Bear Valley, CA, Introduces New, Adorable Avalanche Dog

Her name references the Gallatin Range in Montana because her “dad,” Bear Valley assistant patrol director Patrick Kamman, is a Big Sky Country native.

Like other new members of a ski patrol dog team, Gallatin isn’t quite ready to start pulling skiers out of avalanches. Instead, she’s working on her obedience, socialization, and comfort in mountain terrain. To build the basics, Bear Valley’s ski patrol is playing simple games like hide and seek with Gallatin.

“We’re excited to watch her skills grow and know she’ll be an incredible addition to our patrol team, our snow safety program, and the resort as a whole!” Bear Valley wrote in the post.

The history of avalanche dogs dates back at least as far as the early 18th century, when monks on the mountainous St. Bernard Pass between Switzerland and Italy would rely on canine companions to help rescue travellers stuck in the snow.

Avalanche dog programs at ski resorts around the world have become more official since then, with non-profits and other organizations supporting canine avalanche rescue programs.

For instance, since 2004, the avalanche dog team at Mammoth Mountain, California, has been supported by the non-profit Eastside K-9. The non-profit structure allows the dog teams to participate in backcountry searches outside the boundaries of Mammoth Mountain.

You can probably guess what makes dogs a useful member of any ski patrol team: it’s their keen sense of smell. When a victim becomes buried in the snow, a well-trained dog can sniff them out and then clue rescuers in. Then, the patrollers can pull the skier from the snow, hopefully saving a life in the process.

So, as tempting as it is to pet every ski patrol dog you encounter, you should probably give them space unless their handler says it’s okay for you to say hi. They may be cute, but just like the other ski patrollers, they’re on the clock.