Two backcountry skiers, a couple, lost their lives in an avalanche near the Broken Top area west of Bend, central Oregon. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reported the incident occurred in backcountry slopes commonly visited by winter recreation enthusiasts.
Search and rescue operations led by the sheriff’s office found the victims’ bodies in an area known to be perilous for avalanches, specifically around Trail 8 between the junctions with Trails 88 and 6, as reported by KGW. The Central Oregon Avalanche Center had, earlier that day, shared information regarding the avalanche which measured an average crown height of 45 cm., killing the couple who likely triggered the event.
The avalanche occurred at an elevation of 6,700 feet on a south-facing slope, illustrating the risks present in these winter environments, as documented by KBTX. Officials are yet to disclose the identities of the two individuals pending notification of next of kin; however, they acknowledged that the incident took place in a region called Happy Valley – an area that lies between the Bend Watershed and Broken Tip.
As investigations continue, the sheriff’s office and the Central Oregon Avalanche Center are working to analyze the event in hopes of preventing future incidents, as recounted by UPI.
