Horton the Quandary dog died on Monday night, April 25, 2011 at age 10, three weeks before his 11th birthday. I first wrote about Horton’s climbing exploits on 14,265-foot Quandary Peak, Colorado’s 13th highest peak and one of the Fourteeners, in an article called Horton the Quandary Dog on September 12, 2008. That Horton story was a reader favorite over the years. Some readers even emailed me to ask if I knew how Horton was doing.
He was well loved.
Emily Writes Me About Horton
After his death, Emily Pfau, who was one of Horton’s roommates along with David and Elizabeth, wrote me about the loss of Horton, a blonde English Labrador dog. The following are excerpts from her letter, which says it best about Horton, in response to some questions I asked.
“A truly remarkable dog.”
“We have been amazed at the following that Horton gained over the years and how many people were interested in his story. We are still reeling from the sudden loss. We knew Horton's health was failing, but didn't expect to lose him so soon. He had a heart attack. I know that all the hiking affected his health and brought him to an earlier death, but we and he wouldn't have had it any other way. He was a truly remarkable dog, and he had a very happy life, full of love and adventure.”
Climbed Quandary Peak
How many times did Horton climb Quandary Peak? “Innumerable. In the high hundreds, probably close to 1,000.”
Horton’s Last Climbs Up Quandary
When was his last trip up Quandary?
“On Monday morning (he died Monday night), he had roamed our neighborhood and visited all the dogs on the street. He did summit a couple of times this year, but it was getting really hard for him and we tried our best to keep him home over the last two years. Still, he would often escape and continued to find hiking buddies until the end.”
Horton Picked His Climbing Partners
How did Horton get started climbing Quandary Peak? “We live at the trailhead and would hike with him along the trail. Starting when he was about three, he began to disappear from our yard. We soon realized that he was finding hikers and following them up the trail. They would call from the summit where they had cell reception and let us know they had our dog. Eventually, the calls stopped as people became familiar with Horton and he became a regular presence on the trail. If the hikers he was with didn't know him, someone on the trail would eventually recognize him and let them know he lived there. He always came home, but sometimes not until the next morning if he hooked up with campers. We have people come to our door to leave him treats to this day.”
Owners Occasionally Climbed with Horton
Did you and your husband hike up with him also? “Yes. But we had to work most days, so we didn't get many chances to summit with him. I would usually only make it to treeline before I had to turn around. David is a professional photographer. He took Horton along on all of his shoots throughout Summit County. David owns Breckenridge Photographics on Main Street in Breckenridge. Horton spent most of his time over the last couple of years with us at the shop (Breck Photo).”
Horton is Missed
Emily closed her letter to me: “Horton will be missed by all the hikers!”
His Hiking Buddies Loved Him
Yes, indeed, Horton is missed. Horton loved his mountain and spent much of his free time roaming its boulders, tundra, and snow in the company of whichever hiking buddies he chose that day. Plus all of Horton’s anonymous hiking buddies loved him. As Sandy and Genevieve wrote on their blog in 2009 about a Quandary ascent with Horton: “Horton dug up a tennis ball and we played fetch at 12,000 feet and he chased sticks once we dropped below treeline. Simply put, the dog is awesome and I feel lucky that he joined us.”
A Dog’s Life
On May 2, 2011, David Pfau wrote on 14ers.com: “Horton was able to do want he wanted in life…hike Quandary, meet people, chase goats, and come home (almost) every night for dinner and love from his family.” Could a dog’s life be any better than that?
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