Avalanche Rescue Dog School in BCC Jan. 23-26

Media Invited to Observe Dog Training, Helicopter Demo Wednesday, Jan.25

Local teams of highly-trained avalanche rescue dogs and their handlers will gather in Big Cottonwood Canyon Jan. 23-26 for avalanche victim search drills, beacon searches, helicopter training and classroom sessions conducted by Wasatch Backcountry Rescue (WBR).

 

“Avalanche Rescue Dog School gives nine Utah resorts the opportunity to train with some of our most important resources, including helicopters and agility courses,” said Dean Cardinale, President of WBR and Director of Snowbird Ski Patrol. “It gives us the experience we need to confidently rescue the general public from the backcountry.”

 

Media are invited to observe and photograph the training on Wednesday, Jan. 25, which will include a buried car drill, a beacon rescue search and a helicopter transceiver search using new long-range receiver technology. AirMed and Life Flight helicopters will also be flying rescue dog teams from Brighton into the backcountry for avalanche rescue drills and training.

 

Ski patrol and snow safety professionals will be available for interviews and demonstrations of avalanche rescue techniques beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Brighton Ski Resort.

 

WBR hosts this biennial avalanche rescue dog seminar, which features instructors from some of the most elite training and certification organizations in the world for avalanche rescue groups.

 

Who: WBR In-house teams of avalanche rescue dogs and their handlers.

 

What: Training in mock avalanches with AirMed and Life Flight helicopters.

 

Where: Brighton Ski Resort, Big Cottonwood Canyon. The helicopters will depart from the lower parking lot, Entry 1.

 

When: Jan. 23-24; Media is invited to attend Jan. 25 starting at 10 a.m.

 

Please RSVP to Dean Cardinale dcardinale@snowbird.com or (801) 230-9089.

 

Celebrating more than 30 years of service, Wasatch Backcountry Rescue is a volunteer organization that rescues the general public in backcountry emergency situations. WBR is made up of snow safety professionals and their avalanche rescue dogs from nine Utah resorts, UDOT, U.S. Forest Service, the Utah Olympic Park and Wasatch Powderbird Guides working with Salt Lake, Utah and Summit county sheriffs’ offices. WBR member resorts are Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Park City, The Canyons, Deer Valley, Snowbasin and Sundance. For more information on Wasatch Backcountry Rescue visit www.wbrescue.org.

 

For more information, contact Dean Cardinale at (801) 230-9089.