BEST HIKES WITH DOGS - GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA

During the winter of 2007, my wife and I finished work on this guidebook published by the Mountaineer's Books out of Seattle, Washington.  The first section offers over 100 pages of tips and tricks for hiking with your hound in the South.  The second section has over 50 hikes in the mountains, flatlands, and coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina.  Here are a few links with more information:

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

One cold November night in the Blood Mountain Wilderness in north Georgia, Steve Goodrich and his wife, Ashley, had to wrap themselves around their yellow lab, Rebel, under one sleeping bag. It was the last time they would fail to anticipate their dog's special needs on the trail. Since then, Rebel and the Goodriches have hiked thousands of miles together in Georgia and South Carolina to select the best dog-friendly, dog-fun, and dog-safe trails in the region.
Most hikes are on lightly traveled trails with few horses, bicycles, or motorized vehicles. Hikes avoid steep, rocky terrain and many offer lakes or streams as rewards. Potential dog hazards such as alligators or snakes are noted in the hike descriptions. Advice on hiking with dogs includes what to pack for your pooch--the Ten Canine Essentials and a doggy first-aid kit. A "Hike Summary" chart in the front of the book indicates trail length, water features, loop hikes, whether "best for fit dogs," and more.

About the Author:  STEVE GOODRICH is founder and president of yourhikes.com. ASHLEY GOODRICH is a marathon runner and outdoor enthusiast. They have hiked extensively in Georgia and South Carolina with Rebel, a yellow lab always on the lookout for a stream, river, or lake to jump in.

Note: OK, the publisher took a little poetic license here.  In truth, Ashley was not on the Blood Mountain hike.  I was actually with The Rooster, The Operator, and Rebel on this trip - but it was really cold and I did have to bear hug the pooch to keep him warm.  Rebel now carries his own sleeping pad and bag and sleeps warmer than I do.  You can read the real story at this link and see some photos:  http://www.yourhikes.com/MemberPages/HikePage.aspx?HikeID=686.  Be sure to pan down and read the trip report at the bottom of this link.