CARCA is the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Cat Association
Here is some more information on CARCA from their website’s about page.
carca.ca/about
We are a small group of volunteers dedicated to the training and use of domestic cats in emergency avalanche rescue procedures.
We feel that with proper training, cats can be just as effective – and in some cases, more effective – than dogs, and certainly more effective than traditional probe line techniques.
Please visit again soon as we add more information about this revolutionary avalanche rescue development.
STEVE RUSKAY
CARCA Founder
In 2005 Steve moved to a Fernie and became a ski patroller, eventually becoming involved with avalanche forecasting and search and rescue. It was in this role that he became increasingly frustrated by the difficulties faced by both the traditional techniques. The avalanche beacon by far offered a skier the greatest chance to be rescued, but that would only work for those who were smart enough to wear one. Probe lines were slow and required a large number of people to offer even a slim chance of finding a buried victim. Canine searches had proven to be able to find a person quickly enough, but dogs take many years to train and are costly and problematic to maintain in sufficient quantities to be truly effective. Driven by his own avalanche experience and love of cats, Steve worked for several years to convince other patrollers that an avalanche rescue cat program may be possible. By 2008, words finally became action as Steve had convinced a small group of visionary ski patrollers begin the first CARCA training session. The initial euphoria was short-lived however, as after months of frustration, ridicule and many hundreds of small lacerations, all but Steve have given up.
Presently, things have improved dramatically. Steve and Tim have recently been successful in rescuing a live avalanche victim on their first operation together. Hoping to build on the momentum generated by this historic event, Steve hopes to expand the CARCA program to the point where every ski resort is equipped with a CARCA trained cats and handler team.
did you just say “meow”?
Do I look like to a cat to you boy?
Was this story originally posted in The Onion?
My cat once awoke me at 4 a.m. on a day off, by slowly extending his claws into my lips…I woke to find that his food dish was empty and that snow had fallen off the porch roof onto the stoop.
kitties!!!!!
i have a cat in my house. if their was an avalanche, she would run over, scratch around and then shit on top of it
there not THEIR
no it’s their not there
Their is used to show possession as in their website’s about page.
http://vimeo.com/40247807
love the gun at the end!
they’re only good at rescue if you keep live mice or catnip in your pockets
I always take my cat on backcountry trips
Bit early for April fools,
northern honey badger soon to replace cats and dogs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNgv3opJqoQ
honey badger is the $hit yo! gotta remember to bring one of them critters with me next time i go touring
Funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time
hahahah
Awesomecats!
Meow from Fernie!
Discussed avalanches with a local on a chair at Fernie 10 years ago. His buddy was killed in a backcountry avalanche a year ago. He survived an inbounds avalanche 2 months ago. He said terrain overlooking Fernie ski area is so dangerous that today they would never allow the ski area to be built.
Meow from Fernie!
Discussed avalanches with a local on a chair at Fernie 10 years ago. His buddy was killed in a backcountry avalanche a year ago. He survived an inbounds avalanche 2 months ago. He said terrain overlooking Fernie ski area is so dangerous that today they would never allow the ski area to be built.
i love cats but i dont think i would want my life depending on one… my cat does what pleases her when it pleases her
Canadian ski patrollers are total pussies
This is kind of fucked up Julian
Usually the pussy is what gets ya, not what saves ya.
You’ve cat to be kitten me right meow
oh my god every one needs to watch their documentary trailer right now http://vimeo.com/33090157
Maybe i should bring STAR CAT ,a superior cat , to squaw.