People often say that life is an adventure and we should live like one. Everybody around us and people all around the globe are living their own adventures and there are few stories that make their story worth sharing. Here is one of the stories that made the news and believe us when we say it, this story is on another level. It's adventurous and inspiring at the same time. This guy here wouldn't have imagined that his life's journey would take this turn which will change his life forever. Just like tales where a guy wanders around in a forest and finds something amazing for which he was destined for, the same happened with this guy. Though he was not wandering in the forest, he was there in the mountains only to find this unbelievable thing for which he was destined. Let's explore his adventure and be ready to get amazed.
Zachary Anderegg has always been an adventurous guy. He likes to live in the moment and little he knew, one moment was there waiting for him to change his life forever. He is a passionate hiker and mountain climber and if not found in his home then there is a possibility you could find him hiking in Arizona or the southern Utah slot canyons. It was one of these days when Zachary discovered something that changed his life forever.
Slot canyons of northern Arizona are one of the favorite places of Zachary and he often visits the place to clear his head and if he has to make some important decisions in his life. But this date, June 20, 2010, which he will never forget in his lifetime, changed the course of his life. As usual, he was alone hiking and exploring the slot canyons when he stumbled on something. He couldn't believe this unusual sight in front of him. His next step changed everything.
It's not every day that you can just decide to go on hiking. It takes lots of thought to be sure if its a day you can go out and spend some quality time. You need to see if the sky is clear and there is no heavy wind flowing which could make the hiking difficult. But in Zachary's case, everything was in perfect order. The sun was shining bright and the wind was smooth and soothing. It was the perfect day to discover something this perfect.
See, before you decide to go on an adventure like hiking and climbing the mountain and that too all by yourself. You must take care of certain things. Though Zachary was an experienced hiker he still takes care of several things before he leaves. He makes sure that all his gears like, ultralight backpack, the stock of food and water, quality ropes that are usually used for hiking and most importantly lightweight sneakers (hiking shoes) are in order. But that day, Zachary didn't check his gears before leaving and he didn't even tell his wife. But why did he do that?
As we told you, Zachary is an experienced hiker and often go for trekking and mountain climbing. But, on June 20, 2010, he didn't take all the precautions he used to. It was very sudden for him to decide the day. One moment he saw the clear sky and another moment he was wearing his shoes. He just felt like leaving the house and in the rush, he didn't even check his backpack. But as they say everything that happens, happens for a reason.
He reached the slot canyons of northern Arizona and he could feel that something was different. Every step he took bought him closer to his destiny. He decided to hike on a different route that day which wasn't his style when it comes to hiking. The regular hikers always choose to hike on the same route but Zachary felt that he needs to explore the other side which he has always thought of and it was the destiny reading the script. Soon he will discover something that he hasn't thought of.
Zachary prepared himself mentally because today he was going to explore the other side of the canyon. The silence made him listen to his own heartbeats which were beating rapidly. He sat down for a while to calm himself before he leaves for the adventure of his lifetime. He thought of everything that could go wrong but even that didn't change his mind. The other side of the canyon felt like some other world and he was the explorer who needs to discover this other side. But the path wasn't easy and he found out very soon.
Zachary stood up and was ready to leave. He picked his backpack and tied his shoes. He took a deep breath and walked towards the other side of the canyon. The sun was over his head and the sweat on his body was soothing his body from all the light wind that was flowing on that height. He took his first step inside the slot canyon and he could see how deep these rocky paths go. He felt like the canyon was sinking him inside and the gap between the walls shrank with every foot he took. For one moment it was so dark that he couldn't see his own feet and was really afraid to move and all of a sudden he lost his control because of all the sweat from his hands.
Zachary kept going inside before he could realize how deep he has already come. He could feel the hotness around him and the sweat made his grip loose and that was it, he lost control of his grip and when he thought about falling deep in the canyon, his feet touched the ground and the sky was clear now from all the clouds that covered the sun before. Now, the sunlight found the way through the darkness and Zachary was able to see that he was surrounded with rocks. But when he thought this was the deepest he could go, he saw a little opening. And he could see that there was something deep down there. What was it?
