Great article.  I took a yellow Lab down to John at Hammond's homestead where John  was working in 1977.  He named it York after the man who helped guide the Lewis & Clark expedition. York was a faithful and selfless companion for many years. 
I was the "victim" of one of John's "hikes" on that trip. He grabbed a small day pack and asked if I wanted to go for a walk. He suggested I take some water and perhaps a couple piece of extra clothing. I assumed a rain jacket was what he meant. After about an hour of climbing west I asked where we were heading. He said " twin Lakes" which was where Dick Proenneke built his cabin. It was over a mountain range and maybe 30 miles away. I was not about to make that "hike" and turned back. He kept on going but said for me to
stay right of the creek and I would get back to the homestead. Quite a man.