Among working dogs, avalanche rescue is probably one of the coolest jobs they could have. But for these dogs, staying on top of their game could mean enlisting the help of cutting-edge technology.
According to Leaps.org, the nature of rescue work makes avalanche dogs, also known as “avy dogs”, an indispensable part of the team. With their almost-supernatural sense of smell, dogs can detect everything from COVID to literal stress. One study even suggested that dogs’ sense of smell is so evolved it actually links to their sense of sight. That being said, it’s no surprise that engineers have studied the canine nose to create better, more sensitive particle detectors for security operations.
Not quite robo-dogs, but still pretty cool
But, a dog’s nose doesn’t always know. And in a rescue situation, any tool that can save lives is a tool worth using. That’s why thermal-imaging drones, transceiver beacons, and other signal locators have become a common sight at most ski resorts. Although avalanche dogs go through rigorous training, the work definitely takes a toll on both canines and people.
Interestingly, one aspect of the work that’s exceedingly difficult is predicting where avalanches are going to happen. The science is an emerging one, but large-scale computer simulations that can gather massive amounts of data are uncovering just what makes an avalanche happen. For rescue workers—and their dogs—any knowledge on this front makes their job immensely easier.
The tech is hopeful, but avalanche dogs aren’t going anywhere
Although the avalanche detection models are promising, Ethan Greene from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) has his doubts. “If you have six slopes that are lined up next to each other,” Greene said, “and you’re going to try to predict which one avalanches…that’s going to be really hard to do.”
Continuing, Greene said, “And I think it’s going to be a long time before we’re able to do that.”
Either way, avalanche dogs won’t be going anywhere. For ski patrollers, raising, training, and working alongside these dogs is a tradition that reaps endless rewards. And for the mountain towns that house these ski resorts, avalanche dogs become symbols of the community.
