More than 500 people gathered in Park City last weekend for an evening of bluegrass, fundraising and avalanche rescue dogs at the 11th annual Backcountry BowWow, organized by the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association. The event, held March 7 at The Marquis Park City, raised over $32,000 to support avalanche rescue dog training, ski patrol initiatives and outdoor safety organizations across the Wasatch and Intermountain West. Marianna Buckel, the event’s committee chair, said the turnout exceeded expectations. “It was super fun. We also had our biggest ticket sale. There were more than 500 tickets sold, which was awesome,” said Buckel. Local band Pixie and the Partygrass Boys returned to headline the event with a meet-and-greet with avalanche rescue dogs and their handlers throughout the event, along with a silent auction and opportunity drawings.  With tickets at $35, the fundraiser has become a staple for the ski patrol and backcountry community in Park City, bringing together locals and outdoor enthusiasts while raising money for safety and training programs across the industry.  A significant portion of the money raised will go to Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, the volunteer organization that trains avalanche rescue dogs across the Wasatch Range. The nonprofit coordinates training and certification for dogs working at multiple ski resorts throughout the region, and funds often support large-scale training sessions and skill development for both dogs and handlers. Funds raised at the Backcountry BowWow will go to support Wasatch Backcountry Rescue as well as United Mountain Workers and other local initiatives, including helping Park City’s newly unionized lift maintenance team build its own funding and support structure. Credit: Park Record file photo by David Jackson “They’re a fully volunteer organization, and they are constantly working hard and going above and beyond when they can to support our dogs,” Buckel said. Avalanche dog training requires constant work. After being accepted into the program, puppies undergo years of training before working at resorts, often alongside handlers who train throughout the year. The dog program has taken on renewed significance after several avalanche incidents across the West this winter, Buckel said. “It’s kind of been a horrific year for avalanche recovery,” she said. “Just supporting the individuals that are working with these dogs and trying to get them trained is really important.” After the avalanche at Snake Creek on Feb. 22, a Park City Mountain avalanche dog located a buried victim in the backcountry. Buckel said the dog’s role carried added meaning for the victim’s family. “That person’s family was just so thankful they were able to find him,” she said. “Obviously, it was a tragic event, but they were able to get closure. And the victim had a yellow dog, and the family was touched that it was a yellow dog that found him.”  The family later started a GoFundMe supporting avalanche rescue dogs in the Wasatch. In addition to supporting Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, the BowWow raises money for ski patrol initiatives and professional development, with a portion of this year’s proceeds going toward a growing education fund aimed at helping ski patrollers pursue advanced medical certifications. Now in its second year, the program provides scholarships for patrollers working toward EMT certifications, advanced EMT, paramedic or even nursing degrees, with the expectation that recipients return to patrol in future seasons. With inconsistent snow conditions this winter, Park City ski patrollers leaned into training, refining medical and rescue skills to stay prepared for the demands of the job. Credit: Photo courtesy of Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association Roughly half of Park City’s patrollers currently hold EMT certification or higher, while the rest are trained in Outdoor Emergency Care, the baseline certification required for ski patrol. While OEC provides essential training, Buckel said higher-level medical education can make a meaningful difference in more complex scenarios. “A lot of the time, our medical training is less than our trauma training because we see so much trauma,” she said. “But it’s really nice to have an EMT or higher when it comes to medical scenarios because those do happen on the hill.” With strong feedback from its first year, organizers plan to expand the program through a more formal application process, offering financial support to help patrollers access longer, more intensive training programs. Money raised last weekend will also support United Mountain Workers, the broader union representing ski patrollers and lift maintenance workers, along with local initiatives, including financial support for Park City’s newly unionized lift maintenance team.  Thin snow conditions and a lackluster winter limited ski operations and morale, Buckel said, though the patrol has focused heavily on training and preparation despite a challenging winter.  “It’s definitely been a hard season,” she said. “Normally, the fun part of our job is the skiing and just getting to enjoy the weather, so morale has been a little low.” Without consistent snowfall, patrollers spent more time on training and skill development. “We’ve been doing a really good job just honing in on all kinds of training,” Buckel said. “If we don’t have a lot of open terrain, we might as well become better patrollers and work with what we’ve got.” The season also marked a year of rebuilding after last winter’s Park City ski patrol strike, with Buckel saying patrol members have focused on improving communication with resort management and continuing to demonstrate the importance of their work. “Our goal has really been open and consistent communication,” she said. “All of us are just showing up and doing the best job we can.” Buckel said community support — including strong attendance at events like the BowWow — has played a major role in that process. “It was a major success,” Buckel said. “I’m glad we’re able to send money to lots of different people.” The post Backcountry BowWow draws biggest crowd yet, raising funds for avalanche dogs, ski community appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less