A dog and his human hiking up a mountain is a common sight in Colorado. Full of peaks and trails to climb, the state is brimming with hiking opportunities. Avid nature lovers thrill at a chance to climb a super-high peak. Mount Harvard is one of Colorado’s highest at an elevation of 14,421 feet. A climber and his dog, Stuart recently attempted that climb but things quickly took a terrifying turn. But never fear! In the end, the pair found each other and it resulted in a very sweet reunion.
Marshall and Stuart Trek Towards Mount Harvard’s Peak
This was not Marshall’s first hike by far. That’s why he was really surprised when he started to feel sick early into his hike to the peak of Mount Harvard. He recognized the symptoms immediately, even though he found them unusual. He had altitude sickness, which is hallmarked with nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, rapid heart rate, and dizziness. Marshall turned around and headed back down the trail. He knew it was unsafe to continue climbing when he felt that terrible.
From Bad to Worse: Stuart Gets Lost and Marshall Gets Hurt
Marshall was heading down when things went from bad to worse. They came upon a boulder field, which is known to be a dangerous area for hikers. Rocks can come loose and falls can happen pretty easily. Marshall and Stu got separated from each other. “We went into a boulder field and Stuart ended up getting lost in this boulder field,” Marshall explained to Fox 31.
He was looking for Stuart when things got scary. A rock on a ledge came loose and Marshall fell. He sustained several injuries, the worst of which was a dislocated shoulder. He hated to do it, but he had to leave the mountain to go to the hospital.
Local Rescuer Sees a Social Media Post and Springs into Action
Marshall’s friend Amber Autterson posted a lost dog message to the Facebook page of Lost and Found Dogs of Colorado. Local animal rescuer Monika Courtney saw the post. She runs Thunderbird Spirit Ranch in Buena Vista and is always ready and willing to help locals find missing animals.
Monika posted notices and posters near the trail where Marshall and Stu got separated. She told Fox 31, “I hung flyers and posters up near trailhead areas,” she said. “So every hiker who was up in the mountains was informed because they had to go up that route.” Monika’s work made all the difference!
Group of Hikers See the Posters and Find Stuart!
Two days after Stuart got lost in the boulder field, Connor McCormick, Reesey Rea, Abby Amstutz, and Tom Schafer hit the trails at Mount Harvard. They kept their eyes and ears open and they found Stu! Monika told Fox 31 that, “They paid attention and they heard the dog barking and they went to this area near the boulders where the dog was supposedly lost.” Stu couldn’t resist a sausage that was used to lure him closer to the hikers. They gained Stu’s trust, called Monika, and safely delivered Stu to her ranch.
Grab a Tissue for the Very Sweet and Touching Reunion
The next day, Marshall was able to come to Thunderbird Spirit Ranch to pick up a very relieved pup, Stu. Monika captured the heart-melting reunion on video and shared it with the world on her Facebook page. It is clear that Stu and Marshall love each other very much and are so happy to be together again. Marshall told Fox 31, “If it weren’t for Monika, I’m sorry it’s going to make me cry. If it wasn’t for all the help, and everything Monika does, Stuart might not be here.”
Posted by Monika Courtney on Monday, September 28, 2020
Thunderbird Spirit Ranch is a self-funded rescue group. If you’d like to learn more about their work or donate to their cause, please visit their Facebook page.
H/T kdvr.com
Featured Image Monika Courtney/Facebook
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via Whisker Therapy