A Colorado man is searching for his dog in the aftermath of an avalanche that killed his friend, reports Denver7.
On Mar. 17, Jacob Dalbey of the town of Carbondale headed out along with two friends to the Rapid Creek drainage. Per the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), all three had avalanche safety equipment while two of them, including Dalbey, had avalanche airbag backpacks.
Surviving the Colorado avalanche
Dalbey brought his dog Ullr, a seven-year-old Border Collie mix who’s also part wolf, with him as usual. He’s had Ullr since March 2016, when he was a puppy, and he often accompanies Dalbey on his adventures.
His name is inspired by the Norse god associated with snow and skiing, so he’s an appropriate companion for such activities.
“He goes everywhere with me,” said Dalbey. “He’s spent more time in the backcountry in the wintertime than probably any other dog in the world. Very apt. Super good dog, super strong. Yeah, has been on a lot of really insane skis with me and fishes with me, mountain bikes with me. Goes to work with me. Pretty much everything.”
The trio were skiing uphill towards an unnamed summit, and the plan was that two of them would ski back down with another following on his splitboard. But then, the slope fractured and Dalbey reach for Ullr but couldn’t grab him.
The avalanche broke parts of Dalbey’s hand, but with two fingers he was able to slowly free his other arm.
Dalbey set off the SOS on his InReach device once he got free. While one of Dalbey’s friends was able to get free, Dalbey tried to search for his other friend and, of course, Ullr.
Searching for Ullr
The day after the avalanche, Mar. 18, the body of Dalbey’s other friend was found. But, Ullr is still missing. He has a collar and a microchip, however, so Dalbey isn’t losing hope.
“I know that he could probably survive the rest of his life out there without me,” he said. “But our bond is very remarkable… I just love him so much. He’s been my pretty much everything for the last seven years that I’ve had him. I got him when he was a puppy. And he’s been through a lot with me. And we’ve had a lot of really incredible adventures. And I know that he’s still alive… I just want him back.”
Anybody who sees Ullr, or has any information, should contact the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office (970-641-1113), Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office (970-920-5300), or Garfield County Sheriff’s Office (970-945-0453).
