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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, March 4-7, 2017 B-7 The Park Record Avalanche rescue dogs train in Colorado Phil Lindeman Summit Daily KEYSTONE, Colo. — Everything was dark. His breath echoed in the pit, one of several strewn across the steep and frosty slope, but all else was silent. Eerily so. And then he heard the telltale sniffing and snorting. From Feb. 22-23, roughly 30 ski patrollers and a dozen avalanche rescue dogs from nine Colorado resorts came to Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area for mid-season training with the Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment team, or CRAD, the state’s certification program for avy rescue animals and their handlers. Both days at both ski areas featured a slew of drills and scenarios, and just about every volunteer victim will vividly remember the most nerve-wracking of them all: live burials. Here’s how it worked. On Thursday morning — the second day of CRAD’s two-day training and testing event — volunteers skied to pre-dug pits in Dave’s Ditch, an unmarked area of steeps between Lift 1 and Lift 6. They then crawled into the snowy echo chamber, marked only by a red bamboo stick, and covered the entrance to simulate a complete burial. Everything was dark. And then they waited. Within minutes, most volunteers heard the first faint sounds of commotion on the sunny and seemingly far-away slope. The commotion got closer and their hearts beat faster, and seconds later they were greeted by an avalanche dog and its handler. The dogs dug, dug, dug until the volunteers were safely out of the hole, just as they were trained to do, and then excitedly waited for the next game of hide-and-seek to start. “Once the dog finds the scent, you want that dog to do nothing more than find where the scent is coming from,” said Tanner Franti, a Loveland ski patroller and CRAD avalanche dog tester. “They were excited to have the dog’s furry, wet noses poking them in the snow.” Bigger and better This February’s mid-winter CRAD training is part of a yearround program that’s just now getting off the ground. Last year, CRAD officials decided to schedule a slate of training and testing events across the state, beginning with a formal midwinter training and followed by a more informal dry-land training in October. Avy dog teams from across the state are invited, and with good reason: Since 2007, a total of 275 backcountry travelers have died in Colorado avalanches — the highest of any state in the nation — at a rate of seven or eight per season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. That includes 27 backcountry travelers and three ski patrollers. This past week’s training was low-key — officials plan to host full-scale trainings every other ski season, with refresher-style courses during the between seasons — but it still attracted teams from Winter Park and Telluride that aren’t as familiar with CRAD techniques as their peers in Summit and Eagle counties. “When we get together we push each other, and the more we train together, the more we see what other areas are doing,” Franti said. “It raises the bar for everyone. We’re really fortunate here to have a good, core group of handlers at every area that are dedicated to the training.” These regular trainings are all part of CRAD’s revised mission: to standardize search-and-rescue training across the state and, after a few years, become a nationally recognized resource for avy dog handlers. CRAD started as (and still is) a branch of Flight For Life Colorado — dogs and handlers get regular helicopter and deployment training throughout the season — but it’s slowly grown to cover everything a rescue team encounters, from smallscale slides near the resorts to complex, multi-victim incidents deep in the backcountry. “When we’re deployed in the field, we hope that people are wearing (avalanche) beacons,” said Matt Norfleet, assistant ski patrol director at A-Basin and a CRAD member. “If not, that’s why we have the dog, and that’s where it’s all about communication between the dog, the handler and the tech. That’s how we train in Summit County.” Beyond Summit For now, the majority of CRAD handlers are based in Summit and Eagle counties. But that’s slowly changing. Winter Park and Telluride sent two teams each to the training for a total of four dogs, four handlers and four snow techs. The teams observed drills on Wednesday, and then had the chance to practice their skills with buried volunteers on Thursday. It made for an intense two days, and that’s exactly what testers like Franti want. “We want to see the dog physically able to work for a sustained amount of time,” Franti said of the skills he looks for when cer- tifying avy dog teams. “It’s easy for a dog to look excited and work for five to eight minutes, but a sustained search takes a special dog with high drive and high stamina. Realistically, if you’re searching in an avalanche debris field, truth is you’ll be out there much longer.” While the dogs built staying power, their handlers worked on communication and “reading” their animals. Avy dogs are often smarter than their handlers, Franti said, meaning they learn bad habits when handlers aren’t focused and critical. Sometimes, dogs will learn to dig just long enough for their handler to appear, and then they lose interest in finishing the job. “A lot of times when we’re training, we, the handlers, will stand back and let the dogs work,” Franti said. “They’re trained to get their reward from the victim, whether that’s a toy or whatever. The game is to get all the way to the person.” It might be a game for the dogs, but it’s a serious regimen for their handlers. With time, CRAD officials hope their program will be on par with peers like Wasatch Backcountry Rescue of Utah and CARDA, the Canadian Avalanche Dog Rescue Association. “In a realistic deployment, where we’re going into a largescale avalanche, it’s realistic that we’ll be working together,” Franti said. “One of the most challenging things with backcountry and avalanche rescue is figuring out communication with people you don’t work with every day. By doing this — by working with CRAD — it helps get us streamlined and on the same page for the time it really happens.” One-on-one