To Zachary who is an experienced hiker, knew the depth of this opening he found below his feet. It was almost 100 feet deep and Zachary saw something that made him curious. He was hanging between where he couldn't decide if he should go down or should go back as it was already getting late. But what is that? He couldn't make anything because of the height but he was now really intrigued. Soon he will see something unexpected. But reaching 100 feet down won't be easy.
Zachary was searching for extra rope in his backpack when he realized that he hasn't bought one. He couldn't pull the one he has used before because he also needs to go up. Without the rope, he can't go down in the opening as he has to rappel down. The rope wasn't the only problem he was facing there was but it was the light that kept decreasing with time. He thought of leaving but then he has to do it all over and he didn't know if the condition would be as smooth like today. What if the next day that thing wasn't there? He needs to find out what that thing is? Believe us it will blow your mind.
Zachary was keeping an eye on that thing which could be seen from that height. Soon it will be dark and he wasn't sure of coming back anytime soon because it wasn't easy for him to reach where he was standing right now. He had to do something and really fast. He thought of every possibility in his mind so that he can easily reach 100 feet below. What he did next was shocking.
All of a sudden he realized that he has an extra rope in his backpack which he always carries around for a situation like the one he was in. But he wasn't sure if it's still there because he didn't check it before leaving. He took off the backpack from his shoulder and searched for that extra rope, thankfully he found it and couldn't believe his luck. Now he was all set to move further. Now, wait, what's that noise?
There was this noise which he was sure of not hearing it before. He was inside the canyon for over two hours and this noise was very sudden. He was sure that the voice was coming from down below and was now more intrigued. What is that? Because of the echo, he couldn't recognize the sound. He picked the rope and decided to check it out. He would soon find out the origin of the sound.
Zachary tied the rope that didn't reach the ground completely, but that wasn't an issue. The real issue was the inclination of the mountain that Zachary was using to reach down. He actually had to drop 5 to 10 feet in one go which wasn't an easy thing to do. He knew the circumstances that come along the drop. You always have the possibility of the rope breaking from the middle. But Zachary didn't stop there and did the first drop of 5 feet. The deeper he went the noise became more and louder.
The first drop which was of 5 feet didn’t cause Zachary any problem and even the second drop which was of 8 feet was successfully achieved but the third drop which was almost 20 feet made him really worried. He was literally hanging in the middle struggling to support his legs and hands where he could rest them for a bit from all the dropping. He could hear some movements below and he couldn’t see anything. There was this sound and now the movements which made him really worried. Without thinking anything else, Zach made the drop of 20 feet. What happened next?
Zachary wasn't feeling anything when he made the fall of 20 feet. He had his eyes closed and fist holding the rope really tightly and with the sudden jerk he stopped, opened his eyes to see where he was. The ground was just 2 feet below from him. He freed himself from the rope and jumped down. Now when he has achieved the goal of reaching down, he searched for the origin of the sound and that thing which was making this painful noise. Soon his mind will be blown.
Now Zachary was in search of the thing which he saw from the above. What was it actually? He saw nothing around him but he could hear the continuous sound that was coming from he doesn't know where. Because of the echo, the voice felt like coming from everywhere and it was getting very difficult for Zach to identify the source of the voice. But he saw a stone in front of him and when got close to the stone he saw something at the back of the stone hiding.
So, what Zachary saw from the above and the source of the noise was a trapped dog. He was shocked to see a dog in a place like this. The dog wasn't in pain but was definitely feeling lonely. The dog wasn't looking very well, Zachary could count his bones from all the malnutrition he was suffering. Going by the circumstances the poor dog was left here to die. Who could do such a horrible thing?
