Duke, the newest and youngest member of Deer Valley Resort’s ski patrol team, is already training seriously for his new job. The 13-week-old Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever will soon be saving lives as an avalanche search and rescue dog.

Ski patroller Luke Badger, who is in his fourth season at Deer Valley, applied to become a handler when the resort decided to bring on the recruit this season. The resort’s expansion coincides with two older patrol dogs retiring, so it was the perfect time for Duke to join the team.

Badger was always interested in becoming an avalanche dog handler after volunteering with the avalanche dog program and raising his pet schnauzer named Herbie. At Deer Valley, the dogs belong to members of ski patrol, so Badger would be bringing an avalanche dog into his personal life, along with having a companion at work.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Badger said. “How can you pass this up?”

Sierra Prothers, the resort’s avalanche dog coordinator, explained the important role that handlers like Badger play in the pup’s growth. 

“Although the Deer Valley dog team and patrol help out with many aspects of training,” Prothers said, “all of Duke’s humans play a large role in making sure that everything Duke is introduced to is a positive and fun experience and that he enjoys being an avalanche search and rescue dog.”

Duke is a very social dog, as most puppies are. He seems very pleased with all the attention he gets around the resort and returns the affection with tail wags, kisses, smiles and running to meet new people. Even after a long day of play, he couldn’t resist greeting new friends on his way to a nap.

When he’s on duty, though, Prothers said it’s important that people give Duke and Badger plenty of space, especially if you see them out skiing. Skiing near the dogs is especially dangerous, even for ski patrollers, because sharp ski edges can harm dogs. Prothers said she’s seen these injuries end canines’ careers, so it’s especially important to give all patrollers and dogs space on the mountain. 

“Always ask the human if you can interact with our dogs,” Prothers said. “This includes calling its name or whistling, anything that might distract the dog from its work.”

It’s best to assume the avalanche dogs are always working, even if they’re just walking to or from the lifts. The dogs will rest in their kennels on busy days, but if there’s ever a white flag with a dog near the ski patrol shack, that means they are ready to meet visitors.

Even if the dog isn’t working, Prothers said visitors should still ask the handler before approaching. In any situation, asking first allows handlers to inform visitors how they’d like to introduce the dogs to new people. 

And for a puppy like Duke, it’s good practice for meeting people in different scenarios. Badger’s main priority is to set Duke up for success as a rescue dog, and this is one way visitors can help. 

“An avalanche dog’s role in a search is to locate human odor under the snowpack and alert the human to that location, usually by barking and digging at the strongest point of odor,” Prothers said. 

All avalanche dogs are certified through Wasatch Backcountry Rescue. There are three classes of certification for an avalanche dog. Right now, Duke is a C-level dog, meaning he’s only a candidate in the program and hasn’t passed any training exercises. 

Duke’s training will primarily be done playing hide-and-seek games. Search and rescue must be exciting and fun for the dogs. If they think it’s a game, they’ll do their best work.

Soon, they’ll play hide-and-seek in the snow. Badger will hide in a snow cave, and Duke will have to find him. After Duke masters the challenge of finding his owner based on scent, he’ll play the same game with other humans hiding in snow caves. 

Once Duke passes the first level of obedience and avalanche rescue tests, he’ll receive his B-level certification. Then he’ll be able to work within Deer Valley’s boundaries to start finding humans who have been buried in avalanches. With an A-level certification through Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, he’ll be able to work anywhere in Utah. 

Prothers said most avalanche dogs finish training and become fully certified by age 2.

Along with lots of hide-and-seek, Duke is learning everything a normal 13-week-old dog would: how to sit, not to eat food off the ground, potty training and sleeping through the night, which Badger is particularly happy about. He’s also learning how to ride a ski-lift and just went on his first backpacking trip in the Uinta Mountains. Badger said he did extremely well and had a great time. 

Badger had an idea of what he was getting into when he signed up to raise an avalanche dog, but this has been a very different experience than raising Herbie. 

“It’s been a surprise still, having a puppy with this much drive,” Badger said.

The two may play like brothers, but Duke’s personality and size set him apart. When choosing puppies for avalanche work, Prothers said they look for confidence, curiosity, and hunt drive. Right now he’s only a little bigger than his brother, but Duke is expected to be anywhere from 35 to 50 pounds as an adult. 

When Duke isn’t on duty, his favorite pastimes include playing tug with his brother Herbie and melting hearts.

