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Show Therefore, this spot and its vicinity have to be searched most thoroughly, because the dog has not indicated this spot without some reason. This also applies whether or not this spot has already been thoroughly searched. In almost all cases, this decision on the part of the dog leader leads to success. The wind aa helper. This is often overlooked, in, spite of all the rigorous training the avalanche dog leader has received during his training course. The wind is a valuable helper in all hunting work, including avalanches searches. The wind often carries human scent more than 100 meters to the nose of the dog. The dog's nose is drawn into this scent as if electrified, and the dog rushes at once to the spot in the snow from which the scent originates. The scent can be compared to smoke which remains in one place in case of calm weather, but which is carried great distances by wind. ( Even man with his useless nose is able to smell a campfire, carrion odors and cooking or coffee odors over great distances on the wind. The stronger the wind, the faster and farther will the scent be carried. Therefore, the search has to be started against the wind under all circumstances, and if possible should be continued that way. This sometimes can even result in the search having to be conducted downslope on the avalanche. If the avalanche dog leader haB his search area in the upper part of the avalanche, he must always climb the avalanche edge on the lee side. The wind often carries a scent to the nose of the dog during the approach to the mission. One of the main duties of the avalanche dog leader is an examination of the wind direction prior to every search mission. Starting the dog off. This is clearly connected with our knowledge of the burial of avalanche victims and the prevailing wind. A great number of buried persons are deposited in the accumulation zone along the avalanche edge. It should therefore be kept in mind that the human victim may be carried clear to the outermost edge of the avalanche, depending on the force of the avalanche, the particular burial situation, aid the terrain. If the avalanche dog leader starts his dog' 6 search at the lower edge of the avalanche with the wind blowing downhill, perhaps even full - 64 - |