My cousin [Redacted], while attending Steamboat Mountain School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, volunteered to be buried under twelve feet of packed avalanche snow so that dogs could practice finding people buried in avalanches. After a drive to Rabbit Ears Pass, an area known for its affinity for avalanches, the Search and Rescue team fitted her with a beacon as a failsafe, in case the dogs couldn’t manage the search. Using a backhoe, the team dug a 12-foot hole, creating a small snow cave about the size of a single-person tent. She then crawled into the cave. Her environment wasn’t too drab, as she was equipped with the luxuries of a sleeping bag, pad, and headlamp for reading. The workers then used the backhoe to pile snow on top of the cave. In contrast to the cold, windy blizzard outside,[REDACTED] described her confined compartment as a very appealing, silent snuggery. As time passed, her body heat melted the snow above, making the cave damp. What had started as a cozy refuge turned into a subpar dwelling, rife with gelid moisture. After an hour of being buried, the dogs found her and alerted the Search and Rescue team by barking and pawing at the snow. Once the team located her, they dug her out of the packed snow. Daylight at last, and the first thing to greet her was a smiling German Shepherd.
[I welcome comments and suggestions. I appreciate the help.]
Citations -
Almonature. "Avalanche Dogs." Digital image. Almonature. https://www.almonature.com/en_GB/blog/avalanche-dogs-complex-training-for-rescue-at-high-altitude/
The Confusing Chaff
Colorado has the worst avalanche danger of any mountain range in the world (according to my primary source storyteller). As a student at a convivial boarding school, opportunities sprang up like weeds in spring. With constant interaction between teachers and the community, we attendees had numerous chances to extend the range of our life experiences. At her school, extracurricular activities often stemmed from the interests or involvement of individual professors, leading to an ever-changing array of offerings. Many of the teachers were involved with the town’s Search and Rescue squad, which often drew volunteers from our school. A noteworthy community interaction was volunteering as the victim to help train the Search and Rescue avalanche dogs.
[REDACTED] was cheerful in her little snuggery, equipped with a headlamp to read and fill the time. With her insouciant hippie demeanor and her book to stave off any of the predictable worries, she likely kept herself from fretting about whether there was enough air or if they’d find her. They knew where she was, anyhow, thanks to the beacon. So if the pups failed to pick up the human scent, there was always a failsafe—they would come get her in an hour, regardless of whether the pups could find her or not. Although the wetness compounded the cold, she mentioned that it came with the territory and she’d grown accustomed to it. She was greeted by a smiling German Shepherd and driven back to school in time for dinner.
Back in time for dinner in Routt County, Colorado. She was a junior. Routt County Search and Rescue found her in winter, February. Perhaps she was slightly worried about the structure of the hole. Knowing she was going to be very cold, she wore many layers.
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