“It’s hard not to fall in love with Duke,” Badger said.

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A man from Alpine, Wyoming, has been charged in Third District Court for allegedly harassing a Park City police officer in December.

The charges, which include a hate crime enhancement, stem from a criminal investigation into threats the man directed toward striking Park City Mountain ski patrollers.

Court documents state a witness involved in the labor dispute received a threatening phone call on Dec. 30, “during which the caller had become enraged and used vulgar words for female body parts and threatened to travel to Vail Resorts and cause harm to transgender people and those involved with the strike.”

Sgt. Zachary Nakaishi with the Park City Police Department obtained the caller’s phone number and confirmed it belonged to 35-year-old Calvin Rawe.

In a subsequent phone call with Rawe to discuss the witness’s claims, Rawe “feigned” ignorance of the situation, but “then his words devolved into anti-police calumnies” and a “tirade” of homophobic slurs directed at Nakaishi. Rawe reportedly ignored Nakaishi’s requests to stop, and the officer eventually ended the call.

“The Defendant (Rawe) called Sgt. Nakaishi later that day and left a message claiming that Sgt. Nakaishi had called and threatened him, and that the Sgt.’s call was unwanted,” court documents say.

Rawe called Nakaishi for a second time on Jan. 1 and left another message “claiming he did not know anything about the original case.” He then “went on a race-based tirade” predominantly centered on Nakaishi’s presumed Japanese heritage.

Rawe called and left a message demanding to speak to Nakaishi for a third time on Jan. 4.

“The Defendant called a fourth time on Jan. 5, 2025, bemoaning that several officers had appeared at his home and that he spoke to them through his Ring doorbell system and that he was not even there, ridiculing police that he was in Park City the whole time,” court documents state. “He then descended into another abusive message filled with racist name-calling.”

The Summit County Attorney’s Office charged Rawe with electronic communication harassment last week. The crime is a class A misdemeanor, but “hate crime” is included as an enhancing factor for the case.

Rawe’s first appearance in court is scheduled for 11 a.m. on April 18. He is not currently in custody.

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The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association announced they will return to work Thursday following a 100% ratification vote on their new contract that will last through April 2027. 

“This puts an end to this historic strike at the largest ski resort in the U.S.,” the union said on Wednesday. “Tomorrow … we are excited to return to work! This is more than just a win for our unit, it is a great success for everyone in the ski and mountain industry. This is a clear example of what can be achieved when workers stand together and fight for what we deserve.” 

Bill Rock, president of the mountain division at Vail Resorts, said that the agreement remains within the current wage structure across all of Vail Resorts patrol units. 

“Park City Mountain has reached an agreement with the Park City ski patrol union that is consistent with our company’s wage structure for all patrollers, non-unionized and unionized, while accounting for the unique terrain and avalanche complexity of Park City Mountain. We look forward to welcoming back the Park City Mountain patrollers in the coming days and moving forward together as one team,” said Rock. 

The union also expressed gratitude and appreciation for community support throughout the strike. 

“We are proud. We are grateful. We are united,” said the union.

The union said their new contract addresses the unit’s primary concerns, including:

• Raising the floor: The starting wage for all entry-level patrollers and mountain safety personnel has been increased by $2 per hour, ensuring better compensation for new hires.
• Addressing wage compression: Tenured patrollers, whose experience and skills are invaluable, will see substantial increases. The average wage increase across the unit is $4 per hour, with some of the most experienced roles, such as snow safety specialists, receiving an average increase of $7.75 per hour.
• Improved benefits: The contract includes enhanced parental leave policies and industry-leading educational opportunities, reflecting the value of work-life balance and professional development.
• Incentivized retention and career growth: Secured a restructured wage scale designed to encourage long-term career growth and ensure the retention of highly skilled patrollers.
• Wage parity with non-unionized Vail Resorts.

“The union looks forward to fostering a productive and collaborative relationship with Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts in the future,” said union leaders on Wednesday.

Having addressed community concerns surrounding the work stoppage Monday, Mayor Nann Worel expressed hope and gratitude for the conclusion of the strike and the ratification of the latest contract on Wednesday.

“Today, we thank and applaud Vail Resorts and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association for their mutual commitment to addressing workers’ concerns and finding a solution that supports our local economy and resort operations. The council and I are relieved and grateful for the strike’s resolution. This challenging time has highlighted the power of civility and mutual respect in overcoming our issues. We recognize and appreciate the hard work of everyone involved, especially the local resort leadership team, in bringing this to a successful conclusion,” said Worel.

