Solitude has a highly talented staff with a wide range of skills and capabilities. Included on the team are the avalanche dogs who work side by side with our patrollers. These dogs provide emergency assistance in case of an avalanche on the mountain.
You’re probably seen our avalanche dogs while visiting Solitude. They are often spied catching chairlift rides in the morning or dashing down the hill at the end of the day. The best way to meet them up close is at one of our Avalanche Dog demonstrations that take place on various dates during the season. Keep an eye on our events calendar for details.
Avalanche dogs are considered a last line of defense in locating someone who has been buried in an avalanche. With their specialized training and highly sensitive noses, avalanche dogs can be lifesavers. When an avalanche takes place, they can be used to search debris fields to help confirm that no one is under the snow.
Solitude Avalanche Dogs
Solitude has three working dogs: Lumen, Honeybee, and Joani. We also have one dog in training, Nala, and one retiree named Rio. Rio no longer works on the hill but can occasionally be found patrolling the admin office in search of treats.
Patrollers select dogs at a young age, choosing canines with exceptionally high drive and the capacity to be trained. Training starts right away with hide-and-seek type games before moving on to search and rescue drills. After a long and structured training period, dogs undergo testing, demonstrating their ability to sniff out and locate people buried in snow.
Although their work is primarily performed at the resort, avalanche dogs can be utilized in backcountry rescues as well. As service dogs, they have special permission to be in the watershed, a place that’s off limits to most dogs. They also have special training to ride chairlifts, something that sets them aside from other service animals.
Avalanche Dog Merchandise
Our avalanche dogs are widely loved by guests, and we’ve created some special merchandise to share the love back with you. If you are looking for fun presents and stocking stuffers, we’ve got you covered this season. Visit our Canyon Fever stores to check out our brand-new avalanche dog hoodies, t-shirts, and baseball caps. We also sell plushie versions of some of our dogs, all of whom are wearing their distinctive red Solitude patrol vests.
12 Days of Holiday Cheer
Speaking of holidays, they are approaching fast, and we’ve already started to celebrate at Solitude. 12 Days of Holiday Cheer is currently underway, featuring a different holiday activity taking place every day at the resort through December 25.
Our 8:00 a.m. lifts are also back, just in time for the holidays. Beginning on Friday, December 20 you ride Apex Express, Moonbeam Express, and Link chairlifts beginning at 8:00 a.m. Come enjoy the #LongestSeasonInUtah!
To catch up on previous Amber’s Updates, visit https://blog.solitudemountain.com/category/ambers-updates/