ACT and SAT prep Free practice tests Call or email today to get started! kellyv@breakawayprep.com 435.487.9651 Some of the pets at Nuzzles & Co. looking for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Emilio Red Sydney Fernando Emilio is an adorable pit bull terrier mix. This 1-year-old lovebug is super sweet. He gets along well with other dogs but is too interested in cats to share a home with them. This happy boy is very treat-motivated and is always eager to please. Red is a big, lovable 3-year-old male yellow Labrador. He is a happy guy who enjoys being outside and going for walks. He loves to play ball, and he knows his basic commands. He is the kind of dog who just wants to make his people happy. Sydney is a beautiful and petite 2-year-old pit bull terrier mix. She’s very sweet and cuddly, but she’s a little timid around strangers. She’s great on a leash and has good manners, but she needs a patient person to help build her confidence and basic skills. Meet Fernando, a handsome senior Chihuahua. This little ladies’ man is a total snuggler. At 8 years old, he enjoys the company of other small dogs and doesn’t seem to mind cats. He would do best in a quiet home where he can relax and feel safe and loved. Ninja Katniss Snuffy Tamra Ninja is a sleek black domestic shorthair. He’s about 1 or 2 years old, and full of youthful energy. This playful cat gets along well with other cats. Ninja is an outgoing and friendly guy who’s looking for an awesome forever home. Katniss is a big snuggler with a heart of gold. She is about 7 years old and has a brown tabby coat. Katniss wants to be your friend for life. She is looking for that “purrfect” home where she can relax and spend time with her favorite people. Snuffy is a loving tabby and white domestic shorthair. He’s about 11 years old, and he would love to find a forever home where he can be someone’s best friend. He loves attention and is happiest wherever his people are. This sweet boy is a total love. Tamra is an 18-month-old orange and white domestic shorthair. This spunky little girl is a bundle of love who will do anything for a chin scratch or snuggle. She gets along well with other cats and loves company and affection from people, too. Wanted: Volunteers These not-for-profit organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words. The Utah 1033 Foundation The Utah 1033 Foundation is a statewide nonprofit that provides immediate financial assistance to families of fallen Utah police officers. It also offers educational assistance for the dependents of active officers. The foundation is looking for dedicated volunteers interested in staffing various events throughout the year and/or working with its fundraising team. Interested? Send an email to info@utah1033.org. Youth Enrichment Services YES, Youth Enrichment Services, is a nonprofit of professionals who specialize in local small-business enrichment programs and services for children in the Park City community. The mission of YES is to provide parents with free information and resources, while supporting local businesses. Check out Yespc.org. YES needs volunteers to help with a variety of projects. YES is flexible and would appreciate any time you could offer. The group is also looking for a high school/college intern to help with upcoming growth plans and events. Please contact Rebecca Tibbits at 718916-7136 or rebecca@yespc.org. After-School Literacy Program Spend an afternoon helping a student with reading, writing or a critical-thinking-based project in this fun, free, after-school, one-on-one tutoring center. Mega-Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ needs adult tutors to help children find their inner genius. The center is open at both locations Monday through Thursday, from 2:30-5:45 p.m., for students in grades two through 12. Please contact Jaimie for information: jatlas@parkcity.institute, 435-655-8252. Alf Engen Ski Museum Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation is seeking volunteers to help with museum operation/tours and archive collections. Responsibilities include overseeing interactive and virtual exhibits in the museum, guiding and educating visitors about the history of skiing and snow sports, and digitally archiving museum collections. Volunteers must enjoy interacting with the public and have a passion for ski and snow sports history. If interested, email connie@ utaholympiclegacy.com or call 435-658-4240. Applegate Home Care & Hospice Applegate Home Care & Hospice is welcoming volunteers to join its team of caring professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. The hospice volunteer offers service, compassion and a listening ear to clients and their families. If you would like to volunteer or want to learn more about volunteering with Applegate, please contact the hospice volunteer coordinator at 800-871-0102 or visit applegatehomecare.com. Arts-Kids Arts-Kids is in need of volunteers for its spring session. Sign up now to participate in one of Arts-Kids eight-week after-school groups in Summit and Wasatch counties. After-school volunteer time commitment is one day per week for three hours after school. The nonprofit also has office volunteer opportunities. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers. COTTONWOOD AND LAYTON HILLS MALLS ONLY CLOSING! 70 % OFF TICKETED PRICE! ORIGINAL ALL AREA RUGS! HAND CRAFTED RUGS AND MACHINE REPRODUCTIONS. SIZES FROM 2’ X 3’ TO OVERSIZED 9’ X 12’ IN EVERY COLOR AND DESIGN! STOREWIDE SAVINGS 40 70 % TO % OFF LOWEST TICKETED PRICE! SELECTED COSMETICS, FRAGRANCES AND BRANDS EXCLUDED COTTONWOOD MALL 4835 HIGHLAND DRIVE IN SALT LAKE CITY LAYTON HILLS MALL 1000 LAYTON HILLS MALL IN LAYTON We accept Macy’s Card, Cash, Master Card, Visa, American Express and Macy’s Gift Cards. Sorry, no checks. As of 1/8/2017 All sales are nal, no returns, no adjustments. Due to the nature of this sale, we can no longer honor coupons, mall certicates, or advertised prices offered at other Macy’s locations or website. Reg./Orig. prices are offering prices that may not have resulted in sales, and intermediate markdowns may have been taken. Selected cosmetics, fragrances and brands excluded from this sale. The rug department is a leased department, and discounts may vary from storewide discounts. |