiences that prepare a dog to be a lifelong companion!