Catherine Stier - I Am Ava, Seeker in the Snow

Ava is a chocolate Lab with a big job. For years, she has trained with her handler to be ready to help people if an unexpected avalanche hits.

Ava cant wait to prove herself like the other avalanche rescue dogs on the mountain already have. But when her big moment arrives, she finds out theres much more to being an avy dog than daring rescues.

Albert Whitman & Co.

More than 100 Years of Good Books

www.albertwhitman.com

Printed in the United States of America

Jacket art copyright 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

To all the dogs and people who work together to save others, and to Randy who braved the cold to join me on a snowy adventure in UtahCS

To all the rescue dogs and their owners, thank you for your work.FR

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file with the publisher.

Text copyright 2020 by Catherine Stier

Illustrations copyright 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

Illustrations by Francesca Rosa

First published in the United States of America in 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN 978-0-8075-1664-5 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-8075-1669-0 (ebook)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 24 23 22 21 20

Design by Rick DeMonico

For more information about Albert Whitman & Company, visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.

It is early morning and still dark outside. A light snow falls, but Im toasty warm in the back seat of a comfy SUV. Ahead, I see the familiar gray outline of mountains.

Nate, my human best friend, is driving us to Osprey Mountain Ski Resort. I learned as a pup that a ski resort is a cool place where humans speed down snowy slopes while wearing long, skinny things on their feet.

But Nate and I arent heading to the resort to have fun. We work there. Were a team. Nate is part of the resorts ski patrol. Its his job to keep the guests safe on the slopes.

And me? Im an avalanche rescue dog, or avy dog for short. Its my job to find humans buried in the snow after an avalanche or a skiing accident. Many different dog breeds do this work, but Labradors like meIm a chocolate Labare some of the best at it. Im three years old, and Ive trained to be an avy dog practically my whole life! Nate says I can already hold my own with the best avy dogs on any mountain. But sometimes I wonder. Weve never been called out to a real avalanche rescueat least not yet.

Nates SUV slows down next to a police car with flashing lights parked in the center lane. We know the officer. Its our friend Carrie. Shes stationed here whenever it snows.

Carrie checks to see that people have the right vehicles to drive safely up this snowy, steep road. If they dont, theyll need to turn around or put chains on their tires.

Carrie knows our vehicle checks out, but she waves at us to stop anyway. I know why. Nate opens the back window, and I lean my head out.

Hey, Ava, Carrie says. How are you doing, girl? Hows the best avy dog ever? She reaches over and scratches behind my ears. Carrie does this every time we drive by her.

Have a good one, Carrie, Nate says from the front seat. Keep em safe.

You too! Carrie calls as we pull away.

Nate drives up the mountain road into a world of white. The flakes fall thicker as we go higher. Fresh snow blankets everything. It weighs down the branches of the fir trees. It dusts the jagged rocks along the roadside.

Oh man, what a sight! Nate says as we wind up and up and up. Takes your breath away, doesnt it, Ava?

Yep, I think. And I wag my tail.

Here in the Utah mountains is one of Nates favorite places. Its mine too.

We finally turn at a big sign into the Osprey Mountain Ski Resort. Nate parks his SUV and opens the back door. I hop onto the icy pavement. Its cold out, but my double coat of fur keeps me warm from the morning chill.

I lead Nate onto a cleared walkway through the snow. We pass a cluster of buildings. Theyre all frosted with whitethe resorts restaurants and shops, the inn, and the ski lodge. We dont stop at any of them. Instead, we head to a plain building that houses the ski patrol station.

The ski patrol staff is gathering there for their morning meeting. They talk about the forecasted snowfall. They discuss trails that need to be checked, hazards that need marking. As their meeting winds down, I hear my name.

So its Avas big day, says Javier, the ski patrol director. My ears perk up.

Yep, says Nate. Shes going to be the star of the Avalanche Rescue Dog Demo today.

I am? How cool! But whats a demo? I wonder. Could this be my first real avalanche rescue? Ive been training for so long!

Think shes ready? Brandon, another patroller, asks.

You bet, Nate says proudly.

Javier gives us a nod as we head toward the lockers. Then well see you and Ava at the demo this afternoon at five oclock sharp, right after the slopes close, he says.

After the meeting, Nate buckles on my work uniform. The vest fits snuggly around my middle. Stitched across the side is a white cross, the symbol of the ski patrol.

Nate pulls his winter gear from the locker and suits up. His ski patrol jacket has a big, white cross on back that matches the one on my vest.

Time to get to work, Ava, Nate says.

I know what comes nextand I cant wait!

We leave the building. Nate fastens his skis, and we head to the chairlift, a big contraption with moving metal, bench-like chairs. It brings people up to the mountain so they can ski back down. Its also how Nate and I get to our workstationSki Patrol Shack 1.

As we wait on the chairlifts loading area, I am alert. When the lift chair moves toward us, Nate gives a command: Load up.

Nate sits down, and I jump on, front feet first. The chair swings a bit, but I steady myself and pull my back legs up. No problem! Ive done this before! I settle next to Nate for the ride. The slopes arent open to skiers yet, so were alone on the lift. Together, we glide past views of snowy firs and mountain peaks. I take in the smell of trees and snow and even the oily machine smell of the chairlift.