Avalanche dogs train with CalStar

Ski patrollers from Sierra-at-Tahoe and Heavenly Mountain Resort spent part of Wednesday working with CalStar to make sure the rescue dogs are comfortable around the helicopter.

The annual training allows for the avalanche dogs and their handlers to operate around a running helicopter in a safe and practiced environment prior to needing to respond to a real incident.

The dogs and handlers were transported into the Huckleberry area of Sierra to practice search scenarios.

CalStar and Sierra conducted the first Avalanche Dog Days in 2008. It is now an annual event.

Last summer CalStar also had a training with CARDA Dogs (California Rescue Dog Association) as part of its ongoing work with other agencies like El Dorado County Search and Rescue.

Part of the goal is to have dogs be comfortable flying in helicopters to be able to be airlifted to a search site so they aren’t exhausted by the time they hike in and their real work begins.

CalStar works with ski patrol avalanche dogs at Sierra. Photo/Provided