Rock announced the agreement in a long letter Wednesday night to Vail Resorts employees praising them all for their work during the holiday peak season across the company’s 42 ski resorts.

“I know it’s difficult to see conflict within our own team,” he wrote. “We remain committed to continually investing in the employee experience — not just for one team, but for all 55,000 employees who we are grateful to have at Vail Resorts.” 

This is a developing article. It will be updated.

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Bill Rock, president of Vail Resorts’ Mountain Division, expressed optimism Tuesday morning following a return to negotiations Monday night with the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association after tensions escalated last week and the union authorized a strike.

“I’m pleased that, last night, we resumed productive conversations with the union during the bargaining session, and both sides reiterated their commitment to getting it agreed,” said Rock. “That’s great news. Better news, I think, is the way we agreed to go about trying to get that agreement is that we jointly agreed to pursue a mediator.” 

Vail Resorts and Park City Mountain leaders had expressed disappointment in the ski patrol union after their negotiators walked out of the previous negotiation session last week.

“We were ready to continue conversations, and it was disappointing to see them refuse any dialogue and leave the discussion abruptly,” Deirdra Walsh, Vail Resorts vice president and chief operating officer of Park City Mountain, said Friday. “The union walked out of negotiations when we were prepared to discuss their wage proposal.

On Saturday morning, the ski patrol union’s business managers issued a press release detailing their strike authorization vote that closed at 100%.

Walsh expressed care and consideration for the community and all employees and emphasized the offer Vail Resorts has put on the table. Bill Rock re-emphasized the offer on Tuesday. 

“We respect our patrollers and we feel really good about our compensation packages that we’ve offered,” said Rock. “Their wages have gone up over 50% over the last four years. The current proposal on the table has them receiving a 4% increase, plus the $1,600 equipment allowance, which we feel really good about. These jobs are in high demand.” 

“Our patrol wages and benefits across our mountain resorts attract really strong talent,” said Walsh. The average wage for a seasonal patroller at Park City Mountain now is over $25 an hour.

There were 3,000 applications for 300 roles available across Vail Resorts’ ski patrols this season, Walsh said.

“I have reflected on the time we have spent over the past several years listening to both our community and to our employees, and I think we’ve demonstrated how much we care for them,” said Walsh. 

The previous three-year contract between Park City Mountain and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association ended in April. Since then, the Park City union and the mountain’s parent company, Vail Resorts, have been negotiating the next contract. Monday’s session was the 24th so far.  

“It is not unusual for unionized seasonal workers who have a contract expire to then work on a new contract in the off-season,” said Sara Huey, director of community and government affairs at Vail Resorts. “We have been working with them, negotiating at the bargaining table through the spring, summer and fall toward a new contract between Vail Resorts and their union.”

Tensions between Vail Resorts and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association recall the previous contract reached in 2021. 

Those negotiations continued through 50 meetings over a year and a half. Negotiations were closed following a 98% strike authorization vote presented by the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association. The talks eventually resulted in a contract with an average hourly wage of $19 an hour for patrollers. 

On Friday, the union voted unanimously to authorize a strike. Notice of the strike authorization vote was presented at the meeting last Thursday before union negotiators left the session. 

“Our focus has really been to remain committed to productive constructions and respectful dialogue at the table,” said Walsh. “And as this has been over time, we’ve reached (tentative agreements) on several articles already with the union. I think that’s a good demonstration on both sides.” 

Both sides agreed to using a mediator to continue with negotiations on Monday following the tensions last week and weekend. 

“We are really pleased that we’re back using a mediator,” Rock said Tuesday. “I think it’s productive. I’ve seen it work where a mediator can be very effective in explaining the rationale for both sides and try to close the gap that remains. It’s not a guarantee that it’ll get closed, but it’s a good, positive step that will continue to demonstrate our commitment to getting an agreement and work together.” 

Contract negotiations between union and company negotiators are expected to continue on Wednesday while plans for mediation are arranged to secure the necessary third parties to proceed with the contract bargaining. 

“We know the season matters. We know it matters to our employees, to our guests, to the community,” said Rock. “Regardless of the actions the union takes, we’re going to open this resort, and we’re going to operate. We have to care for all of our employees and all of our community members and guests, and we’re going to do that by keeping the mountain open and keeping it safe.”

