by: Jenn Boneza
Posted: Jan 17, 2024 / 08:58 PM HST
Updated: Jan 18, 2024 / 01:37 PM HST
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HONOLULU (KHON) — A hiker was rescued after falling from a dangerous trail. She was saved, all thanks to her dog alerting another hiker on the trail.
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Avid hiker Kelsey Colpitts set out to hike the Lanipo Trail above Wilhelmina Rise Monday afternoon. She said she had hiked the trail before, but this time, about 2.5 miles in, as she was nearing the top of the Koolau Mountain range, she heard something odd.Dogʻs ID tag helps find owner down steep slope on Kaimukiʻs Lanipo trail
“I heard this kind of whimpering and loud barking,” Colpitts explained. “I looked around and I could hear it, it sounded really close so I tried to get a closer look and look over the edge, but there were no trees to hang on to and I didn’t know how I was going to get it and it was barking louder and louder and it sounded like it was in distress.”Missing hiker found dead on Ohana-Mahalo trails in Waimanalo
She said there was no one else around and it wouldn’t come when she called it.
Not knowing what else to do, she called 911 but said the fire department initially said they couldn’t go out to rescue an animal.
Colpitts said she broke down. She didn’t want the dog to die up there.
“I kind of just pictured it maybe stuck by its collar or leash and I felt so horrible,” she said.Avid hiker who survived fall from Olomana has a message
But the area was near a cliff and she knew she couldn’t do anything about it alone so she turned around and headed back down the mountain.
“I just felt so guilty, and I was also thinking maybe I could get a friend with a rope and we can go back and we can try to do this together,” explained Colpitts.
Twenty minutes later she said HFD called her back.
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“They were like, ‘We’re sending someone.’”
HFD said by using the geolocation of the 911 caller, Air 1 was able to see the dog down a steep mountain slope. A rescuer then repelled down the slope and retrieved the dog just before 4 p.m.
HFD used the information on the dog’s name tag to contact the owner. When she couldn’t be reached, they resumed the search and found the 35-year-old female in thick foliage more than 100 feet below the trail. She was airlifted and taken to the hospital in serious condition.10 tips for safe summer hiking
Her dog Ullr, a pure bread samoyed, was taken to the Hawaiian Humane Society.
A spokesperson for the Hawaiian Humane Society said they have been in contact with the hiker and plan to reunite them soon.
Colpitts said she’s glad she made the call.
“What a happy ending,” she said. “Not only was the dog saved but a person too. I’m glad that authorities handled it was safer for everyone involved.”You soon may not need a flight from Hawaiʻi to be with loved ones
She admits she was initially hesitant to call first responders to rescue the dog.
“I did feel a little silly calling authorities. I know they have so much to deal with and so much going on for an animal,” she said. “I know that it’s a lot of resources and time but it really worked out for the best.”
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HFD said they do not have a set policy on rescuing pets, they look at the risk involved and don’t want anyone else to get hurt trying to help the animal, but added that it’s done on a case-by-case basis.
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