In an average year, four people die in avalanches in Utah’s mountains and this year the risk has arrived early.

Utah’s Avalanche Center has around 150 slides reported each year but they think that is only half the real number. Last weekend, there were 11 large avalanches with four reported on Sunday alone. No one was injured but avalanches can be deadly, and given that there are no addresses or street signs out in the backcountry, where skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers may set off an avalanche, it is vitally important for effective communication to cope with the vast terrain.

Therefore there has now been a special training class to help more than two dozen emergency dispatchers from Salt Lake County to understand what they are dealing with when people are trapped in an avalanche.

They took a tram ride to the top of Hidden Peak at Snowbird and saw the coordination it takes with a helicopter, multiple rescue teams and avalanche dogs to save a person who has been trapped or injured in an avalanche. This way it enabled them to see the action and coordination among as many as 11 agencies that it takes to rescue a person trapped or hurt in an avalanche.

When you meet a dog for the first time, and it is on a lead and with its owner, don’t move immediately to pat it on the head. Firstly, stretch out your arm straight and make a fist with your hand and allow the dog to sniff you first. Then stroke the dog under the chin rather than patting it on top of the head as the dog might take a pat on the head as being aggressive behavior.

Don’t smile or grin at the dog as he may think you are baring your teeth and want to attack and try not to look directly in the dog’s eyes as some animals see that as a threat and become aggressive.

If the dog decides he does not want to engage with you and moves away, do not follow as they are saying they do not want to be with you.

Finally, do be aware of the signs that a dog is feeling uncomfortable and may become aggressive. These include yawning or licking their lips. They could also appear to be tensing their bodies or putting their tails in the air or wagging their tails slowly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q-JUZzAJtE