Twenty-one-year-old Amelia Milling loves hiking more than anything else. Milling is deaf, but she doesn’t let that stop her from going on incredible adventures around the world!
In June 2018, Milling went to Alaska to complete the Crow Pass Trail in Chugach State Park. This was supposed to be a three-day hike, but unfortunately, four miles into the trek she slipped and fell down the side of a snowy mountain.
Milling fell 300 feet and then hit a large boulder. Then, she fell another 400 feet before finally coming to a stop. Milling badly injured her leg during this fall, and she knew completing the hike was going to be challenging.
As Milling inspected her injuries, she noticed a white figure approaching her. She began to panic, thinking it was a wolf. But once it got closer, she realized it was a Husky.
Milling read the dog’s tag and learned his name was Nanook. The dog’s tail wagged, and it was clear he wanted to help the injured hiker.
Nanook led Milling back up to the hiking trail. He stayed with her for the whole day, and then he spent the night snuggled up against her, keeping her warm.
The next day, Milling’s leg hadn’t gotten any better, and the trail was getting trickier. Milling and Nanook reached a freezing river, and Milling stepped into it. But the current was too strong, and Milling started getting pulled under. Thankfully, Nanook grabbed her and pulled her back to safety.
Once she was on dry land, Milling realized she couldn’t go on with her hike. She used the ‘SOS’ signal on her satellite phone to call for help. Nanook stayed by her side until Alaska State Troopers came in their helicopter to rescue Milling.
After she got home from her hike, Milling learned that she wasn’t the only person Nanook had helped.
Nanook and his owner live near the Crow Pass Trail, and he loves going on adventures with the people who come to trek on the trail. He spends so much time on the trail, his owner decided to engrave ‘Crow Pass Guide Dog’ into his collar!
Nanook has also rescued many other hikers in precarious situations.
Nanook’s owner knows his brave pup saved at least three hikers, and he rescued a little girl from the same river Milling got trapped in. He also says he wouldn’t be surprised if there are more hikers out there Nanook has saved!
“Nookie was nothing short of a modern-day, Lassie (type) hero,” Alaska State Trooper Lt. Eric Olsen, one of the troopers who helped save Milling, told KTVA-TV.
Nanook’s owner decided to start a Facebook page where people could share stories about their encounters with Nanook. Recently, the pup spent three days hiking with various groups up and down Crow Pass Trail:
“After a three day adventure on Crow Pass trail Nanook is finally home. It turns out that he went back-and-forth up to the pass a few times with different people before deciding which party he wanted to go all the way to Eagle River with. A big thank you to everyone who sent messages (and dozens of photos and videos) letting me know what he was up to!”
Nanook is an incredible dog who has helped countless hikers in dangerous situations. This dog is a true hero!
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