In the snow-covered mountains, man's best friend can quickly become man's best chance at survival. That's why, for decades, Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment has been training dogs and handlers to rise to the challenge.
Photo by Sawyer D Argonne / sdargonne@summitdaily.com
Search and rescue teams from across the state gathered near Black Lake at Vail Pass on Thursday morning to take part in a mock-avalanche rescue, hoping to educate community members about how their operations work and the dangers of venturing into the backcountry unprepared.
Representatives from about a dozen organizations statewide including Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons and members of the Summit County Rescue Group were present to participate in the exercise and speak to members of the media to inform the public about the harsh consequences of avalanches as well as to show the importance of rescue teams and the agencies supporting them in keeping their communities safe.