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 sa国际传媒� this time looking for her dogsa国际传媒檚 remains.
But then her cell phone rang. The voice on the line asked, sa国际传媒淎re you missing a dog?sa国际传媒�
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 sa国际传媒� a large Ikea shopping bag sa国际传媒� they had in their pack.
sa国际传媒淚 put the dog in the rope bag,sa国际传媒� explained Smith. sa国际传媒淧retty much it was just us, inching this dog up by climbing a bit, inching the dog up. With Hannah holding the rope, Isa国际传媒檇 climb up a bit up more, then push the dog up.sa国际传媒�
As they were climbing, the dogsa国际传媒檚 nails pierced through the bag.
sa国际传媒淚 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,sa国际传媒� added Smith.
The climb is a fully-bolted eight-pitch sport route, and Smith said they were tied in and safe, so he wasnsa国际传媒檛 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 dogsa国际传媒檚 collar that was badly worn, and then discovering the dogsa国际传媒檚 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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sa国际传媒淚f the rain hadnsa国际传媒檛 been coming and we missed our chance, I donsa国际传媒檛 think we would have found a live dog,sa国际传媒� said Smith.
When they finally reached the top, Balahura was there waiting for them.
sa国际传媒淚 was able to be there when they pulled her over the edge,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 was sobbing.
sa国际传媒淭hey totally saved her life. The way she looks now sa国际传媒� I cansa国际传媒檛 imagine how much longer she could have lasted up there.sa国际传媒�
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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