Jim Ippolito adds:

And these are the reasons why rules, regulations, and laws are in place in the first place. What the $#@#%#$, let's go out and break them all!

Kevin Craig wrote:

And less dreams of glory tempt you into further flouting of regulations and property rights, Sam will not be the first dog to climb all the 14'ers. It's be done before, a lot.

Bill Strand adds:

Congratulations on your dog's 51st 14ner. For your information Rocky Mountain National Park restricts pets to campgrounds, parking lots, and roadways. Please seek proper permission before climbing as reckless disregard for climbing regulations jeopardizes future climbing access for all climbers.

Steve Bremner replies:

I appreciate all of your opinions and respect them. I have asked permission from the Park Service to take Sam up Longs and have been categorically refused every time. No exceptions. This is why I took him at the time of year I did--I did not see a soul all day. I follow the "no trace" philosophy. I only hope that the current administration holds to the minimum standards initiated by Clinton to restrict ATV's, snowmobiles, and other MUCH more destructive apparatuses from our national parks. I kept Sam on leash below timberline. Above timberline there is virtually no wildlife at this time of year. Horses which do much more environmental damage are allowed into the park.

As for Kevin Craig's statement that many dogs have ascended all the 14er's I ask him to name one who has ascended all of them under his/her own power. I have heard of "lap"/"pack" dogs going up for the ride, but none under their own power as Sam has proudly done. Indeed, Sam is not a "dog". He is my compadre and a valued member of my family.

RJ Calliger adds:

Please note before flames get going I said "some regulations".. not all.

Bill!! Lighten up!! Sam the Wolfdog is probably a soulmate; it just looks like a dog.

Some regulations were never meant to be, especially in 2-3 feet of snow and early spring climbing.

The forest service usually has its collective head up its ass on lots of things (burning up Yellowstone and Los Alamos are the two most recent notable gestures on their part). Building bridges over half the Sierra Creeks and streams is another.

What they wont know, in this case, will not hurt them.

Phooey on any FS people listening in....

Kevin Craig adds:

Roger Edrinn's dog Diente. Also see Roach's guide to the 14'ers; he notes that dogs have climbed all the 14'ers. I suspect other list members can provide other examples.

As for your LNT approach... Don't I recall from one of your Little Bear trip reports (across private land as well I believe) that a pair of your jeans is still hanging on a tree somewhere?

Steve Bonowski adds:

Regarding the issue of dogs doing all the 14ers, I believe 14er picture book author Roger Edrinn's dog got up all the 14s except maybe Longs. He got the dog up Capitol by crossing well below the knife edge. He reported his dog got down Little Bear's infamous "bowling alley" in about 30 seconds (the "value" of true four wheel drive ("grin")).