Last month, across the bay in the Seldovia area, there was a lost dog and a complicated and risky rescue by a group of Homer outdoor enthusiasts. Here is their story.
Celia, a white husky, Brittany Briley and Mallory Primm have been hiking for five days. Walked more than 50 miles and climbed 14,000 feet. They trekked to Tutka Pass and back to Tutka Bay and then up here. They are not that far from Seldovia. Brittany is tired of having Celia pull her on the downhills so she unleashes her. A little further down the ridge, Celia is gone. Graduation Peak is in a fog. Up and down the ridge they yell, Celia! Baby Girl! After three hours, they hike out Tutka Front Door Trail to Seldovia in misty rain.
Celia’s lucky because she has three owners. One of them, Drue Smith, answers the call from Brittany. She’ll be over tomorrow to find Celia. Brittany and Mallory are bushed. They wouldn’t be any help finding Celia.
Drue and Sandro Sani boat over from Homer the next day. Drue is running up the Tutka Front Door Trail to Graduation Peak. They hear and see Celia stuck on a ledge far up the mountain. Twice they try to get to her. In the morning, they try again and again, but they always turn back because of loose rock. They need support.
Drue calls Brittany. They need help. Brittany calls her neighbor Bernie Brunner and he’s in. He calls Parker Sorenson — he’s been flying a Super Cub around the Kachemak Bay his whole life. He’s in. Bernie calls Bill Mckenna. There is nobody better. He has four technical dog rescues under his belt, besides being the best climber around here for decades. He’s in.
Parker is waiting at the airport with Andre Lovett and his Super Cub. Parker has a landing scoped out a mile from Graduation Peak. Both planes are on the ground in no time and Bill and Bernie are working their way over to the mountain.
Drue and Sandro can see Bill and Bernie try twice and get close to Celia on the second attempt, but the whole mountain face is big and rotten.
They spend the night up there. In the morning they descend to Drue and Sandro in the basin beneath the face.
Bernie takes off in the lead toward Celia. It’s a long way up to Celia. Bill follows, then Drue and Sandro. Bernie up there, Bill’s below, it’s steep and loose. A mistake here and one of them could die or be seriously hurt. Come on Celia! Come on Baby Girl!
Finally, Celia comes over and down to Bernie and then stops for a pet from each of her rescuers. A long slow hike takes the team to Seldovia where they meet Brittany at the Linwood for burgers, beers and shots of tequila. The Kachemak Bay is in its full glory on the way home, Celia and Bill Mckenna fall asleep lying in the boat.
James P. Sweeney is a longtime Alaskan who has authored two books, “Marine Life Solidarity” and “The List.” He is currently in Northern California taking care of his mother.
