WBR Intern's blog

Provided by: David Budge, Mountain Guide, Utah Mountain Adventures

Atomic Backcountry Skis, Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, and Level Nine Sports are hosting a free avalanche awareness clinic Friday February 24th.  The free clinic will include a multi-media presentation by Wasatch avalanche professionals and guest Snowbird ski patrollers.  They will speak on safety in the backcountry and sidecountry for your travel and recreation.

Sue Purvis and WBR dog handlers, shared thier skills this week and the 20^th Annual Worldwide Winter Wilderness Medicine Conference this week in Park City.  WBR teaching skills are ever ready and extra fresh after the WBR In-House Dog School two weeks ago, and great weather made for fun in the snow.

It was another great year for participants at the Wastatch Backcountry Rescue In-House Dog School.  A wide range of dogs, handlers, educators, and volunteers gathered at Brighton Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon for the four-day training. 

It is an even numbered year, which means the WBR Dog School is ramping up and getting ready to train in-house WBR member teams.  Next season (2013), an odd numbered year is available for enrollment for public and International teams by application.

Local WBR dog handlers train on basic and advanced field work, dog socialization, puppy instruction, ranging, beacon search, probing techniques, modern shoveling techniques, dog agility, dog obedience, and the Swiss four phase method.  Next week the crew hits Brighton Ski Resort to build on their skills.  Check in next week to see how the pups and handlers measure up to these rigorous standards.