The Story of Scotch

A seasoned mountain guide recounts his eight‑year partnership with Scotch, a bright‑eyed collie he rescued as a pup from a Swedish farmer’s flock. From the moment Scotch slipped out of the guide’s coat pocket on a trek across the Continental Divide, the dog’s curiosity and steady temperament win over both man and readers. Their early days are spent in rugged camps, where the young collie quickly learns the rhythms of high‑altitude life, greeting a wary pony and defending a weary cowboy at a firelit night.

Scotch’s first home is an abandoned cabin, where his determination shows in a midnight bark and a daring escape that ends with him curling beneath a saddle, content to guard it. The narrative captures his playful spirit—chasing chipmunks, playing football beside a cabin, and patrolling the timber line—while also hinting at the harsher lessons he learns, such as a painful encounter with a burro that leaves him wary of larger beasts.

Through vivid descriptions and the author’s own photographs, the story offers listeners a window into the quiet heroism of a devoted dog and the breathtaking, untamed Rockies they roam together.