Avalanche
Two backcountry skiers lost their lives in an avalanche near Bend, Oregon, on Monday. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office recovered the bodies on Tuesday after an extensive search and rescue operation in the area known as Happy Valley.
The avalanche occurred at 6,700 feet on a south-facing slope between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top, a popular backcountry destination. The slide had a 17-inch crown and ran 320 vertical feet into tight trees.
Sheriff Kent van der Kamp expressed his condolences, stating, “Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live.”
“COAC is devastated to share that the avalanche in Happy Valley has resulted in two fatalities. On Feb. 17, 2025, two backcountry skiers were buried in a D2 avalanche. The avalanche occurred at 6,700 ft. on a South facing slope. Today Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (DCSOSAR) successfully recovered the victims.
We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved. As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community. Names of the victims are being withheld at this time.
COAC will be providing an Avalanche Accident Report that will be forthcoming. There is a preliminary report on our website.
We will mourn this loss together, take care of each other.
– Central Oregan Avalanche Center statement
The Central Oregon Avalanche Center reported that the avalanche danger in the region was “considerable” at the time of the incident, rating it a Level 3 out of 5 on the danger scale. Experts warn that such conditions can lead to unstable snowpack, especially on wind-loaded slopes near and above treeline.
According to OpenSnow, the area had seen 17″ of fresh snow in the previous five days, including 10″ on the day of the accident.
“Avalanche danger will continue to rise overnight and on Monday as new snow piles up. Avalanches large enough to bury or injure a rider are possible throughout all elevations, and likely wherever the wind has blown in deeper deposits of snow. Monday will be a good day to start with conservative terrain choices, and only move to bigger or steeper slopes when/if you feel confident that it is safe to do so.”
– Avalanche forecast for the day
Local authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when venturing into the backcountry and to stay informed about current avalanche conditions. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has asked people to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
Preliminary Avalanche Accident Report:
- Happy Valley Avalanche Accident: Reported on February 18, 2025 – Oregon – Happy Valley – Gabriel Coler – Central Oregon Avalanche Center
Avalanche Details:
- Location: Happy Valley, Deschutes County, Oregon
- 44.06212, -121.61267 (WGS-84)
- Oregon
- Avalanche occurred on February 17, 2025
- Time of occurrence is unknown, likely in the afternoon
- 2 Fatalities
- Skiing
- On February 17, 2025, 2 backcountry skiers were buried in a D2, Storm Slab avalanche. The avalanche occurred at 6,700 ft. on a South slope. The avalanche’s crown height averaged 18″ (45 cm) and the avalanche ran 320 vertical feet into a tight clump of trees. The weak layer was a 4-finger hard layer of preserved precipitation particles and decomposing fragments. The trigger is unknown, but it is likely that the riders triggered the avalanche themselves.
The fatalities bring the total number of avalanche deaths in the US this season to 11, and the first in Oregon. On the same day, a skier was killed in an avalanche near Luther Pass, just south of Lake Tahoe, California.
