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Q&A With Tracy Christensen
Posted on Apr 21, 2008 By Glenn Close
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Sundance Resort Ski Patroller, Tracy Christensen with Mick, one of Utah's finest Avalanche Rescue Dogs |
During this year's Sundance Film festival, my family and I were skiing at the Sundance Resort when we met Tracy Christensen of the Sundance Ski Patrol and his partner, Mick. Mick, a 5-year-old Yellow Lab, is a Class A avalanche dog, which means that he must be able to locate any given target in less than 20 minutes, in an area the size of a square football field. And he has to be able to do it in all weather conditions, which could mean blinding snow and frigid, high winds. Fascinated by Mick's talents and by the amazing affection and trust we saw between Mick and Tracy, my husband, David, and I volunteered to participate in what the ski patrol calls "a problem.” They would carve out a coffin-sized hole on the side of the mountain and we would crawl into it and be buried for as long as it took Mick to find us. It was dark and scary in that hole, but around the 15-minute mark, we heard Mick barking above us and were "saved.” Mick was able to hone in on us, even though there was a very tricky crosswind blowing down the mountain that day. We could only imagine what it would be like to be the victims of an avalanche and to be lucky enough to hear that bark in time to save our lives. We were thrilled to crawl out of our hole, and I am thrilled to welcome Tracy and Mick to LIVELY LICKS. We are also proud to welcome Sundance Avalanche Rescue Dogs as Tracy and Mick's chosen charity. I hope you will enjoy their story and support their vital work.
Video:
Watch Sundance Resort Avalanche Rescue dog, Mick and Ski Patroller, Tracy Christensen rescue Glenn Close and husband, David Shaw from a practice avalanche.
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If you met Mick from this angle, you'd feel like the luckiest person alive. |
Glenn Close: Did you grow up with dogs? If you did, what is your earliest memory of a dog?
Tracy Christensen: I never had a dog growing up. I have had three Dalmatians at times in my life. I have a spot in my heart for Dalmatians and hope to get another one in the future.
GC: How did you become a member of the Sundance Ski Patrol?
TC: I have always had a love for skiing and spent every weekend and holiday as a kid with my dad and brothers skiing -- it was a family outing. I started out working on the ski lifts at Sundance and after a couple of years I got to know the ski patrollers. I became certified in basic medical training and moved over to the ski patrol. I have been working as a professional ski patroller for approximately 14 winters now.
GC: How did Mick come into your life?
TC: I was amazed with avalanche dogs and how skilled the handlers and the dogs are. When Sundance had an open dog handler position, my ski patrol director gave me the “ok” to start the search for a good working dog. I looked around at several litters of dogs, there was just something about Mick - I knew he was it. I just had a feeling about this big-pawed clumsy puppy, and I just knew we were going to be a team.
Tracy and Mick making their commute to work. |
GC: Tell us something about his training process.
TC: All the avalanche rescue dogs at Sundance are members of the Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Group (WBR), a non-profit backcountry rescue organization. The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization trains and certifies rescue teams of ski patrollers and their dogs.
WBR has three levels of certification from entry level certification for young dogs that show promise, to level “A” dog teams who are qualified for avalanche call-out.
Verification search tests are conducted at a different resort from their own and evaluated by three proctors who grade the handler and dog on many different disciplines.
Tracy gives some special instruction to Mick beaneath the 12,000 ft. Mount Timpanogos. |
For example, a level “A” operational advanced search dog can locate two subjects plus clothing articles buried out of sight in moderate depth snow, ( 3 to 6 feet ), for a maximum of ten minutes in a simulated avalanche site at least 100 yards top to bottom and 100 yards across. The handler and dog must approach and navigate rapidly and carefully despite radio interruptions and people in the area. The team must find all of the victims in the allotted time of 20 minutes. Prior to testing the handler should be able to describe the body language their dog will display when signaling a find.
GC: Where does Mick sleep?
TC: On the floor next to the bed. His bed is almost bigger than mine.
GC: If Mick drove a car, what kind would it be?
TC: I do not think Mick would drive a car, I think he would have a 4 X 4 truck with a snowplow on the front.
Mick reports for duty atop Sundance Resort. |
GC: What would Mick's favorite movie be?
TC: Jeremiah Johnson -- after all, it was filmed in the mountains around Sundance where we spend most of our time, winter and summer.
GC: If he could play a musical instrument, what would it be?
TC: I’m sure he would not play an instrument, he would be the lead singer in a rock band. You should hear him sing out on the ski slopes when he’s happy.
