lgriffo@tahoedailytribune.com
Many dog lovers will say their K9 “saved their life,” but for people caught in avalanches, a dog could literally be the difference between life and death.
MoMo breaking through the way into the snow cave. Laney Griffo / Tahoe Daily Tribune
All around the Lake Tahoe Basin, fluffy heroes and their handlers have spent hundreds of hours being prepared for worst case scenarios.
There are a couple of reasons why dogs make good members of search and rescue teams.
Ricky Newberry, senior director of mountain operations for Kirkwood Mountain Resort said a dog’s ability to smell and their ability to navigate alpine terrain make them ideal search and rescuers.
Laney Griffo | Special to The Union
The various Search and Rescue teams around the Lake Tahoe Basin are preparing for what they expect to be a busy season.
Washoe County Search and Rescue president Brian Block said despite COVID-19, they’ve been able to prepare as normal with the exception of the avalanche classroom training being held online. They have about 30 volunteers with two full-time workers. They are assisted by the special vehicle unit, the WOOF team and Hasty Team, which is a highly trained unit specializing in backcountry, dive, swiftwater, helicopter hoist and technical rope rescue.
They have started the field portion of the training at Galena, where they’ve been following COVID guidelines.
Washoe County Search and Rescue trains for the season.
This week is Backcountry Awareness Week and with snow on the ground, the different Search and Rescue teams around the Lake Tahoe Basin are preparing for what they expect to be a busy season.
Washoe County Search and Rescue president Brian Block said despite COVID, they’ve been able to prepare as normal with the exception of the avalanche classroom training being held online. They have about 30 volunteers with two full-timers. They are assisted by the special vehicle unit, the WOOF team and Hasty Team, which is a highly trained unit specializing in backcountry, dive, swiftwater, helicopter hoist and technical rope rescue.