Amelia Milling, a fearless 21-year-old deaf adventurer, was hiking the remote and beautiful Crow Pass Trail in Alaska’s Chugach State Park when a tranquil day turned perilous. About four miles into her trek, one of her trekking poles snapped, causing her to lose her balance. She tumbled 300 feet down a snowy mountainside, struck a boulder, and slid another 400 feet.
Assessing her injuries, Amelia was startled by what appeared to be a large white wolf approaching. Panic turned to relief when she noticed its collar—this was no wolf, but a husky named Nanook, whose tag identified him. Acting as an impromptu trail guide, Nanook stayed by her side as she tried to return to the path. When they couldn’t reach safety before nightfall, the dog remained with her through the cold hours.
The next day, while attempting to cross a river, Amelia was dragged by the current. Nanook reacted instantly, grabbing the strap of her backpack to pull her back to shore. With that critical help, she reached land and activated her SPOT rescue beacon. Alaska State Troopers were soon dispatched to her location.
While grateful for the troopers, Amelia credits her survival to her personal hero, Nanook. His owners, surprised he had wandered so far, revealed this wasn’t his first rescue—he had once saved a young girl from a river as well. For Amelia, the fearless husky was nothing short of a guardian angel on the trail.
