Juneau the Husky Saves Skier Leonard Somers on Colorado's Berthoud Pass

In November 2013, backcountry skier Leonard Somers crashed into a ravine on Colorado's Berthoud Pass and found he could not move. His five-year-old Siberian husky, Juneau, lay on top of him in the snow, then ran for help when voices drifted up from another group. She came back with that group's dog, and its owners followed her to the injured skier. Somers, from Tabernash in Grand County, later told CBS Denver that Juneau saved his life.

The accident on Berthoud Pass

Somers was skiing down through backcountry terrain near the pass when he hit a rock and was thrown into a ravine. His neck struck a buried tree trunk, causing a severe spinal injury, and he was partly buried in snow. "I went to get up and realized I couldn't move," he said. He was out of sight of the route, unable to call for help, with only his dog beside him.

How Juneau the husky brought help

Juneau had no special training. For 20 to 30 minutes she lay on top of Somers, keeping him warm. When he told her to go and get help, she refused to leave him at first. Only when the two of them heard voices in the distance did she run off, and she returned with the other group's dog. The family that owned it followed and found Somers, and they helped get him off the mountain.

Recovery at Craig Hospital

Somers was left paralysed from the chest down. He went through rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Colorado, and Juneau went with him: by December 2013 she had been certified as a service dog and joined him at his therapy sessions. In 2015 CBS Denver reported that he was adjusting to life in a wheelchair, that his family was helping him regain independence, including a search for an accessible van he could drive, and that a fundraiser was held in Golden, Colorado, to help with medical bills.

Berthoud Pass: popular, snowy and steep

Berthoud Pass crosses the Continental Divide in the Front Range at 3,446 metres (11,307 ft), carrying U.S. Highway 40 between Clear Creek and Grand counties west of Denver. Its old ski area closed in 2002 and the lifts were removed in 2003, but the pass is still a favourite with backcountry skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers for its steep terrain and heavy snowfall, around 500 inches a year. Road shuttles let skiers lap runs without climbing back up.

The same terrain demands respect: at least 55 avalanche paths have been mapped on the pass. Ski the backcountry with a partner and carry a beacon, shovel and probe, so that help is never just the dog.

Explore more: another skiing rescue captured on camera; a compilation of people helping animals.

Related reading:

• Eight Below: A Reunion Scene in a Snowy Landscape
• Ginzey The Dog Cheats A Snow Maze In The Most Lovable Way Ever
• Michelle Salt’s Early Competitive Para-Snowboarding Story
• Aymar Navarro’s Avalanche Incident in the Spanish Pyrenees

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