The Dog Who Took Me Up a Mountain

How Emme the Australian Terrier Changed My Life When I Needed It Most

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Pub Date 08 Oct 2019 | Archive Date 09 Sep 2021
HCI Books, Health Communications Inc

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Description

The uplifting story of two unlikely mountaineers: a man in late middle age and a fearless pint-sized pup who, together, scale Colorado's highest peaks.

By the time life had finished hitting Rick Crandall from all sides, he was at the lowest point of his life, both personally and professionally. Depressed to find himself facing a mid-late-life age crisis and watching his finances crumble as the tech industry bubble burst, he hopes his future isn't headed downhill. It was at this critical juncture in their new marriage that his wife Pamela made an astute and life-changing suggestion: "Let's get a dog."

So begins the story of Emme, a 200-pound Saint Bernard trapped in the body of 5-pound Australian terrier puppy. Soon, Emme and Rick hit the hiking trails around Aspen, Colorado. While she is groomed to be a show dog, it's soon obvious that her heart is in the hills and with Rick, who decides to add more challenging hikes to the mix. Before long, they are scaling Colorado's "fourteeners," peaks with altitudes of over 14,000 feet. On one magical day, Emme climbs to the top of four "fourteeners," a quarter of the sixteen such peaks she will complete during her life without once being carried on a trail or on the rocks on the way to a summit.

In mountaineering Rick realizes he has found—in his late sixties—his life's new passion. This is where Emme has led him—out of the abyss and to the top of the mountain. She was never really walking behind: she was nudging him along until he found his stride. Even after Rick understood the glory of climbing, it was Emme still doing the leading, until Rick learned how to lead himself.

The uplifting story of two unlikely mountaineers: a man in late middle age and a fearless pint-sized pup who, together, scale Colorado's highest peaks.

By the time life had finished hitting Rick...


A Note From the Publisher

The uplifting story of two unlikely mountaineers: a man in late middle age and a fearless pint-sized pup who, together, scale Colorado's highest peaks.
Over 300,000 people each year attempt to climb a Colorado "fourteener," one of the state's 53 mountain peaks with summit altitudes of 14,000 feet or higher Emme, an Australian terrier and the central character in this book, climbed 16 such mountains—four of them on one 12-hour expedition.

The uplifting story of two unlikely mountaineers: a man in late middle age and a fearless pint-sized pup who, together, scale Colorado's highest peaks.
Over 300,000 people each year attempt to...


Advance Praise

“An amazing journey. Congratulations. Your feat dwarfs others.” - —John Hickenlooper, former Colorado governor

“I am hugely impressed by your ascents of the fourteeners and your approach to the book—never too late to find a new passion in life.”  -- —Sir Chris Bonington, legendary mountaineer, author, lecturer, and still climbing in his 80s

“An amazing journey. Congratulations. Your feat dwarfs others.” - —John Hickenlooper, former Colorado governor

“I am hugely impressed by your ascents of the fourteeners and your approach to the...


Marketing Plan

*Targeted marketing to the hundreds of Facebook pages dedicated specifically to mountain climbing.

*Author has hired a top tier book publicity firm to initiate the book's social media and traditional media presence prior to publication dovetailing with publisher's promotional efforts.

*As a corporate executive, board representative, topic expert, and inspirational speaker, author is a public speaker, and has delivered over 1,000 speeches, presented to audiences as large as 2,000 attendees.

*Promotion to author's extensive business and personal networks—Facebook page, LinkedIn network, corporate connections, personal website, blog posts, relationship with the governor of Colorado.

* Rick's wife Pamela Levy, founded and manages Australian Terrier International (ATI) and is the editor of the Australian Terrier International Newsletter (www.australianterrierinternational.org), which will feature the book. Promotion via author's website, www.rickcrandallbooks.com.  Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper, a close friend of the author, will support the book as it showcases Colorado as a destination.

*Targeted marketing to the hundreds of Facebook pages dedicated specifically to mountain climbing.

*Author has hired a top tier book publicity firm to initiate the book's social media and traditional...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780757322686
PRICE $15.95 (USD)
PAGES 232

Available on NetGalley

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Average rating from 32 members


Featured Reviews

This was an inspiring book. I loved how the dog had such an impact on his life. The ending was a bit abrupt. Im glad he didn't dwell on his decline and death. But I would have liked more on how he soldiered on without emme and how it was different. I loved how much personality emme had. I also loved the description of how gorgeous Colorado is

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This is the breezy story of Emme the Australian Terrier and her hiking adventures with her human Rick, a veteran of the tech industry who feels a bit adrift after the industry bubble burst. Rick finds Emme at a critical time in his life, and she helps him find new passion in hiking Colorado's series of "fourteeners" (14,000 FT mountains).

