Katana is a Shiba Inu puppy that lives with her father, Kyle Rohrig. Until she lost her vision, she was a confident and seasoned hiker. Fortunately, she has a father who will go to any lengths to ensure that his fur baby regains her confidence which she lost when she couldn’t see.
Kyle and Katana are a pair of adventurers. They previously completed the Appalachian Trail’s 2,200 miles and were on working their way towards successfully completing the Pacific Crest Trail’s 2,650 miles. Unfortunately, glaucoma began to veil Katana’s left eye.
Due to what was happening to Katana’s health, the duo was compelled to put a pause on what they were doing. Katana had to have surgery. And after the vet cleared her after her procedure, Katana and Kyle returned to complete what they have already started.
Unfortunately, Katana lost her vision on her right eye after more than a year. This took a toll on the dog’s ever-confident disposition. Kyle stated that Katana developed a shy and cautious demeanor, as if she became unsure of herself.
Katana was still able to properly recall the arrangement of their house and live comfortably for the remainder of her years. Kyle, on the other hand, was well aware that their exploits were far from over. As Katana adjusted to the darkness, Kyle devised a plan to re-establish her faith in her abilities and in herself.
Kyle stated that he had had his eye on the Florida Trail for several years. However, he never formally made the actual plans. When Katana lost her sight, he reasoned that this trail would be quite ideal in assisting the dog in coming to terms with her new situation.
On January 8, the pair began hiking at the Everglades’ Big Cypress trailhead. This was a three-month journey on a relatively level trail. It was, however, a buggy, rainy, and muddy day when they did this, and at times, the water reached Kyle’s waist. But they braved through and even encountered a number of dangerous animals such as snakes and alligators. Kyle described the trek as dull and arduous.
When the route became too difficult for Katana, Kyle would carry her over his shoulders. Katana hiked more than 200 kilometers alone and Kyle carried her the remaining 800 miles. Kyle observed how much Katana adored having the freedom to explore again.
Source: nomadic_nuance