Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Jackson in the Adirondacks

Jackson, a 9-year-old shepherd mix, has climbed all 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks at least three times.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Tapletop Mountain

Jackson climbs with his owner, Jay Christopher, 38, of Saratoga Springs. Christopher adopted Jackson from an Albany-area rescue about nine years ago.

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Dix Mountain

“I think his first actual hike was in August the first year, when he was about 9 months old,” Christopher said. “I took him up Dix Mountain.”

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Porter Mountain

Christopher was on his way to become a 46er as Jackson began going on more hikes. So Christopher doubled back, re-climbing the same peaks with the dog.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Nippletop

In the end, Jackson became a 46er before his owner.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Wright Peak

One day, Christopher’s brother ended up taking Jackson for a hike. At the last minute, he decided to go up Marcy, the highest peak in the Adirondacks. It was Jackson’s last summit of the 46, made in September 2014.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Seward

When Christopher found out, he wasn’t mad. “I was very happy,” he said. “I was excited for him. We cracked a bottle of champagne. It got me off of the hook. I still wasn’t quite ready to finish what I had started.”

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Iroquois Peak

As much as Christopher hikes, he had a funny feeling about Marcy. He avoided hiking it. He didn’t want his quest of the 46 to end.

So for years, Christopher and Jackson kept hiking in the Adirondacks and kept avoiding Marcy as a team.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Giant Mountain

“We just kind of kept doing them,” Christopher said. “We just do a bunch every season. He’s at over 170 high peaks.”

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Mt. Redfield

Christopher has trained Jackson to obey commands and lead him up and down trails throughout the ADK. Christopher says he abides by park or private landowner rules, staying off certain roads or paths that do not allow dogs.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

I-ya

That means the two have to use some unconventional routes to avoid using Lake Road to get to Dial Mountain; Nippletop, Colvin, Blake and Sawteeth.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Gothics

For most of his time in the woods, Jackson carried his own food and water. He wears a harness, so that Christopher can grab him if needed.

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Mt. Colden

Jackson rarely needs the help. The dog has learned to scramble up Adirondacks-style ladders, Christopher says.

If they come to a straight rock face, Jackson will reach his front paws up and Christopher will push up the dog’s hind quarters until he reaches the top.

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Algonquin Peak

Every so often, when faced with a tough part of the trail, Christopher will find Jackson has already solved the problem and is waiting above and ahead for his human for figure out the route.

“I think he’s done Algonquin and Giant nine times each,” Christopher said.

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At home in Saratoga Springs

When Jackson isn’t hiking peaks, he’s usually just laying around, waiting to go on a hike. He can run in the woods near Christopher’s home. Jackson tolerates visits (and excessive body rubbing) from the neighbor’s cat.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Cascade Mountain

“He’s very mellow,” Christopher said.

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Mt. Donaldson

During the summer of 2015, Christopher took the backpack off Jackson for the last time. The dog grew too weary during a hot day, he said.

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Algonquin Peak

When others might suggest Christopher is pushing the dog too hard, “I would say to come on a hike with us.”

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Hough Peak

Sometime in 2015, Christopher's friend started JacksonsJourneys on Instagram. As of March 2016, the account had about 1,100 followers.

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Basin Mountain

Christopher takes most of the photos, usually with his iPhone or a Sony point-and-shoot. He’s since learned to post the photos himself, and he says he often uses Instragram’s filter options to enhance the photos.

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Courtesy of Jay Christopher

Gray Peak

During the winter of 2016, Christopher and Jackson re-climbed 45 peaks.

“He amazed me throughout the winter,” Christopher said. “He’s getting stronger”

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Mount Colden

Christopher put Musher’s Secret on Jackson’s paws. It’s a salve, like Vaseline, that protects sled dogs from the ice and snow.

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Mt. Emmons

It works, and Jackson enjoys the winter climbs. In the photos, the dog is often squinting because he’s looking into the sun or the wind, Christopher said.

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Mt. Marshall

“At any given point, I’m willing to turn around,” Christopher said. “I was never going to risk something just to get a peak. No peak is worth trying to get across a river or freezing.”

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Saddleback Mountain

The duo never had to turn around. And Jackson’s never had any close calls on the trail, Christopher said. The dog knows his own limits.

“I can’t even tire him out now.”

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Mt. Marcy

Finally, this March, Christopher decided he was ready. He and Jackson, together, went up Mount Marcy on March 12, 2016.

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Mt. Marcy

They did it again a couple of weeks later – ensuring that Jackson was a 46er three times over.

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Mount Skylight

“He’s part Sherpa and part wolf,” Christopher says, only partly joking. “I don’t go without him.”

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Rebecca Nichols

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Great spring hikes in the Adirondacks.

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