by Tom Ryan
First published 2011
Tom Ryan faces a mission that seems impossible for someone afraid of heights and carrying extra weight. The middle-aged journalist decides to honor his friend who died of cancer by climbing New Hampshire's forty-eight four-thousand-foot mountains twice during winter. His companion is Atticus M. Finch, a miniature schnauzer who proves far braver than his size suggests. The pair ventures into frozen wilderness, covering hundreds of miles through snow and ice while raising charity funds. Each peak tests Ryan's physical limits and forces him to confront his fears. The dangerous winter landscape becomes both obstacle and teacher. Through months of grueling climbs, the bond between man and dog deepens into something that transcends ordinary friendship. Ryan discovers that his small canine partner possesses wisdom and courage that transforms how he sees the world around him.
Genres: nature, animals, adventure, dogs, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, man-and-dog
Setting: New Hampshire
Period: Winter
304 pages · Kindle Edition · William Morrow