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The glee of Park City Mountain’s opening day on Friday turned to a bit of cold reality on Saturday as Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association members picketed on the path to day two of the new ski season.

Further talks were scheduled for Tuesday, but union leaders said they wouldn’t have any updates until later this week.

Over 60 people and an avalanche rescue dog named Piper gathered on the corners of Park Avenue and Deer Valley Drive in the wind laced with snow pellets as a promising storm approached.

Patrollers held signs with sentiments such as “Asking for respect,” “Can’t pay rent in fun,” and “Honk for solidarity.” Some skiers headed for Park City Mountain honked in support, waved to the patrollers and raised fists out open car windows. 

“We are aware that some patrollers are picketing today,” said Deirdra Walsh, vice president and chief operating officer of Park City Mountain. “There are no impacts — and will be no impacts — to our mountain operations. We are open and excited to welcome guests, with nine lifts running, 11 trails, a terrain park, and fantastic early season conditions across more than 350 acres.”

Quinn Graves, a born and raised Park City resident and fourth-year ski patroller and business manager on the mountain village side for the union, stood in front of Cole Sport.

“We’re out here because we have been in negotiations with the company Vail Resorts since May of this year, and our contract expired at the end of April,” she said. “So we’re going on nine months of contract negotiations, and we’ve met 20 times with the company.”

“Park City Mountain is negotiating in good faith with the union that represents its ski patrollers to reach an agreement that continues to demonstrate the great respect we have for our patrollers and the guest service they provide at the resort,” Walsh said. “Park City Mountain takes seriously its responsibility to care for its thousands of employees, guests and the community.” 

Amid a wave of honks, Graves described the atmosphere of what it was like to be demonstrating on the first Saturday of ski season.

“We have gotten overwhelming positive support from the community,” she said. “We are so grateful for the community.”

The organization represents more than 200 ski patrollers and mountain safety employees working without a contract.

Margaux Klingensmith, also business manager of the union with Graves, described the counter offer they received in the last negotiating session as “really disappointing,” which spurred the demonstration.

“We are out here united to fight for a fair contract and hope that in our next negotiations, we make some progress on a better proposal on wages,” she said.

Graves said a sticking point is pay. In 2022, Vail Resorts upped the minimum wage for the ski patrol to $21. The union is asking for a $23-an-hour base rate, she said.

“We felt that $23 is a fair ask to rise in accordance with inflation and cost of living,” she said.

A statement from the union said a counter offer from the company amounted to “less than a 0.5% raise and would remove foundational elements from the current contract.”

Klingensmith explained that the push for a wage increase goes beyond the finances of working as a ski patroller.

“A lot of times, folks are like, why not just go get another job?” she said. “If everyone got another job, no one would be here. And so we want to focus on improving our workplace, because we love working here. We love our jobs. We want to continue doing our jobs. We just want to be fairly compensated for the work that we do.” 

Graves said that the association’s negotiation committee will be meeting with the company again on Tuesday.

“Hopefully, we can make some progress there, but we’ll see how that progresses,” she said.

“We are proud of our company’s continued investments in ski patrol pay and benefits that recognize their specialized skills and the needs of individual resorts,” Walsh said. “Over the past three years, the average wage for ski patrollers across the company, including at Park City Mountain, has increased substantially — far outpacing the rate of wage inflation — resulting in very competitive wages. Our wage proposal includes additional increases consistent with how we reward all employees on an annual basis, with wages this year that would again outpace wage inflation. We are also proud to lead the industry in terms of benefits, perks, training, and the equipment compensation we provide to our ski patrollers. We remain committed to discussions with the union and are optimistic we will reach agreement, given that our contract offer is consistent with several other contracts accepted and ratified by our company’s unionized ski patrols.”

In the case that the negotiations still do not leave the association satisfied, Graves said they have the right to go on strike, although that is not the outcome they are hoping for. 

“We all love our job,” she said. “We want to show up to work. Everyone who is here today wasn’t scheduled to work today and a bunch of our coworkers are up on the hill, working hard to keep everyone safe.”

Love for the work itself seems to be a point of agreement.

“We look forward to delivering a great guest experience this season and are so grateful to all of our employees for their hard work and passion for Park City Mountain,” Walsh said.

Park Record correspondent Pamela Manson contributed to this report.

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