GC: What would be the title of Mick's autobiography?
TC: “It’s a Game of Hide and Seek You Don’t Want to Lose”
 GC: If Mick were a famous person, who would he be?
TC: This is an easy question, he would be Mick Jagger. After all, this is how he got his name. The day I picked him up, I was on my way to my brother’s house for Thanksgiving dinner jamming to the Rolling Stones. I just started calling him Mick, and it stuck.
GC: Does Mick like to dress up?
TC: No, not really. Once some friends of mine on the ski patrol dressed him up with some old lost and found ski gear, coat, gloves, hat and goggles. He did not seem to enjoy this experience and refused to move, he was like a statue and just stood still until the gear was removed.
GC: What does Mick think of cats?
TC: Mick does not really care for the feline type, but he loves a ride to the top of Sundance in a snow-grooming cat.
Tracy and Mick train every day. |
GC: Is there a secret about you that only Mick knows?
TC: Mick knows all my secrets. We are best friends, and friends keep secrets. No telling on this one.
GC: What excites Mick the most?
TC: Eighteen inches of new snow and the sound of avalanche control work in the mountains.
GC: What is Mick's pet peeve about you?
TC: Playing the music too loud on the commute to work while he is trying to sleep.
GC: What is your pet peeve about Mick?
TC: He gets to sleep and rest in a warm ski patrol station when I am out on the ski slope in minus zero weather.
 Making your purchases on FetchDog count for Sundance Avalanche Rescue Dogs is easy. Just start shopping from the list of products Tracy Christensen has chosen as his favorites by clicking here. We'll track all your purchases—whether from his recommendations or not—and will donate a percentage of those proceeds to Sundance Avalanche Rescue Dogs. There is no added cost to you—just do your routine shopping and FetchDog donates a portion of the sale, on behalf of Tracy, to Sundance Avalanche Rescue Dogs.
Sundance Avalanche Rescue Dogs -
http://sundanceresort.com/explore/wnt_safety_dog.html
The Sundance dog teams are a critical component of the Sundance Ski Patrol Snow Safety Program. Read More...
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GC: What is it about you that makes Mick most proud?
TC: That we get to spend 80 plus days a year skiing.
GC: What makes you most proud about Mick?
TC: That I can trust him. If it’s on the avalanche training site knowing that he will make the right decisions and follow his nose to the missing person and start his alerting barking and digging, or just hanging around the ski lodge playing with a group of ski school kids in a game of fetch.
GC: What is your favorite thing to do with Mick?
TC: Training, training and more training, Mick and I love to be outside in the snow, good weather, bad weather -- it does not matter. It is good to be outside running, digging and working together as a team.
Tracy uses this technique to guide Mick through higher traffic areas protecting him from skiers, or in steep areas to minimize impact on his joints. |
GC: What has been your scariest moment with Mick?
TC: Early one morning the ski lift stopped on our way to the top ski patrol station -- there was a mechanical problem and it was not going to move. I had my lift evacuation equipment in my pack but Mick and I had never practiced lift evacuation together. After several minutes and several different systems, I came up with a harness that would hold Mick. It was complete trust between us, and I know he could feel the tension as I tied him off.
I was able to lower Mick down 30 feet to a waiting ski patroller on the ground. It was great, Mick was released from his makeshift harness and started barking and went on a search as if it was a drill of some type. I lowered myself down the same rope and we went back to work later after the lift was repaired. I always carry a special little dog harness specifically made for Mick.
GC: What is Mick's idea of perfect happiness?
TC: After a good snowstorm and a fun day working at Sundance, to just come home and have a good dinner, lay down next to a big fire and watch it snow, then fall asleep dreaming about how great tomorrow’s powder skiing will be.
Mick tunnels his way through some fresh Utah powder. |
GC: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
TC: Mick and I think alike. A big snowstorm, skiing powder all day and then home to a warm fire, good food hanging out with friends and then another big snowstorm the next morning. The endless winter, I guess.
GC: What question would you like to ask Mick?
TC: Who is your favorite rock and roll band? The Rolling Stones or Aerosmith?
GC: What question would Mick like to ask you?
TC: Why do you have the music so loud in the morning? Can you turn it down because I am trying to sleep!
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It is with great sadness that all of us at FetchDog read about the passing of Martha Stewart's Paw Paw. I was lucky to meet him on several occasions and felt, each time, that I was in the presence of an exceptional creature. He had gravitas, like a great chief, but also---a whisper of humor as well. I'm sure Martha will miss him terribly (see her lovely post 
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