Being young means exploring the world and experiencing different cultures and places. Some people choose to stay in their home country, while others travel far away or take on challenging activities. Twenty-one-year-old Amelia Milling, who is deaf, is not afraid of challenges. She decided to climb a mountain in Alaska all by herself — but things didn’t go as planned.
Amelia loves adventure. While many people her age might prefer relaxing beach vacations or spending time on their phones, she chose a three-day hike through the Alaskan wilderness. At first, everything went well. She began climbing a large, snow-covered mountain, but then something went terribly wrong. Amelia lost her balance and fell down the side of the mountain. She slid over 300 feet, hit a boulder, and then slid another 300 feet.
Despite the terrifying fall, Amelia was lucky — she didn’t break any bones and was still able to walk. However, she had a serious problem. After falling so far, she had no idea where she was. Alone, lost, and freezing, she spent more than 24 hours on the mountain, unsure of what to do next.
Then, something unexpected happened. In the distance, Amelia saw what looked like a white wolf. She was scared at first because she knew wolves could be dangerous. But as the animal came closer, she realized it wasn’t a wolf at all — it was a dog wearing a collar. The collar said “Guide,” and the dog’s name was Nanook.
Nanook was not just any dog. He was a trained trail guide dog who helped hikers on the mountain. Somehow, he had found Amelia, and it seemed he knew exactly what to do. Nanook stayed by her side, helped her find the trail again, and even stayed with her overnight to keep her company.
The next day, Amelia tried to cross a river, but the strong current pulled her underwater. Once again, Nanook came to her rescue. He jumped into the freezing water, grabbed her backpack strap with his mouth, and pulled her to safety.
Amelia had a GPS transmitter with her in case of emergencies. After everything that had happened, she finally decided to use it. The signal was picked up by local rescue services, and a helicopter was sent to find her. When rescuers arrived, they were surprised to see that Amelia wasn’t alone — Nanook was still with her.
The Alaska State Troopers helped bring Amelia back to safety, and she later said that although the rescuers flew her home, Nanook was her true hero. “The dog was a real help,” said police chief Eric Olsen. “He’s Alaska’s version of Lassie.”
As it turns out, this wasn’t the first time Nanook had saved someone’s life. His owners were surprised to learn how far he had wandered from home, but they weren’t shocked by his bravery. Nanook had previously rescued a young girl who had also been caught in a river current.
Nanook is truly a hero. He stayed by Amelia’s side and helped her survive an incredibly dangerous situation. Stories like this remind us why dogs are often called man’s best friend.
