Thread: Avalanche Victim's Dog Survives Snow Slide

BILLINGS, Mont. -- A dog that was feared dead after a weekend avalanche killed its owner showed up exhausted and hungry four days later at the Montana motel where its owners had stayed before going skiing.

The Billings Gazette reports the owner of the Alpine Motel spotted the Welsh corgi at around noon Wednesday, sitting outside the room where Dave and Kerry Gaillard had stayed before going skiing southeast of Cooke City on Saturday.

The hotel was about four miles from where Dave Gaillard was buried in the snow slide.

Cooke City businessman Bill Whittle, a member of the search and rescue crew that helped retrieve Gaillard's body, says the dog appeared to be in good condition, despite traveling 4 miles on short legs.

http://www.localnews8.com/news/30142661/detail.html

That is fucking awesome.

Dogs are awesome.

Never seen a corgi in the b/c, but that is awesome to know that such a little dog still hangs in there during b/c touring.

Originally Posted by RockBoy

Dogs are awesome.

Never seen a corgi in the b/c, but that is awesome to know that such a little dog still hangs in there during b/c touring.

Agreed.

We have a 12lb dog who follows us cross country skiing through the woods and fields. Tags along in the track and loves it. He's almost 9 now, and we make our trips a bit shorter b/c he's older, but he used to be able to do a 3-4 hr trip.

http://www.kbzk.com/news/update-mira...-feet-of-snow/

Sad story....

First off vibes to family and friends any accident is tragic but Jesus Christ what the hell were they thinking?? The account from the victims wife was that they were following in another parties skin track when the first group came back. They warned them that they had triggered an avalanche and were clearing out. The wife said they encountered significant collapsing and were scared. (do you suppose turning around might have been a good idea?) Finally after the avalanche she said she turned her beacon to receive and the battery was too low to work properly...


Not to make light of this in anyway but the news account said that the avalanche "hit". No it did not HIT, they almost always happen when triggered by the victim and it appears that is actually what happened.

Originally Posted by bigdude2468

Not to make light of this in anyway but the news account said that the avalanche "hit". No it did not HIT, they almost always happen when triggered by the victim and it appears that is actually what happened.

I actually take issue with that. You state that avis almost always happen when 'triggered' by the victim. I think statistical analysis would disagree with this statement. Often times, the avalanche is triggered by wind or some other non victim-actuated affect, and the victim just happens to be in the a chute and in its path. Other times it happens by travelers above in a totally separate party triggering an avalanche on unfortuante victim. Sometimes it is even simply because of timing...temperature increases through the day causing the slab to become unstable...at the same unfortunate time as the victim is passing across WELL below and doing NOTHING to trigger it whatsoever.

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Originally Posted by Alaskan Rover

I actually take issue with that. You state that avis almost always happen when 'triggered' by the victim. I think statistical analysis would disagree with this statement. Often times, the avalanche is triggered by wind or some other non victim-actuated affect, and the victim just happens to be in the a chute and in its path. Other times it happens by travelers above in a totally separate party triggering an avalanche on unfortuante victim. Sometimes it is even simply because of timing...temperature increases through the day causing the slab to become unstable...at the same unfortunate time as the victim is passing across WELL below and doing NOTHING to trigger it whatsoever.

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Human activity is the main cause of avalanche accidents, and I believe that was big dudes point.

Congrats to the dog for making it out safely.

Originally Posted by DasBlunt

Human activity is the main cause of avalanche accidents, and I believe that was big dudes point.

not just human activity but triggered by the victim or someone in the victims party.

Very Sad,
It just shows dog is mans best friend.