To celebrate the holidays and give thanks to our volunteers, we’re bringing you the 12 Days of Christmas. In this annual tradition at TCSAR, we want to help you learn a little something about them and what makes them connect with their family, friends and community. All of these photos ran on social media during the 12 Days of Christmas, but it’s only fair to run them here as well.
All photos and captions by Matt Hansen.
On the First Day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … one slobbery ball … from Kona.
Kona is a 9-month-old chocolate Lab who belongs to Anthony Stevens, TCSAR’s training advisor and volunteer since 2015. Anthony and his family also have a Siamese cat named Fraya. The cat is a lot older and doesn’t really enjoy the bounder approach of the puppy, but the puppy keeps trying! Anthony is training Kona to be a trail running and backcountry ski partner.
On the second day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … two woody sticks … from Sophie.
Sophie, a 6-year-old Springer Spaniel, belongs to Anna DiSanto, one of the new volunteers brought onto the TCSAR team this past year. As TCSAR volunteers will do just about anything for a rescue, Sophie will do just about anything for a stick. And she'll go anywhere at any time, be it on land or water, with Anna.
On the third day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … three honey holes … with Scotch.
Scotch is 10-year-old Catahoula who loves to go fishing with his owner, Alex St. Clair, a TCSAR volunteer since 2015. Scotch knows how to avoid crashing through good trout water and will wait until Alex reels in a fish. Then, Scotch just wants to give the fish a kiss. Now who’s a good boy?
On the fourth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … four heifers around the haystack … with Spud.
Spud is an 11-year-old Australian Cattle Dog who pals around with Chase Lockhart, a TCSAR volunteer since 2015. Chase, who works for his family’s ranch when he’s not training or going on SAR missions, sums up Spud as the mascot of the Lockhart Cattle Co.
In the same way that TCSAR volunteers figure it out in the backcountry, Spud has figured it all out on the ranch.
On the fifth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … five golden hearts … with Kula.
Kula is an almost 11-year-old Brittany. Her name means ‘golden’ in the Hawaiian language. She belongs to Tim Ciocarlan, a founding member of TCSAR who after 28 years continues to go out on rescue calls. He’s also been a valuable mentor to many volunteers over the years. Hearts of gold, indeed.
On the sixth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … six squirrels a scampering … with Squirrel.
Squirrel is a 6-year-old rescue dog who found her way to Jenn Sparks, a veteran TCSAR team member, about four years ago. Squirrel is mellow on the skintrack but will bark and try to bite your skis when you remove your skins. She hates loud noises, avalanche bombs, thunder, fireworks, nail guns, and brooms. She will hide in dark rooms until it’s over. She is a great fishing dog because she is afraid of the rod and will just wait in the shade for Jenn to wrap it up.
So then what’s Squirrel’s favorite thing?
Why, it’s Jenn, of course.
On the seventh day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … seven full body wags … from Ranger.
Ranger, a 3-year-old Goldendoodle, was named by TCSAR volunteer Ryan Combs’ 11-year-old daughter after she read the children’s book “Ranger in Time.” The book tells stories about a Search & Rescue dog, named Ranger, that travels back in time to help solve someone’s worst day, kinda like TCSAR volunteers (except for the time machine part). The real life Ranger is a full-on family dog. He can’t get enough pets from Combs’ two daughters, and there’s nothing better in the world than going on a hike with the whole family.
On the eighth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … eight mini marshmallows … from Will.
Will is a 9-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier who came into Ashley Didion’s life about seven years ago. Ashley came into the TCSAR life this past year as one of the team’s new volunteers. She and her husband found Will at a shelter in South Carolina when he was 2. His name then was Shakespeare, which they quickly changed to Will, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
Will is a big softy who loves to play with puppies and children. So it makes perfect sense that his favorite treats are mini marshmallows.
On the ninth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … nine reasons to smile … with Annie and Cricket.
1. Dogs are awesome.
2. So are TCSAR volunteers, like Andrew Armington, who joined the team this past year with the new class.
3. Annie, the big dog, will ride shotgun on a snowmobile.
4. Cricket, the small dog, will ride shotgun on Annie (when Annie is taking a nap).
5. Cricket is a mix between a Pug and a Cavalier King Charles. She was conceived after a male Pug snuck into her Cavalier mother’s crate. That makes her a Pugalier.
6. Annie, a rottweiler boxer mix, was found by Andrew’s partner, Erin, abandoned and emaciated. Erin rehabilitated her, named her after another famous red-haired orphan, and gave her a second chance at life.
7. (I could’ve done this for day three, which would’ve made it a much shorter list, but day nine it is.)
8. Each week, Annie and Cricket are treated to steak by a client of Erin and Andrew, who work as personal trainers.
9. Furry faces.
On the tenth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … 10 (thousand) games of fetch … with Darla.
Darla, a 4-year-old Black Lab mix, has a lot in common with TCSAR volunteers: laser focused, 100 percent committed, does not get tired easily. But whereas TCSAR volunteers, like Steve Wurm, who joined the team this year, chase down rescues, Darla chases down ducks during the hunt. And she'll play a game of fetch until your arm falls off.
Wurm picked up Darla when she was about a year old from a family in Idaho Falls that didn’t have the capacity to take care of her. After a lot of reps and time, Wurm, who works as a Firefighter EMT with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and part time ski patroller at JHMR, has a companion that will go anywhere at any time—and even ride on his shoulders during a powder lap.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … eleven laps on Mount Glory … with Isis.
Isis is a 15-year-old Black Lab who became TCSAR volunteer Jon Wiedie’s shadow after he picked her up as a rescue about a decade ago. Isis was 6 at the time. “She looked at me and was like, ‘Get me outta here,’” says Wiedie, a TCSAR volunteer since 2004. “We’ve been attached ever since.”
Kate Winters, Wiedie’s girlfriend and a member of Teton County Idaho SAR, says Isis’s favorite thing to do was chase Wiedie on his bike and skis. Isis kept up for a long time, but since these photos were taken a few weeks ago, they made the incredibly difficult decision to let her pass due to deteriorating health and old age. All dogs go to heaven, and now Isis is doing Glory laps in the sky.
On the twelfth and final day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me … twelve fun and safe adventures … with Zeus and Knox.
Santa has long been a friend of TCSAR volunteers, as he often needs their navigational expertise to get through the blustery Teton weather. This year he picked up some additional help from Zeus and Knox, two Black Labs that know a thing or two about being outside. Zeus, 11, believes everyone is his friend, while 8-month-old Knox is learning to love any and all adventures. “Knox spends most of his day looking for what he should, or in most cases should not, be picking up in his mouth,” remarked Santa. Unfortunately for Santa, that includes his beard.
Before Santa took off in his sleigh, he reminded everyone to be extra safe in the backcountry this holiday season, especially with all the new snow forecast for the Jackson Hole area.
Please know before you go, leash your dogs at the trailheads, pick up after them, and love them hard. Merry Christmas, everyone.
