Dogged Days on the Florida Trail: Hiking the Florida Trail with a Blind Dog

by Kyle Rohrig

Embark on a uniquely epic adventure hiking 1,100 miles across the state of Florida with Kyle and his dog, Katana! Join them once again as they take you along for every step confronting the swamps, mud, gators, snakes, insect hordes, insufferable humidity - and more miles wading through deep and dark waters than can fill your nightmares. You've never seen a hike like this before, and if you think you have, there's a twist... Katana is completely blind. So, lace up, buckle up, grab your bug spray, and put your water wings on. The Florida Trail awaits...

Genres: Travel

289 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2020

Reviews

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and grueling an adventure--I could cry! He endures and survives the most hideous of conditions--think Florida, think swamps--mushy, buggy, wet; sticky mud and unbearable humidity. But also think southern states and walking a trail that sometimes takes automobile roads as part of the route. Americans, especially in the southeast IMHO, are intolerant of pedestrians taking up space on their precious highways. A few drivers will move over for pedestrians, if they can; some try to scare them by near-misses; most never even see them as they blast by.

And the dogs that people let run loose--they're the worst. I've experienced it many times myself, jsut trying to walk through a neighborhood on the sidewalk or in the street. A few dogs come up just to be friendly, but way too many are aggressive and may even bite a person passing by. I've had dogs run up and bite at my ankles while I'm jogging down a public street--it sucks.

But he endured all that and wrote an entertaining travel story about it all, plus some of his own and his dog's history that made the whole thing an absolute delight! Loved it!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After following his blog during the FT hike,(and Kyle's other hikes) reading this book was like reminiscing with an old friend. Reading about the "familiar" events in the book brought out much more detail. I love the fact that Kyle doesn't "sugar coat" the trials and hardships on the trail. The great, good, bad and the ugly are all told in truthful accounts. His determination to reach his goal and his devotion to Katana are inspiring. Celebrating with CatFox over her accomplishments was an integral part of the story. If you love reading about adventure, are at all interested in doing through hikes on some of the major trails, or just like to "tag along" vicariously through his stories, I highly recommend reading Kyle's books. You won't be disappointed.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed Kyle and Katana for some time.

I once suggested to Kyle to tell this trail through Catfoxes eyes. I think it would have been quite the story. But he told it as he always tells it. Wonderfully. It has taken a while to read this, and I'm glad I did. I have hiked these trails through Kyle's eyes. I will never get to do one of these thru hikes, but hopefully will get to do a bit of the AT before I pass. I hope Katana is still alive and well and tearing up the trails. Kyle is a great steward of the trails and of his beloved Little Dog. (I used to post on WP under the handle of TopDog)

[Lisa T. Ungerer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg what a trail

Kyle and Katana hike the length of Florida, to instill confidence in the little dog who has gone blind. But the trail is such a mess, between swamps, storms, gators, snakes, highways, and trucks, that even though I knew starting the book that they made it home, it was stressful just reading the tale. Kyle has gotten to be a good story teller. If you read any of his other books you know there are always a couple of oh no moments, and this book has them too. Highly recommended.

[Barbara Finazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was very good. The author has the ability to make you feel like you're walking right along with him. I also enjoyed the way he described the various sections of the trail. I'm not a hiker and never will be, but that didn't make a difference as far as the enjoyment I got from the story.

[Susan Bisbing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doggwmed days on the Florida trail

I absolutely loved this book along with your others. Know your affection for snakes and i am deathly afraid of them. Keep up the adventure and telling the stories.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kyle, his blind dog Katana and another hiker are walking the Florida Trail south to north. Katana is learning to hike after losing her eyes to glaucoma. Kyle carries Katana on his shoulders through dangerous sections of the trail such as alligator alley, thigh high swamp water and roadwalking.

[Paul Barstow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Florida Trail Odyssey

I have read all of Kyle’s books and have enjoyed them all. Katana to me is a real person and I value her friendship.

[Arlys Veen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great, the good, the bad, etc! Think Florida, heat, humidity, BUGS, and a little bling dog that can do anything. I loved this book except for the weather. I’m too old for this

[Benjamin Varner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Kyle's other two books, the journey continues (and I look forward to his CDT book).

I stated in "Lost on the Appalachian Trail" that Kyle writes in a manner that you feel the accomplishments and triumphs as well as the struggles and aches as you team with Kyle and Katana.
I just had the passing of my dog a couple months before this book (she had a great life with me and my family and was involved in most pivotal moments in my adult life. From the Air Force when I got her as a 6 month old pup, to starting a career, to growing a family after proposing to my wife and multiple kids. My dog was always there.), I started tearing up knowing I had several of the same questions with the beginning of this book with struggles I had with my sweet dog.
It is also great to read the interactions of the thru-hiker community over different trails and seeing names of hikers I'd read in previous books. Thanks to Kyle bringing awareness, and my proximity to the PCT, I now keep an eye out for hikers looking for a lift back to the trail from my town.
I highly suggest reading his books in order, AT, PCT, FT to really grasp the love Kyle shares with his readers about the hikes and Katana herself.

[Staci Calder]

Needs an editor

I've enjoyed all of Kyle's other books. In this one... i often, found myself...distracted by, the unnecessay, commas, and general....need.... for basic editing.
The stories are enjoyable and I enjoyed following Katana's growth throughout the book. A little bit of editing would go a long way to making it more readable.

[Darryl Updegrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. May be the best one I've read about hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail.