At just 21, Amelia Milling refuses to let challenges define her. Deaf since birth, she set out on a solo three-day hike in Alaska’s wilderness — but her adventure quickly turned into a fight for survival.
While climbing a snow-covered mountain, Amelia slipped and tumbled nearly 600 feet, slamming into a boulder before sliding further down. Miraculously, she escaped with no broken bones but was left lost, freezing, and alone for over 24 hours.
Then came her miracle. Out of the distance appeared what she first thought was a wolf. Instead, it was Nanook — a trail guide dog known for helping hikers. With “Guide” on his collar, Nanook stayed by Amelia’s side, led her back to safety paths, and even kept her company overnight.
The next day, Amelia nearly drowned in a raging river, but Nanook leapt in and pulled her to shore by her backpack strap. Finally, she used her GPS emergency transmitter, and rescuers arrived by helicopter — shocked to see the loyal dog still by her side.
“He’s Alaska’s version of Lassie,” said police chief Eric Olsen. For Amelia, Nanook was more than a guide — he was her lifesaving hero.
