Following Atticus

Set against the backdrop of New Hampshire's White Mountains, a man and a dog embark on the challenge of a lifetime in this inspirational true story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human and animal spirit. 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 human-animal bond they shared, one that blurred the line between man and dog. Following Atticus is an unforgettable true saga of adventure and an inspirational memoir about 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. This story of an unlikely team taking on an impossible challenge explores:- Overcoming Adversity: How a middle-aged, overweight, and acrophobic newspaperman finds the courage to face his fears on the most dangerous mountains in New England.- An Unlikely Hero: The tale of Atticus, a small miniature schnauzer with a giant heart, who leads his friend through hundreds of miles of treacherous winter terrain.- A Healing Journey: A moving tribute to a lost friend that transforms into a quest for charity, connection, and a new way of seeing the world.- Hiking the White Mountains: A breathtaking trek through an enchanting but perilous winter wonderland, capturing both the beauty and the danger of New Hampshire's highest peaks.

Tom Ryan served as publisher and editor of the Newburyport, Massachusetts, newspaper The Undertoad for more than a decade. In 2007 he sold the newspaper and moved to the White Mountains of New Hampshire with miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch. Over the last five years, Tom and Atticus have climbed more than 450 four-thousand-foot peaks.