news mysteries

[cellio]

(I need a "WTF?"-style icon.)

Some days the news raises more questions than it answers. CNN reports: "Three climbers who fell from a ledge on Mount Hood are huddled in their sleeping bags with a Labrador retriever to keep warm as they await rescue, according to an official with the rescue team."

I read the whole story. It does not address my primary question upon reading the opening paragraph: where'd the dog come from? Do people really go mountain-climbing with dogs? (How?) Or was it just a lucky coincidence?

Comments

[kayre]

Yes, they took the dog; yes, that's not terribly uncommon. I'm wondering how the dog ended up with the three that fell rather than the rest of the group, though.

[cellio]

Wow. I know that some dogs are pretty nimble on their feet, but I would have assumed that anything that people require ropes for would be impassable for a dog. Yet moving the dog by ropes (or carrying) wouldn't be fun, especially something as heavy as a Lab.

(I think I would be terrified to take a pet on a mountain-climbing expedition, just as I wouldn't take a child. I'm imagining all the things that could go wrong and kill the dog... eep. But, I note, I am not a mountain-climber, so my perspective is of course from the outside.)

[kayre]

I think possibly the word "climbing" refers to hiking up steep trails to high places, not necessarily to actual rock climbing. It's used that way here in Vermont. I'm with you, I really doubt they were roping and lifting the dog. It's also possible that they hiked up to a climbable rock face, and the dog stayed at the bottom while they took turns doing the climb.

In any case, I'm glad everyone- including the dog, and the rescuers- is safe!

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

I think possibly the word "climbing" refers to hiking up steep trails to high places, not necessarily to actual rock climbing.

That was my thought--not rappelling so much as hiking.

We've taken the Things with us on hikes in the mountains (http://www.http://gunks.com/")--but the foothills of the Catskills aren't in the same league as Mt. Hood :-D

[cellio]

Hiking would be plausible. I just don't tend to think of "hiking" and "Mt" together, for some reason. But not all "mount"s are too steep to walk, I guess.

[cellio]

Not knowing much about climbing, I had assumed that this would be too difficult for dogs. I had no idea it was so common. Worked out well for them, for sure! I'm glad everyone (including the dog) is ok.

I saw an article about the fight over the proposed requirement for locaters. On the one hand, I don't like government intrusion; if you want to take risks and kill yourself, go for it. On the other hand, though, I sympathize with the rescuers who will go out, at risk, looking for lost people. I find myself wondering if they should do this: if you carry a locater, your rescue is free; if you don't and you need rescue, you (or your estate) will be billed.