Rupee was rescued by animal rights activist and globetrotter Joanne Lefson from a garbage dump in Ladakh, Northern India when he was just a few months old. In 2013, Rupee made headlines by being dubbed “the first dog to climb Mt. Everest.”
Oscar, a dog that had traveled with Lefson around the world, was killed by a car a few months before their planned trip to Mount Everest. So it seemed like a sign when she discovered Rupee, who was starving and close to death (via Daily Mail). Rupee got excellent nutrition and tons of veterinary care to recuperate. Lefson wasn’t sure he’d be up for a lengthy hike in the mountains, but it turned out Rupee was more than capable of doing so.
Although dogs (or any other domestic animals, for that matter) are rarely seen on Everest (even close to Base Camp), it’s not uncommon to see some stray animals hanging out during the climbing season. Following climbers to the peak, some follow them, while others who reside in surrounding villages or the valley are drawn to the action and the possibility of finding food (per Nature and Travel Lovers).
In excellent weather, some stray animals even bravely climb up the mountain and reach Camp 2. These are typically dogs that have grown acclimated to the region and its conditions and are ready to chase climbers until the going gets tough and they turn back.
Rupee wasn’t the first dog to ascend Everest, technically speaking. According to the Wisdom Panel, there are more than 20,000 stray dogs on the streets of Katmandu alone in Nepal. Street dogs are considered “suspicious” in nations where rabies is an issue, and people avoid them out of concern that they might be bitten or catch the disease (via Nature and Travel Lovers). However, strays are drawn to climbers, particularly foreigners who aren’t terrified of canines.
Dogs will follow climbers and frequently end up joining treks in the direction of Mount Everest since these people often offer food and even a kind word or a pat on the head.
But Rupee is the first dog formally noted at Mount Everest’s base camp, earning the moniker “the slumdog mountaineer” because of his mountaineering exploits (per Daily Mail). According to Nature and Travel Lovers, he is also the only dog to have completed the 80-mile, 10-plus day journey to Mount Everest’s base camp.
While the inclination isn’t high, you’re traveling at an altitude of more than 3400 miles above sea level, which means there’s around 50% less oxygen than at lower altitudes. The journey takes walking for at least five hours a day (but more on certain days) through tough terrain (via Adventure Alternative). It’s not a stroll in the park, to put it briefly.
Even though Rupee had not spent months or years loitering at Everest’s base camp like many stray animals, the fact that he was born in the Himalayas at a higher elevation undoubtedly helped. According to People, a veterinarian who evaluated Lefson before the trip said that due to this, he would likely be able to withstand the thin air effectively.
Lefson got a medical okay and then got to work getting ready for the journey. According to Nature and Travel Lovers, the first stage was to plan a journey that permitted her to bring a dog along, which required walking the long way to South Base Camp (the North Base Camp wouldn’t allow dogs to come along).
Lefson was worried about Rupee’s ability to handle the long journey because he was still a young puppy at 8 months old. According to Daily Mail, she, therefore, decided to bring along an extra porter “in case Rupee needed to hitch a ride” on the hike. Porters are sherpas who frequently accompany climbers and carry their packs and additional equipment.
Rupee, however, shocked everyone by having a blast while playing in the snow.
Animal rescuer Lefson wanted to spread the word about stray dogs and how incredible they can be if given a second chance.
However, she also wanted to pay tribute to her beloved Oscar, who was also a rescued dog, and his legacy.
Mera, a different stray dog, broke Rupee’s previous record in 2019. The fact that Mera didn’t try the climb with her owner may have shocked people more. Instead, she made friends with a group of climbers trying to reach the top of Nepal’s Baruntse peak and followed them there. The Bark claims that Mera and his human friends made it to a height of 23,389 feet above sea level. She temporarily became caught on a glacier along the trip and spent two nights sleeping outside on her own before some of the expedition guides returned to get her.
The brave 45-pound dog and climber Don Wargowsky then shared a tent for the remaining three weeks of the ascent (via The Independent).
Initially, an unwelcome guest on the climb, Mera quickly won over the sherpas with her tenacity and strength and became known as their “good luck charm” for the expedition, which successfully reached the summit of the peak as scheduled.
On the way down the mountain, Mera, who appeared to be a cross between a Tibetan Mastiff and a Himalayan Sheepdog, joined the climbers.
Mera had a lucky week because the base camp manager of the expedition decided to adopt her. Even if she didn’t reach Everest, her achievement deserves to be remembered as well.
SOURCE: GRUNGE