Emme, a champion show dog, is full of personality: 20 LBS at most but the boss of everyone and the unquestioned alpha. Crandall's warm (and nearly unbelievable) recollections of her taking charge of bears, other dogs, and bulls are humorous, and her impact on his life is inspiring. While the narrative can be a bit repetitive at times and the ending is a bit abrupt, this is a solid 3.5 from me (rounded up for Emme).

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to HCI Books.**

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This was a really fun story about the author, and his dog Emme a small Australian terrier who both fell in love with mountain climbing.
The author was at a turning point in his life, at the lowest he had ever been, and his work life crumbling, he was in need of a change.
His wife suggested getting a dog, and they ended up with a fearless puppy, who at first was being groomed to be a show dog. After having tasted the outdoors and the freedom it gave here Emme wanted nothing to do with Dog shows, and instead she and Rick started hiking when ever possible, and aiming to climb all of Colorado's "fourteeners, mountains with an elevation of 14,000 or higher.
The story was so fun to see how owner and dog, had such a close relationship, how they knew what the other needed or wanted.
So many great stories of the adventures they took through out the years and what it took to get them there.
My only regret was not being able to see the photos that accompanied the story. I would like to thank NetGalley and HCI books for the ARC of this book.

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This is a wonderful story of a man and the love he had in the small package of
his dog, Emme an Australian terrier! It is such a good book of their time together
in the gorgeous mountains. I did cry at the end, these little guys aren't with
us long enough, but their memories remain for life. It is a very good book!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, the writers and the Publisher for giving me the chance
to enjoy this book!

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Delightful memoir of a man and his Australian terrier and their love of hiking Colorado's high peaks. This book hit several high notes for me--a great location, a pastime I love, and a dog with personality. Highly enjoyable for dog lovers. My only complaint is that I read the advanced reader's copy on my Kindle, and the photos were not included.

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All dogs are special, some are a little more so. All of us who have shared our lives with dogs have made an extra strong connection to a dog and Emme was that dog for Crandall. Emme sounds like a wonderful little dog and I love that she encouraged her human to get out and move more regardless of his age. I've been learning more about movement and the impact it has on our bodies. Dogs are wonderful for encouraging us to move more. I know my two little guys won't let me slack off. It's hard to say no to such exuberance! Emme was certainly an intelligent dog and I enjoyed getting to know her through Crandall's stories. Yes, it's sad in the end. Dogs never live as long as we'd like, but it's always worth sharing our lives with them and letting them teach us to enjoy life more fully. I did notice a bit of repetition in the writing, but it didn't take away much from my overall enjoyment.

Thank you to HCI Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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What a sweet story of a dog and her owner. I think every dog lover could relate to parts of this story. A man and his dog. The dog seems to understand the man. Such a cool way to bond with a dog. Loved the book.

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A funny, charming, heartfelt memoir of a man and the tiny dog who became his climbing companion. Reading Rick Crandall's book is like having a friend tell you a really great story, with lots of asides and tangents. He and Emme certainly had many adventures together. Don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting an Australian terrier after reading this book!

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A wonderful and touching book about the bond between a man and his dog. Once again we learn how wonderful dogs are and how they can improve our health and save our lives in so many ways. This book reminded me of another book called FOLLOWING ATTICUS. If you love dogs and want to better yourself, read this book for inspiration.

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Wonderful Memoir of Man and Dog
This is a warm and wonderful memoir about a man and his dog. Remarkably, the author has not fallen into the pitfalls of making the story about him or other people. This book is all about his dog and what she was to him. His love for this rascal of a terrier is evident on every page as she leads him through a section of life that can be very difficult. She helps him find new passions and a more true version of the meaning of life. Anyone who has ever deeply loved a dog is going to connect with this book. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

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This is a wonderful book about the special bond between Emme, an Australian Terrier and her human, Rick Crandall. In his fifties and burnt out with his job, Crandall picks up his life and moves from Ann Arbor, MI to Aspen, CO. He remarries and his new wife promptly tells him she wants to get a dog. After much research, Emme is brought into their lives. With her strong personality and alpha-female attitude, she helps Crandall tackle hiking Colorado's mountains, including several 14-ers. If you love heartwarming dog stories, pick this one up!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a heartwarming story of the relationship between a man and his beloved dog. I very much enjoyed the latter part of this book that focused on the hiking as Emme and I aren't real interested in the primping if dog shows that was the focus of the first part.
As a dog lover and fan of mountain hiking, I enjoyed this book

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