Zachary was determined to save the dog because it was just a matter of time and he knew the dog won't survive in the place like this. He rushed and left the place to bring the dog some food and water. He knew that helping the dog in his present condition where Zachary didn't have proper gears to move the dog from this place. He needed to assemble all the required accessories before he could resue the dog.
The time was an issue and he knew if the rescue was delayed any further the dog will meet his horrific fate anytime soon. Zachary knew he has to everything like really fast. The dog needed to see a vet as soon as possible. He got so attached to the dog that he couldn't think anything else but to save the dog. He realized that those noises he was hearing while hiking the canyon were dog's cries asking for help. Just remembering the noises in his head bought shivers in his spine.
In search of help, Zachary went to the police and fire departments and told them about the abandoned dog left to die inside a canyon. He got no help from both the departments as it was not some priority for them. He was saddened to hear it but that didn't shake his motivation to help the dog. Zachary could only find a cat carrier which he got from the local animal home. Time was limited and he was running out of it.
This time Zachary was fully prepared and bought all of his gears with him in order to save the dog. He knew how much time all the hiking took the last time he visited, so he didn't delay and went to the canyon the moment the sun rose. He was determined to save the dog and nothing could stop him in doing that. He met the dog again and what he saw was really shocking.
Just by looking at the dog, Zachary could tell he is not doing really well. From the last time he saw the dog, he was looking more tired and pale. The dog couldn't even stand when he saw some stranger coming towards him. Zachary knew it was now or never, he lifts the dog and placed him inside the crate he got from the shelter and slowly moved towards the sky.
Zachary was holding the dog very carefully in the crate and opened his car door to place the crate on the seat. He rushed to the local animal hospital where the dog will stay for a couple of days until he gets fully examined. He was in shock to hear that the dog has been abused by his previous cruel owners who used to shot him the shotgun pellets. The scars on his body were still visible and even his teeth which turned black due to improper nourishment. Zachary was angry and in tears after hearing about his abuse. Who could do such a thing to a pure soul like this dog and for what joy in life?
Thanks to the care provided by the staff from the animal hospital, Zachary could see life again in the dog's eye who was still extremely weak but in his heart, he knew he will make it. While the dog was recovering in the hospital, Zachary and his loving wife took care of the dog and searched for his permanent home which the dog deserved.
Finally, the vet said that he is out of any further danger and Zachary could take the dog home. Zachary told that he was still really weak from all the medicines and injections but the dog did wag his tail when he saw Zachary. That moment was priceless and actually made happy him happy after so long. Still, he has to cover a very long way before he could recover perfectly
The dog was getting all the love and care from the couple who never left the dog's sight. They were there whenever he needed them. The dog showed some really surprising changes in his condition and was getting stronger every day. But, there was something else that Zachary was feeling for the dog. It was the love that has grown between the two. He even gave the dog a name, Shadow. It was now all about Shadow and Zachary.
Even though Zachary was searching for another home for Shadow, he soon realized that Shadow has become the part of the family and the thought of giving him to somebody else shook him from the inside. Zachary decided not to give away the dog as it was his destiny to meet the dog and bring him into his life. The love for the dog even motivated Zachary to write a memoir. Eventually, the local media caught the wind of this amazing story and both Zachary and Shadow appeared in several TV Shows.
Zachary who found Shadow (now Riley) in a place where no human can survive without food and water, changed the way he saw his life. He believed that his fate gave him a new meaning in his life and there is no better satisfaction than saving a pure soul like Riley. Today, Zachary and Riley have started their own adventure.
Riley even has a brother now named, Kohi. Both of them often go for new adventures with their loving Dad. Zachary feels really happy to see both Riley and Kohi mingling together so well who enjoys the canyon as much as he does. The bond of this perfect trio is really inspiring for people like us who see good in everything.
Today, Riley is in a place which he never felt and is happy. Riley even has a social media page on Facebook which is followed by thousands of people. Zachary even wrote, “He has become a cherished member of our family. He is without a doubt one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known.” We hope this love remains forever. This story tells us about the meaning of life. Its all about love.
