HeartDog decided to go with Hugo on an Everest expedition, with the High Adventure Expeditions team. Usually HeartDog spends her time relaxing with the other animals in Carys’ bedroom (Carys is Hugo’s daughter). This is the incredible story of the first dog to summit Everest.
Hugo Searle, High Adventure Expeditions Leader, and HeartDog (the dog is on the right).
After flying into Kathmandu, HeartDog boarded a small plane to Lukla. From there they began the 8 day trek to Everest Base Camp. On the trek to Base Camp, HeartDog was able to see spectacular views of the mountains and meet the strong, friendly local Sherpa people. She also met yaks.
Yaks carry climbing gear to Everest Base Camp. HeartDog wants to chase after them.
Everest Base Camp is very high up, at an altitude of 5,350m (17,500ft). When HeartDog arrived she went to Everest ER to meet the Himalayan Rescue Association’s doctors, and to get checked out.
A doctor examines HeartDog in Everest ER. “Looks better and smells better than most climbers” the doctor says.
Climbers stay at Base Camp for several days to acclimatize to the altitude before beginning their climb up the mountain. They then set up their higher camps on the way up. One of the things climbers like to do at Base Camp is take photos. HeartDog made sure she took plenty of videos to show her friends back home.
HeartDog captures all the action on Everest
The climbers also test out all the equipment they’ll need higher up on the mountain. HeartDog made sure her oxygen mask was working.
HeartDog steals some oxygen when no one is looking
When the climbers are up on the mountain they stay in touch with each other and Base Camp using radios. HeartDog enjoyed sitting and listening to what was going on, ready to help if necessary.
HeartDog makes a radio call from Everest Base Camp. “Emergency, emergency … bring more doggie biscuits!” she says.
Eventually it was HeartDog’s turn to make a summit attempt. At High Adventure Expeditions, we make sure that every climber is paired up with a Sherpa climber for safety. HeartDog was matched with Pemba, they were great friends. The first stop on the way to the summit was at Camp 2. This is a cold and intimidating camp that sits at the head of the valley called the Western Cwm. It’s right at the base of the Lhotse Face. The face is a very steep and very tall wall of ice that the climbers have to climb to get to Camp 3, and eventually Camp 4 at the South Col.
HeartDog relaxes in the sun at Everest Camp 2. Behind her is the steep Lhotse Face.
Eventually after a lot of hard work, Pemba and HeartDog made it to Camp 4 at the Col. At this point they were 8,000m (24,000ft) high and in the “death zone”. This is where your body cannot survive for a long period of time due to the altitude. They needed to get up to the summit as quickly as they could.
HeartDog and Pemba Sherpa at a cold Everest Camp 4 in the death zone. “Conditions are ruff!” she says.
After a good day’s sleep, Pemba and HeartDog set off from Camp 4 for the summit just after sundown. This meant that they would climb slowly through the night and try to arrive on the summit at dawn. This would give them enough time to get back down all the way to Camp 2 that day.
Here is a picture of Pemba and HeartDog on the summit. It was also Pemba’s first time on top of Mt Everest, and he was very proud. HeartDog was very happy too. She made history and became the first dog to climb to the top of Mt Everest.
HeartDog and Pemba Sherpa on the summit of Mount Everest at 6am. The shadow of Everest across Nepal is in the background. “Dogs only on the top of the world…,” says HeartDog “…no cats allowed!” .
Pemba and HeartDog were very tired when they finally reached Base Camp. Everyone there was so happy for their safe return and very proud of their amazing achievement. The next day, HeartDog was able to find a spot on a helicopter that left from Base Camp, going to Kathmandu. She arrived exhausted, dirty, and very happy to have a wash. Then she took a beach vacation in the Bahamas to relax somewhere warm!
“Let’s take this chopper home and party!” HeartDog says “Woof, woof.”
We hope you enjoyed her story!
