The Nepalese Dog That Climbed 23,000 Ft After Befriending An Expedition Group

We have all lauded mountaineers and trekkers for battling biting-cold weather in their mission to climb high-peaks. Men and women from different parts of the world have attempted to scale the Mount Everest, Mount Vinson and Himalayas to set world record. But have you ever heard of a dog?

Mountain dog breeds are known to frequent climbers who accompany them along their trips. But they seldom reach the end of the trek, since these canines are neither used to extreme weather conditions nor were they encouraged by fellow human beings.

However, a Nepalese dog has managed to climb to 23,000 ft while scaling the Himalayas after befriending an expedition team. Reportedly, the dog is first of her kind to reach the summit of Baruntse, which is a 23,389-foot peak in Nepal¡¯s Himalayas, located just south of Mount Everest.

Photo: Facebook/Don Wargowsky

Don Wargowsky, a Seattle-based mountain guide who was leading a Kathmandu-based Summit club met the 45-pound dog who appears to be a mix of a Tibetan mastiff and a Himalayan sheepdog. The team members met the dog when they were coming down from a successful summit of Mera Peak which is located at a height of 21,247 ft.

Though, earlier she stayed aloof but later she became best friends with Mr. Wargowsk. The mutt then followed the team for a three-week long trip and reached the Baruntse summit on November 09, 2018.

Photo: Facebook/Don Wargowsky

Billi Bierling of the Himalayan Database, an organisation that documents climbing expeditions in Nepal told Outside Magazine, ¡°I am not aware of a dog actually summiting an expedition peak in Nepal. I just hope that she won¡¯t get into trouble for having climbed Baruntse without a permit.¡±

Sherpas, the ethnic group native to mountainous regions of Nepal slowly started appreciating the climbing prowess of the dog. Though, she faced near-death experiences but she was determined in her pursuit.

Dogs like human beings are also prone to altitude sickness: extreme fatigue, headaches, and vomiting, as well as killers like high-altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema. Mera was lucky to possess the physical adaptations to perform at elevation.

The dog has now been adopted by the expedition's base-camp manager Kaji Sherpa, who renamed her Baru after the Baruntse peak.