CMCers rescue dog

By Steve Williams

On Sunday, October 6, I had the pleasure of leading a CMC group on a climb of Sugarloaf Peak and three other unnamed peaks in the Mt. Evans Wilderness. It was a gorgeous, crisp fall day as we hiked over an icy trail and bushwhacked through snow to reach all four summits.

On our hike out, we came upon an injured dog (a ninety-five pound German Shepherd) and his owner, who needed assistance evacuating the animal.

After evaluating the situation, we created a litter from an emergency space blanket and hiking poles duct-taped together. Taking shifts, we were able to carry the well-behaved dog out to the trailhead, almost four miles distant.

Jim Watkins, the dog’s owner, then drove his pet to the vet, and reports she is recovering well from a severe muscle bruise and ligament damage. Hearty thanks go out to a wonderful group of hikers and rescuers: Dan Peterson, Crystal Shaw, Mike Teger, Christine Amolsch, Michele Vargas, John Collard, Alexandre Vigneault, Rose Subeldia, and Teresa Gergen.