KUSA — At Breckenridge Ski Patrol Headquarters, Hunter Mortensen and the rest of the Ski Patrol team are coming together to throw two of their most loved colleagues a retirement party.
“Honor two of our most accomplished and most dedicated patrollers Atticus and Tali,” said Mortensen.
Atticus and Tali are avalanche dogs and have spent nearly their entire lives working on the ski patrol going to avalanche rescues and helping to keep people safe on the slopes.
But now at 11 and 12 years of age and years working their tails, off it’s time for their retirement.
A retirement that comes with a special party with hats, treats, cards, apple cider to hound out and presents in doggy bags of course.
Zak Sos with Breckenridge helped plan it all and says they even got the rescue dogs gold watches for their hard work. Fake gold, but still very fetching.
"Very cheap gold watches, but they look gorgeous,” said Sos.
Like any good party they also had cake: one for humans and a special peanut butter banana cake shipped from a shop in Kansas just for dogs.
“Judging the way the dogs ate that cake, I would say it was a winner, in fact, I would say this was a doggone good party,” said Sos.
All for two doggone great members of Breck's Ski Patrol.
"The camaraderie we have is truly special,” said Mortensen.
Tali and Hunter have worked together for a decade, becoming poster partners for the ski areas. On the hill Tali would often ride on Hunter's shoulders as they skied down the mountain.
Hunter knows that while they will still live together, their time working together is running out and that's not easy to think about.
“It’s been a great run, but that last run will be tough,” said Mortenson.
Before that, both Tali and Atticus will be getting lots of pats on the back for a job well done, knowing they’ll always be welcome members of the ski patrol pack.
“Their dedication has been amazing,” said Mortensen.
