Jack 0' The Mountain

A story from the rocky mountains of BC, by: Rod Reimer, Dunster, BC.

Speaking of Working Jacks, we live in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, on a 160 acre ranch, and also own and operate a 250 Square Mile Trapline. Ever since our own "Jack" (how's that for an original name?) came into our lives he has never ceased to amaze us. I'll never forget the day our friends Donna & Perry Melenka of Remington Russells in Prince George brought him to us at seven months of age. When they handed him on the leash to our then eight year old son Caleb, he spotted our resident nuisance cat, and, like a flash he was off after the fleeing feline, with Caleb running behind desperately clutching the leash. We almost died laughing at that hilarious sight.

That was November and I was just setting out my trapline in the back-country mountains. I believe it was in January that I took Caleb and Jack on the Journey to the back cabin some eight miles up the creek, on foot in the deep snow, in the dead of Winter. We kind of worried at first at how this little smooth coat would stand up to a five day trek in Winter Wilderness. Not to worry, he did just fine. What a sight, to see Jack running over the snow as if he were an "Artic Fox" Terrier. We never even had to use a leash, he was so obedient and he didn't even bother my trap sets. Bothered a few Squirrels though. Who hasn't seen a Jack run half way up a tree in hot pursuit of a Squirrel? Once when he caught the scent of a Wolverine he bristled, growled and barked without a hint of fear. It kind of made me wonder what would happen if he actually confronted old “Wolvy" in person.

Well later that following summer he actually did confront a big old Black Bear on our road. My wife Deb was walking him and our two Rottweilers when out of the bush and on to the road jumped the Bear. Before the Rotties could catch up from their rearguard positions, Jack was on the Bear in a flash, barking and biting his furry rump and he totally, fearlessly, ran that Bear off, possibly saving Deb's life. To this day she is slightly in awe of that performance.

Jack even won a fight with a friend's male Rottweiler. The Rottie attacked Jack who smartly squirmed underneath his big body and bit him in the um .... Jewels. Once again some performance Jack.

Perhaps his most incredible feat came when my friend Mike and I took him up the mountain to build a cabin. It was an eight hour hike to the top of the mountain where we camped and another two hours down into the valley on the other side the next day. We built the cabin in two days and Monday morning when we were packing up to leave we called for Jack, but he was nowhere to be seen. We had heard him bark a few hours earlier but had not seen him since. Mike had to be back in town that day so I climbed to the top with him and radioed home to Deb to see if by some chance Jack was there. He wasn't and I could feel the horror my family felt at the possibility of losing Jack. Dejected and discouraged I made my way back down to my newly built cabin to spend the night and wait and continue to call out for Jack. It was a long and dreadful night constantly thinking I heard him amidst the hooting of a Night Owl and a distant “Wolf's” howl. The worst thing about this was that Jack was Caleb's dog and his best friend and he hadn't really wanted me to take him in the first place. If I now lost Jack, Caleb would be heart broken and was at that moment probably crying his eyes out. I couldn't forgive myself and I too found myself crying. The next day I had to leave, and, with a heavy heart I said a prayer for Jack and climbed back up the mountain toward home. Once at the top I built a little memorial for our dear Jack. Down at the bottom when I reached my truck parked in the field the first thing I noticed was a little sticky note paper on the steering wheel saying" Jack is at home" the joy I felt was beyond words. To this day we are amazed at how he found his way home from the other side of the mountain, from a place he'd never been before. All by himself braving a world of Wolves, Bears, Cougars and not to mention Airborne predators like, Eagles, and Great Grey Owls. One could possibly understand him getting to the truck but how did he know where the truck had driven from, being the two miles up the old highway crossing the new highway to reach home?

Well go figure!

This "Jack" continues to amaze us and I'm sure there will be many more incredible stories to follow.

It is sad to say that Jack's life came to a tragic end. He lives on in our hearts and now in his grandson Hunter, who is Caleb's new Best Friend.

Rod Reimer, of Rhymerussell Terriers, Dunster, B.C .... 250-968-4335