As seen in the Martis Camp magazine. The next time you ski California’s Palisades Tahoe, you’ll likely see some of skiing’s best rescue canines dogging it on the summit. Don’t be fooled. The life of a patroller and his dog is anything but easy: long days of repetition, brutal weather and exhausting labor. From the human perspective, it takes an unrelenting commitment. From the four-legged view, it takes two vital components: the right attitude and one hell of a good nose.
It’s not always about hard work and training. Springtime — when the sun is out, the crowds have thinned and the avalanche risk is minimal — this is the time to hang out. As with all things in the life of a rescue dog, even the downtime is exercise in strengthening the relationship between dog and handler. And when the dogs aren’t working, there’s no better place to snooze than on a sunny patrol-shack deck. Of course, there are interruptions in that perfect dog nap, when visitors stop by to give a quick scratch and say hello.
These images by Keoki Flagg are available at Keoki Gallery in the Village at Palisades Tahoe
