The Eastside K-9 team of avalanche rescue dogs work alongside the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol to provide patrol and assistance on Mammoth’s snowy slopes in the California High Sierra Mountain Range. King, a Golden Retriever, and Chief, a Black Labrador, make up the team of ambitious and well-trained search and rescue canines.

Trained under the Canadian Rescue Dog Association standards, King and Chief have undergone a rigorous program that includes ten weeks of obedience training. During this training, they participate in running drills, toy hides over expansive areas, and rides on snow equipment such as snowmobiles, SnoCats, chairlifts, and toboggans.

Post-graduation, King and Chief were outfitted with gear specifically designed to meet their cold-weather needs. Both dogs wear Ruff Wear Grip Trex™ dog boots and red Web Master™ harnesses for their daily operations.

The Eastside K-9 group, founded in 2004 by handler Sean Macedonio, was created to assist with avalanche rescue and provide backcountry safety education. The group’s proactive approach to avalanche safety emphasizes the danger of traveling in mountain terrain during winter conditions. They educate backcountry travelers to check the local avalanche forecasting center in advance and when traveling, to arm themselves with an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe.

According to Scott Quirsfeld, Eastside K-9 dog handler, “The best chance for survival if you are caught in an avalanche, and do not suffer major trauma, is that you have a partner to assist you and that you're wearing avalanche transceivers. A rescue dog is probably the next best chance.”

Thanks to the Eastside K-9 and Mammoth Ski Patrol groups for keeping our slopes safe!