Tragic news out of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains where two backcountry skiers were killed in an avalanche.
The Central Oregon Avalanche Center reports the slide happened on Monday at 6,700 feet on a south-facing slope west of Bend in Happy Valley near Broken Top peak. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reports its search and rescue unit recovered the victims bodies. The names of victims have not yet been released.
Avalanche danger remains “considerable” in the Central Cascades. Our thoughts go out to the victims’ family and friends.
Read the preliminary accident report from the Central Oregon Avalanche Center below.
Central Oregon Avalanche Center 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 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.
