Not everyone is ready to climb a 14er this weekend. Whether it’s because of fitness, preparation, altitude readiness, improper footwear, poor hydration, strength or stamina.

The same is true for dogs.

But as the number of people in Colorado’s wilderness grows , so does the number of pets who accompany their owners onto trails. The result is that search-and-rescue operations around the state have seen a spike in dog rescues from 14,000-foot peaks and other trails this year.

“Honestly, it’s probably a numbers game that with more dogs out on the trails, there are more likely going to be more missions,” said Nicole Lathrop, spokesperson for Chaffee County Search and Rescue North (CCSRN), whose territory includes 14,197-foot Mount Princeton.

There have been six dogs rescued from Mount Pri

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