The 2024 Bark Bracket

And it’s back, baby (cue Dick Vitale voice) – welcome to year 2 of the Bark Bracket, where the slopes are ruff and the competition is as furry as it is ferocious. Get ready for another year of tail-wagging excitement as 16 top dogs from mountain crews across the globe vie for the coveted title of Pinnacle of Pooch.

From avalanche hounds to snow patrol pups, this is a showdown of dogged dimensions. Between March 25 and April 2, be sure to paw through our Ikon Pass Instagram and cast your vote in round 1.

HOW TO PLAY

Follow Ikon Pass on Instagram and keep an eye on our stories starting MARCH 25 to cast your vote for your favorite mountain mutt.

The doggos with the most votes each day will advance to the next round. Be sure to stay tuned and vote all week.

The Pinnacle of Pooch will not only take home the title but will also receive a donation to their human friend’s chosen animal shelter. And since every good dog deserves a bone, all 16 canine contestants will be able to take home sweet salivating swag.

DAY 1: SNOW’S BEST SNOUTS (16)
With 16 pups ready to rumble, it’s time to sniff out your favorites.

DAY 2: ELITE LITTER (8)
With 8 fur-babies left, the competition heats up. Head to our stories and choose the cream of the canine crop.

DAY 3: FINAL FUR (4)
In the battle for the Final Fur, only the strongest snoots will prevail. Swipe through our stories and make your bark heard.

DAY 4: FETCHING FINALS (2)
It’s the day every dog dreams of – the Fetching Finals. Choose your champion and rally your pack by tagging your friends. Every vote counts.

DAY 5: PINNACLE OF POOCH
The ultimate title is on the line as we crown the winner of the 2024 Bark Bracket. Get ready to celebrate in true tail-wagging style.

PAW-SOME PRIZES

Pinnacle of Pooch

• $500 donation to handler’s shelter of choice
• Year’s supply of food & joint supplement packs from Dr. Tim’s
• Basecamp bed and Huck-a-Cone toy from Ruffwear
• Customized harness & badge from Ezy Dog

2nd Place

• 3 bags of food + joint supplements from Dr. Tim’s
• Basecamp bed and Huck-a-Cone toy from Ruffwear
• Customized harness & badge from Ezy Dog

3rd Place

• 2 bags of food + joint supplements from Dr. Tim’s
• Basecamp bed and Huck-a-Cone toy from Ruffwear
• Customized harness & badge from Ezy Dog

4th & 5th Place

• 1 bag of food + joint supplements from Dr. Tim’s
• Basecamp bed and Huck-a-Cone toy from Ruffwear

6th – 16th Place

• 1 bag of food + joint supplements from Dr. Tim’s
• 40% off codes for Ruffwear

THE CANINE CONTESTANTS

Olive

• Home Mountain: Arapahoe Basin
• Role: As one of the newer additions to the dog program she’s constantly improving on her buried victim search.
• Age: 1 year
• Breed: Black Lab
• Favorite treat: Broccoli. Boy does she love broccoli. And beer… but that’s a given for patrollers, right?

Tony

• Home Mountain: Snowbird
• Role: Avalanche Search and Rescue
• Age: 11 months
• Breed: Labrador Retriever
• Nickname: Tonado, Rigatony, Tony Bologna
• Special Trick: Tony can jump onto Paul, his handler, shoulders from the ground.

Stormy

• Home Mountain: Alyeska Resort
• Role: Avalanche Search Dog
• Age: 2 years
• Breed: Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Stormy the Pow Dog
• Favorite Snacks: Time sheets, medical tape, Post-its, footbeds, SAM Splint’s, uniform tags

Aley

• Home Mountain: Copper Mountain
• Role: Avalanche Rescue Dog in training. She’s also a professional serotonin booster for Copper Mountain’s patrol.
• Age: 5 months
• Breed: Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Land Shark
• Favorite Treat: Besides the cat food she tries to steal, probably whole frozen cucumbers.

Annie

• Home Mountain: Schweitzer
• Role: Avalanche Rescue Dog and Patrol Ambassador
• Age: 9 years
• Breed: Yellow Lab
• Nickname: Rocket
• Favorite Toy: Duct tape ball – it’s as glamorous as it sounds.

Kio (Full Name: Khione- Greek Goddess of Snow)

• Home Mountain: Crystal Mountain
• Role: Avalanche Rescue Dog candidate
• Age: 3 years
• Breed: English Shepherd
• Nickname: Titi, Deedee, Fiona, Khione
• Funny Habit: Army crawl across the snow and summersaults down the slopes.

Daisy

• Home Mountain: Steamboat
• Role: Avalanche Search and Rescue Dog
• Age: 2.5 years
• Breed: Black Lab
• Special Trick: Riding on a stand up paddle board

Charlie Girl

• Home Mountain: Winter Park
• Role: Good Dog / Search Dog
• Age: 2 years
• Breed: Pure Bred Good Girl or Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Chuck
• Favorite Toy: Old ski socks

Winston

• Home Mountain: Sugarloaf
• Role: Part of the IT team; Sugarloaf Greeter & Ambassador, and always first to lend a hand post lunch meeting cleanup
• Age: 3 years
• Breed: Retriever
• Nickname: Chuck
• Special Trick: Giving 4 paws of approval for the new Bucksaw Express lift opening!

Ripley

• Home Mountain: Sun Valley
• Role: Avalanche Rescue Dog
• Age: 2.5 years
• Breed: Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Ripper
• Funny Habit: Ripley sometimes will ride in a backpack at the end of a long patrol day and takes that opportunity to take a nap.

Hunter

• Home Mountain: Tremblant
• Role: Marketing Mascot / Ambassador / Model
• Age: 5.5 years
• Breed: Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Ripper
• Funny Habit: Hunter sleeps on his back, paws in the air, and head on a pillow.

Shelby

• Home Mountain: Camelback Resort
• Role: Marketing Meeting Crasher and Unofficial Camelback Ambassador
• Age: 8 months
• Breed: Border Collie Mix
• Nickname: Shelbert, Shel Silverstein, Shelly, Shelty
• Favorite Toy: the singular arm that she ripped off of her sloth toy and loves with her whole heart.

Ruby

• Home Mountain: Aspen Snowmass
• Role: Patrol Dog at Buttermilk
• Age: 1 year
• Breed: Scottish Field Golden
• Funny Habit: chasing butterflies

Brackett

• Home Mountain: Palisades Tahoe
• Role: Palisades Avalanche Dog in training
• Age: 6 months
• Breed: Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Baby Shark
• Fun Fact: Brackett loves hiking and rafting with his handler, on his days off.

Thunder

• Home Mountain: Palisades Tahoe
• Role: Alpine Avalanche Dog
• Age: 3 years
• Breed: Labrador Retriever
• Nickname: Thunderpants

Jetty

• Home Mountain: Mt. Bachelor
• Role: Avalanche Dog in training
• Age: 2 years
• Breed: Golden Retriever
• Nickname: Jethro Theodore (his nickname when he is in trouble)
• Funny Habit: Jetty loves to pounce on any pine cone that falls from the trees and attempt to chew them up