In Memoriam

In Memoriam
Hoppy the dog
(September 4, 1995 - August 10, 2012)

Many hikers have a companion with them when they hike. Some are human and some are pets, i.e., dogs. (I have never seen anyone hike with a cat!). My main hiking companion has been been my female Jack Russell Terrier, Hoppy. She was a troublemaker at home, but a great hiking partner. That is until she became too old to keep pace with me, which was when she was 13.Well, she declined steadily after that and very recently had to be put to sleep at very nearly 17. At the end she suffered from Canine Cognitive Disorder, and a number of age related problems that limited her mobility and severely degraded her quality of life. The very painful decision was made to end her life. So that her life can be fully celebrated, this post is dedicated to her memory. I have included some photos I took on our hikes and a few hiking/backpacking stories related to her adventures.

on the AT (MA)

Start of Bucktail Path (PA)

Bee Tree Trail Near West Rim Trail (PA)

Near Giant Mt (Adirondacks)

Midstate Trail (PA)

I took Hoppy on a few backpacking trips. Once, we were on the Black Forest Trail and after a long day she was content to sit with me by the campfire (she usually wouldn't sit still for any reason!). Or on one of two overnights on the Northville-Placid Trail she decided to get in my sleeping bag during the night (she didn't like it when I moved though). On the other overnight, we were trying to cross part of a beaver pond on a log. Problem was the log was floating. We were not able to stay upright and both of us ended up in the water (I was in almost to my waist). Hoppy was frantically trying to stay afloat so I picked her up and put her back on dry land. Although I was very wet I couldn't help but laugh at her (she had never before been in a pool of water like that) valiant attempt to get out.

 We did a number of day hikes in the Adirondacks, where she was always cautious on the bog bridges or where we came to an open area. One time on an overnight trip, on a trail near Giant Mt, I slipped and fell crossing a stream (wet rocks) and she just turned her head back to look at me as if to say "get up and lets keep going". That same trip, she sniffed at the mice while I was trying to sleep at the lean-to and occasionally barked when they wouldn't come out to play. I always had her on leash as she would love to follow the smells wherever they led. Sometimes she needed to be coaxed away from a particularly interesting find. On my hike back down from the summit of Noonmark (Adirondacks) I had to let go of the leash just for a second so I could climb down from some rocks. She decided right then to take off after something she smelled or heard. I tried to give chase, but soon I could not see or hear her. As I stood there wondering what to do next and worrying she would get caught by her leash and be trapped I heard her collar jingling not 10 feet away. She was looking for me. Needless to say she was never allowed to do that again! She was always excited about a hike when we got to the trailhead, but was dog-tired (pun intended) at the end (she got to rest on the ride home while I drove).

Her company, especially on the trail, will always be missed. And now, she belongs to the ages.


Hoppy, may your memory in those lives you touched never be dimmed.

Below, the last resting spots for her remains, in the woods and on the trails we both enjoyed.

Rest in peace old friend.