<strong>Avi dogs: </strong>At Snowmass, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Ftravel%2Fdestinations%2Fcolorado">Colorado</a>, nine miles from downtown <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2Faspen-skiing-travel-guide%2Findex.html">Aspen</a>, a small but mighty team of avalanche dogs -- or "avi dogs" -- are reporting for duty.
Avi dogs: At Snowmass, Colorado, nine miles from downtown Aspen, a small but mighty team of avalanche dogs -- or "avi dogs" -- are reporting for duty.
From Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>Ski patrol:</strong> The dogs assist Aspen's ski patrollers on their mountain rescue missions.
Ski patrol: The dogs assist Aspen's ski patrollers on their mountain rescue missions.
Jeremy Swanson / Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>Close bond: </strong>Aspen Skiing Company's Lori Spence says that that all ski patrollers who work with a dog on the mountains take their dogs home at night, creating an incredibly strong bond and sense of trust that is crucial when they're on patrol.
Close bond: Aspen Skiing Company's Lori Spence says that that all ski patrollers who work with a dog on the mountains take their dogs home at night, creating an incredibly strong bond and sense of trust that is crucial when they're on patrol.
Jeremy Swanson / Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>Serious business: </strong>They may look cute, but being an avalanche dog is serious business: "If there is an avalanche and we're not sure somebody is in it, we send the dogs out to search that area," says Spence.
Serious business: They may look cute, but being an avalanche dog is serious business: "If there is an avalanche and we're not sure somebody is in it, we send the dogs out to search that area," says Spence.
Jeremy Swanson / Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>A very particular set of skills:</strong> "The dog's nose is tens of thousands of times better than our nose, so if people [who are lost] are not wearing an avalanche transceiver beacon," says Spence, "then our best bet to find them alive is to get the dogs our there first."
A very particular set of skills: "The dog's nose is tens of thousands of times better than our nose, so if people [who are lost] are not wearing an avalanche transceiver beacon," says Spence, "then our best bet to find them alive is to get the dogs our there first."
From Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>On the job:</strong> "They can search an area so much faster than we could," adds Spence. "It could take us many hours -- up to days -- where the dogs can hopefully locate a person in minutes."
On the job: "They can search an area so much faster than we could," adds Spence. "It could take us many hours -- up to days -- where the dogs can hopefully locate a person in minutes."
Daniel Bayer / Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>Off-duty: </strong>While the dogs have this serious mission, when not on a search they get to spend time staying warm and cozy in the patrol station. During the day, handlers will maintain their dog's training regime and run drills with them. Then it's time to socialize and play.
Off-duty: While the dogs have this serious mission, when not on a search they get to spend time staying warm and cozy in the patrol station. During the day, handlers will maintain their dog's training regime and run drills with them. Then it's time to socialize and play.
From Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>Local hero: </strong>"They do a lot of PR on the hill," says Spence. "People love seeing them and come to our top patrol just to meet them. We give out baseball cards with the dogs' pictures and bios on them -- so you have to go to each mountain here in Aspen so you can [collect cards from] the dogs from each hill."
Local hero: "They do a lot of PR on the hill," says Spence. "People love seeing them and come to our top patrol just to meet them. We give out baseball cards with the dogs' pictures and bios on them -- so you have to go to each mountain here in Aspen so you can [collect cards from] the dogs from each hill."
Daniel Bayer / Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>50th anniversary: </strong>The ski resort and town celebrates its 50th anniversary this winter, and festivities will mark the occasion throughout the season, starting with a weekend of special events from December 15-17, 2017.
50th anniversary: The ski resort and town celebrates its 50th anniversary this winter, and festivities will mark the occasion throughout the season, starting with a weekend of special events from December 15-17, 2017.
Daniel Bayer / Aspen Skiing Company
<strong>The real-life Paw Patrol: </strong>As one of the cutest sights on the mountain, you can be sure the avi dogs will be in on some of the celebrations.
The real-life Paw Patrol: As one of the cutest sights on the mountain, you can be sure the avi dogs will be in on some of the celebrations.
Alan Fohrman / Aspen Skiing Company