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 B次元官网网址� this time looking for her dogB次元官网网址檚 remains.
But then her cell phone rang. The voice on the line asked, B次元官网网址淎re you missing a dog?B次元官网网址�
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 B次元官网网址� a large Ikea shopping bag B次元官网网址� they had in their pack.
B次元官网网址淚 put the dog in the rope bag,B次元官网网址� explained Smith. B次元官网网址淧retty much it was just us, inching this dog up by climbing a bit, inching the dog up. With Hannah holding the rope, IB次元官网网址檇 climb up a bit up more, then push the dog up.B次元官网网址�
As they were climbing, the dogB次元官网网址檚 nails pierced through the bag.
B次元官网网址淚 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,B次元官网网址� added Smith.
The climb is a fully-bolted eight-pitch sport route, and Smith said they were tied in and safe, so he wasnB次元官网网址檛 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 dogB次元官网网址檚 collar that was badly worn, and then discovering the dogB次元官网网址檚 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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B次元官网网址淚f the rain hadnB次元官网网址檛 been coming and we missed our chance, I donB次元官网网址檛 think we would have found a live dog,B次元官网网址� said Smith.
When they finally reached the top, Balahura was there waiting for them.
B次元官网网址淚 was able to be there when they pulled her over the edge,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 was sobbing.
B次元官网网址淭hey totally saved her life. The way she looks now B次元官网网址� I canB次元官网网址檛 imagine how much longer she could have lasted up there.B次元官网网址�
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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