There are other stories just like Zachary and Riley that might inspire you even further.
It is often said that love is the best therapy you could give to a person (it goes for animals too). The "hugging dogs" became a hot topic all over the social media after their photo surfaced online. The Georgia animal shelter posted a photo on Facebook in which two dogs are hugging each other before the pair was euthanized. The audience who saw the post wasn't ready for that and the support started coming from everywhere. Later, the duo, Kala and Kiera found a new home.
Harley wasn't in his best condition when his new owners adopted him. They knew that Harley won't live for long, who was rescued from a puppy mill where he lived in very pitiful conditions and because of that he lost one of his eyes, a broken tail, gnarled toes, heart disease, and infected teeth. Fortunately, the new owners showered him with all the love and care and soon Harley showed some steady recovery in his condition. The ASPCA also awarded him the title of 2015 American Hero Dog.
Slim the Pit Bull was rescued from an abandoned house. He was left there by his previous owner and the rescue people could see how scared he was. He became really friendly with the staff of the shelter but they weren't able to find any home for this dog who should have been in one. But Slim found his new love, a metal bucket. The shelter home people posted a photo of Slim holding his favorite bucket in his mouth and it was just a matter of time, the adoption requests started pouring in.
Figo the Golden Retriever is a service dog who loves his bind owner blindly. Figo helps his owner and guide him around. He has been trained to service the blind people and he did exactly what he was trained for. Figo was with his owner guiding him around when he jumped in front of the bus to save his owner. He is truly brave to something like this. He even stayed with his own until help arrived.
Dogs have a very small life circle and Poh who was already 15 was near to meet his fate. His owner knew that it was time for his dog to part with him but before it happens he made sure to give the best time of his life. The owner posted every happening in Poh's life on Instagram, who explored 35 cities and traveled around 12,000 miles and today, Poh is 16 years old and looking strong with each passing day. Love can change everything around you and the story of Poh proves that.
Wiley today lives in his fourth home. The Four Paws Rescue in Oklahoma found him on a stray and bought him in the shelter. He was adopted by the family but was soon returned to the shelter and his present family was looking for a dog and when they heard about this dog they were more than happy to take him to their home. He was named Wiley and is living peacefully with his new owners.
T-Rex was born with a condition that cost him one leg. The man who thought he was just a useless three-legged dog left him outside his store when he wasn't able to sell him. This lady saw this dog outside a grocery store and gave him to the shelter and in no time Karen Rogers fell in love with the dog and adopted him. Initially, there were a lot of difficulties with the dog because of his condition but after three surgeries he was able to walk. Rogers explained, “My mom passed away three years ago from lung cancer; she was diagnosed and died within eight months." “T would sit on my lap for hours in the evening, as I went through my mourning time. He has so much energy, but if I was sitting at my computer, he would curl up on my lap and just let me be sad," he added further. T-Rex is also philanthropic, who often takes part in Paws for Love where he paints not with his paws but tail to support the cause. “They support rescues by awarding grants to them to help with vet bills,” Rogers explained. “They paid $1,000 towards T’s surgery, so every year, T paints for them and they sell it at the gala. He tries to help them raise money by showing people how donated money is used to help dogs and cats.”
Bear was found with injuries on his body which he got from the other stray dogs, but thanks to Wonder Dog Rescue who helped the dog and bought him to their shelter. The problem was that the shelter people weren't able to find any home for this loving dog who was in dire need of. One day Michelle and Jonathan Lo contacted the shelter to inquire about available dogs up for adoption and were excited to hear about Bear. “After meeting Bear, we decided to give Bear a chance to be a part of our family,” Michelle said. “The first month home, Bear was still fearful of strangers and nervous around the house.” “Since Bear had such a rough first nine years of his life, he is so grateful and happy every single day,” Michelle added. “My husband and I are amazed at how simple acts of love and care can turn a dog’s whole life around.”