Shelby and I have just released the second printing of "Best Hikes with Dogs: North Carolina," the 2010 edition published by The Mountaineers Books of Seattle. Our first printing was in 2007.

The cover is still the same, graced by Shelby's cute little face. In person (or in dog) she has a few more gray hairs, but she still has just as much spunk as she ever did.

There are just some simple updates — for example, when we first wrote the hiking guide, the tower at the summit of Mount Mitchell (Old Mitchell Trail, Hike #4) was under construction. It is now open, and handicap accessible. It is a shorter, squatter-looking tower, and is not really a tower, but a viewing platform, with a ramp rather than stairs. This makes it accessible to all people — and all dogs.

Good thing, because the hike up to Mount Mitchell — the highest peak in the Eastern United States — is one of my favorites, but my old girl Shelby can no longer climb stairs. Now she and all the other older dogs out there get to sit on top of the world.

Hope you can get outdoors in North Carolina and enjoy the book, and the hikes, with your favorite dogs.