Copper Mountain is on the vanguard of snow safety in the US with their new avalanche cat program. There are many advantages to employing cats instead of dogs in avalanche rescue including their ability to land on their feet when deployed from chairlifts and finding skiers stuck in trees.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture.... More by Francis Xavier