A British tourist lost 15,000 feet high in the Peruvian mountains described how a stray dog ”appeared out of the mist” and led him to his destination.
The man, known as ‘El Güero Inglés’ on social media, was walking along the famous Santa Cruz circuit, near the city of Huaraz, when he became separated from his group on the second day of the walk.
He hoped to reach the picturesque Punta Union Pass at 15,000 feet above sea level, but the route was covered in snow, ice and thick fog.
The hiker said that just as he was alone, a friendly dog approached him, wagging its tail in scenes reminiscent of the actions of television rescue collie dog Lassie.
In the photo: The stray dog that left the British tourist safe in the Peruvian mountains
The hiker poses for a selfie with the dog that took him to the top of the mountain
Pictured: TV rescue collie dog Lassie who guided rescuers back to her young master lost in a blizzard.
“I decided to trust his knowledge of the mountain,” the man said, according to the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
He said he wondered what a dog could be doing at such a height, but was surprised to see that it seemed to know the routes around the mountain and led him to a sign. pointing towards its destination: Punta Unión.
The Brit explained that when they reached the top, the couple waited in silence for the other hikers to arrive.
And from that moment on, the stray dog remained close to the group of hikers as they continued their walk.
He said that, incredibly, when they returned to camp there was another dog waiting for them at camp and the two continued with the group for another 13 and a half kilometers.
A local later explained to the British tourist that local dogs often follow hikers up the mountain as if they were trained guides.
The man, known as ‘El Güero Inglés’ on social media, was touring the famous Santa Cruz circuit when he separated from his group.
‘El Güero Inglés’ filmed his experience on the walk in a video that he later published on his Instagram account.
In the video he can be heard asking the dog: ‘What the hell are you doing up here? How did you get here?
Then he points to the mountain and says, ‘We need to go somewhere up there. Ok, you lead the way. If we get lost, I blame you, you’re in charge now.’