A Castlegar family is rejoicing after their dog who had been missing for more than three weeks was rescued by rock climbers.
Marissa Balahura had given up hope that her dog, Stellar, would be found alive.
Almost every day, Balahura or one of her friends or family members hiked up the Brilliant Overlook Trail near Castlegar looking for the 10-year-old pointer cross, since she had gotten lost on March 10 during a hike the family frequently makes.
On April 2, she trekked up the trail one more time 含羞草研究社� this time looking for her dog含羞草研究社檚 remains.
But then her cell phone rang. The voice on the line asked, 含羞草研究社淎re you missing a dog?含羞草研究社�
The call was coming from a pair of rock climbers on a cliff known as the Brilliant Bluffs Megawatt Route in the area where Stellar had gone missing. They had discovered her stranded on a rock ledge about 200 metres above the ground and about 40 metres down from the top of the cliff.
Jared Smith and Hannah Stephan were surprised when they came across a dog towards the end of their climb.
Smith first tried to cradle the dog in his arms while making his way up, but Stellar was nervous and he was afraid she might try to wriggle free.
Stephan then came up with the idea of trying to put the dog in their rope bag 含羞草研究社� a large Ikea shopping bag 含羞草研究社� they had in their pack.
含羞草研究社淚 put the dog in the rope bag,含羞草研究社� explained Smith. 含羞草研究社淧retty much it was just us, inching this dog up by climbing a bit, inching the dog up. With Hannah holding the rope, I含羞草研究社檇 climb up a bit up more, then push the dog up.含羞草研究社�
As they were climbing, the dog含羞草研究社檚 nails pierced through the bag.
含羞草研究社淚 was scared the bag was going to rip open, so I pretty much supported the bag with one arm while trying to climb up with the other one,含羞草研究社� added Smith.
The climb is a fully-bolted eight-pitch sport route, and Smith said they were tied in and safe, so he wasn含羞草研究社檛 too nervous about falling.
He was amazed by the stroke of luck that put them in the same place as the dog, being able to read the phone number on the dog含羞草研究社檚 collar that was badly worn, and then discovering the dog含羞草研究社檚 owner was already nearby.
The pair had also originally planned their climb for later in the week, but a look at the weather forecast moved their plans forward.
RELATED:
含羞草研究社淚f the rain hadn含羞草研究社檛 been coming and we missed our chance, I don含羞草研究社檛 think we would have found a live dog,含羞草研究社� said Smith.
When they finally reached the top, Balahura was there waiting for them.
含羞草研究社淚 was able to be there when they pulled her over the edge,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 was sobbing.
含羞草研究社淭hey totally saved her life. The way she looks now 含羞草研究社� I can含羞草研究社檛 imagine how much longer she could have lasted up there.含羞草研究社�
A vet confirmed that other than being emaciated and covered with ticks, Stellar was okay.
Balahura is looking forward to the day when her constant companion can once again join her hiking, trail running, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
Like us on and follow us on
