Meet Coll, a Miniature American Shepherd—which, despite the name, isn’t a shrunken Aussie. He’s a herding breed in his own right, bred for agility, smarts, and charm, all packed into a more travel-sized pup.

And let’s be honest, Coll needed all three for this session—because we weren’t exactly shooting on flat ground.

We hiked. And climbed. And questioned every life decision that didn’t involve more stair training. I found myself mentally counting steps just to keep moving forward. Two miles up Florida trails at sea level? Easy. Nearly 965 feet of elevation gain in the Scottish Highlands with gear on my back? Whew.

But the moment we reached the summit—with Uath Lochans sparkling below and the Cairngorms glowing in the distance—it was all worth it. Even if my thighs didn’t agree the next morning.

There are four lochs nestled in the basin below, though you can only see three from the summit’s edge. We photographed Coll on a wide, flat boulder that felt equal parts magical and mildly terrifying (that drop? steep). But this dog? Unfazed. He sat tall, steady, and ready—every inch the explorer. Every inch the legend.