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SALT LAKE CITY — Like any good climber, Craig Armstrong always makes sure he has a partner. After all, there’s safety in numbers. But while there are usually other humans accompanying Armstrong on climbs, his main partner is a frisky, domestic medium-hair cat named Millie.
Armstrong first met Millie at a local pet rescue center. The friendly feline immediately climbed up his back and sat on his shoulders, alerting Armstrong to her shared love for climbing.
Now, the two go on adventures throughout the western United States. Their recent canyoneering trip in the Robber’s Roost area even got made into a YouTube video.
Armstrong regularly posts photos of Millie to his Instagram account, and the response has been stunning. More than 44,000 people follow the account and openly share their affection for Millie.
In fact, the pair has received worldwide acclaim for their unique adventures. They’ve been featured on Buzzfeed, the Huffington Post and the Daily Mail. And when a Wired.com feature looked at the social media phenomenon of cats accompanying their owners in the outdoors, it declared that “Millie undoubtedly is the most well-known of adventure cats.”
For Armstrong, climbing with Millie takes his love of the outdoors to a whole new level.
“Two hours into a day of adventuring, I usually have the thought that I haven’t thought about anything else for the past two hours,” he said. “It’s just kid-like fun.”
So what’s next for the pair? They’re planning several trips, with a specific focus on the southern region of the San Rafael Swell.
“I’ve made tons of trips there and feel like I’ve only seen a tenth of it,” Armstrong said. “There are long, slabby sandstone climbs, endless slot canyons and beautiful desert to explore. It’s my favorite place to be with her.”