The Mountain Rescue – December 13 – Advent Calendar 2024

The Mountain Rescue

by Aaron Aaronsen

The crisp mountain air filled Monti J. Monti’s lungs as he stepped out of his grandparents’ cozy farmhouse. Snow blanketed the peaks, glistening under the winter sun, and the world seemed quiet and magical. Pilatus, the family’s big Swiss Mountain Dog, bounded ahead, leaving paw prints in the snow.

“Stay close to the farm, Monti,” his grandmother called from the barn. “We’re expecting more snow this afternoon!”

“Okay!” Monti replied, tugging his beanie snugly over his ears. He loved visiting his grandparents in the mountains, where everything felt so peaceful. Today, he planned to help his grandfather with the goats and explore the trails around the farm.

Monti was carrying hay to the barn when he noticed something odd. One of the baby goats, Zimi, wasn’t in her usual spot. He checked behind the hay bales and peeked into the barn’s corners, but there was no sign of her.

“Grandpa, have you seen Zimi?” Monti asked, setting the hay down.

His grandfather frowned and adjusted his woolen cap. “She must have wandered off again. That little goat has a curious spirit.”

“I can help find her!” Monti offered eagerly.

His grandfather hesitated. “The snow is starting to fall, Monti. It’s not safe to go far. But if you stay near the farm and take Pilatus with you, I trust you to look.”

Monti nodded seriously. “I’ll be careful. Pilatus and I will bring her back.”

With Pilatus trotting at his side, Monti started following the faint goat tracks in the snow. The prints led away from the barn and toward the forest edge. Monti remembered his grandfather’s advice about staying on the trails and using landmarks to avoid getting lost.

“Come on, Pilatus,” Monti said, scanning the ground for more clues. The falling snow made it harder to see, but Pilatus’s keen nose seemed to pick up Zimi’s scent.

The tracks led to a small hollow surrounded by fir trees. Monti’s heart leapt when he spotted Zimi—her tiny figure was half-buried in snow, stuck in a shallow ditch. She bleated weakly as Monti approached.

“Zimi! I found you!” Monti exclaimed, hurrying to her side. The ditch wasn’t deep, but the snow had made it slippery. Monti carefully climbed in, brushing snow off Zimi’s back.

“It’s okay, girl,” he said softly. “We’ll get you home.”

With a firm grip, Monti lifted Zimi out of the ditch and onto solid ground. Pilatus wagged his tail and barked, as if cheering Monti on.

The snow was falling more heavily now, and Monti knew they had to hurry back. Cradling Zimi in his arms, he followed Pilatus’s lead, retracing their steps through the deepening snow.

By the time they reached the barn, Monti’s cheeks were pink with cold, and his arms ached from carrying Zimi. His grandparents rushed out to meet him, their faces full of relief.

“Monti! You found her!” his grandmother said, taking the little goat and wrapping her in a warm blanket.

“You did a brave thing today, Monti,” his grandfather said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You took responsibility and stayed calm, even in the snow. That’s not easy.”

Monti smiled, feeling a mix of pride and exhaustion. “I just wanted to make sure she was safe.”

“And you did,” his grandmother said. “Caring for others, even when it’s hard, is what makes the mountains—and our family—so special.”

That evening, Monti sat by the fire with a steaming mug of milk, watching Zimi nap in a cozy corner of the barn. Pilatus lay at his feet, snoring softly.

Monti thought about the day’s adventure and what his grandfather had said. Being responsible didn’t always feel easy, but it felt good to know he had done the right thing.

As the snow fell outside, Monti smiled, knowing he had learned something important: caring for others, no matter how small, could make the world just a little warmer.