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 害羞草研究所� this time looking for her dog害羞草研究所檚 remains.
But then her cell phone rang. The voice on the line asked, 害羞草研究所淎re you missing a dog?害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所� a large Ikea shopping bag 害羞草研究所� they had in their pack.
害羞草研究所淚 put the dog in the rope bag,害羞草研究所� explained Smith. 害羞草研究所淧retty much it was just us, inching this dog up by climbing a bit, inching the dog up. With Hannah holding the rope, I害羞草研究所檇 climb up a bit up more, then push the dog up.害羞草研究所�
As they were climbing, the dog害羞草研究所檚 nails pierced through the bag.
害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� added Smith.
The climb is a fully-bolted eight-pitch sport route, and Smith said they were tied in and safe, so he wasn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檚 collar that was badly worn, and then discovering the dog害羞草研究所檚 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.
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害羞草研究所淚f the rain hadn害羞草研究所檛 been coming and we missed our chance, I don害羞草研究所檛 think we would have found a live dog,害羞草研究所� said Smith.
When they finally reached the top, Balahura was there waiting for them.
害羞草研究所淚 was able to be there when they pulled her over the edge,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 was sobbing.
害羞草研究所淭hey totally saved her life. The way she looks now 害羞草研究所� I can害羞草研究所檛 imagine how much longer she could have lasted up there.害羞草研究所�
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
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