Utah Olympic Park Patrol's blog

On Wednesday, February 29th the Utah Avalanche Center will be giving a "Know Before You Go" presentation at the Utah Olympic Park.  This is an introduction level presentation for backcountry users in Utah.  Sean Hopewell and Parley will also be on hand to discuss Wasatch Backcountry Rescue's role in the avalanche community.  It's free to attend-come join us!

Where: Utah Olympic Park Museum

When: Friday, February 29th at 7:00PM

Every year the WBR selects one avalanche dog team and one handler to attend the ARS Avalanche Dog Handler Training Course in Andermatt, Switzerland.  This year, Sean Hopewell and Parley from the Utah Olympic Park along with Dan Costaschuk from Canyons were selected to attend.  This agreement between the WBR and Alpinerettungshweiz is essentially an exchange program where WBR handlers can learn training techniques from one of the oldest dog programs in the world.

On October 13th, teams from throughout northern Utah gathered at the Utah Olympic Park for obedience testing and "hot load" training with AirMed.

The teams started off the morning by performing their annual obedience test.  Every "A" level team must complete an annual obedience test to be considered operational for the up-and-coming winter season.  The test focuses on the K-9's ability to heel, stay, stay with the handler out of site, and aggression with other avalanche teams.  Congratulations to the teams that passed!

On October 13th, 2010 the Utah Olympic Park hosted the annual WBR obedience test for the area avalanche rescue teams.  17 teams attended from throughout Northern Utah.  Each team must pass an annual obedience evaluation to be operational for the up-and-coming winter season.  The teams were tested on behaviors such as sitting, staying, healing, and coming.  Each team practiced "dropping" behaviors where the dog would stop and drop midway while returning to the handler.  Teams also practiced retrieving drills that are good skills for an avalanche team to exhibit.

On April 15th, Chris Monroe from the UOP Patrol tested at Snowbird Ski and Summer resort as second handler to Parley, the UOP's only "A" level avalanche rescue dog.  The test was held in the Mineral Basin area on the south side of the resort.

The test consisted of two live burials with one article in the search area and one outside for a reward.  The first live burial was located in under five minutes and all three were completed in just over twelve minutes.