Avalanches kill 2 backcountry skiers in Oregon and another in California
Bend, Oregon — An avalanche in Oregon's Cascade Mountains killed two backcountry skiers and another was killed in an avalanche near South Lake Tahoe in California, authorities said.
In Oregon, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that its search-and-rescue unit recovered two bodies west of Bend in Happy Valley, near Broken Top Peak.
The couple had been skiing when an avalanche occurred Monday at 6,700 feet on a south-facing slope, the Central Oregon Avalanche Center said in a social media post.
"We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved," the post said. "As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community."
In a separate report, the Avalanche Center said, "It is likely that the riders triggered the avalanche themselves."
The names of the two people killed haven't been released.
Earlier Tuesday, the sheriff's office said it had responded overnight to reports of people possibly buried in an avalanche in the area.
Avalanche danger in the Central Cascades is currently "considerable," a 3 on a scale of 0 to 5, according to the Avalanche Center forecast.
California death
In California, CBS Sacramento reports, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said its dispatch center received a call late Monday afternoon regarding a missing backcountry skier near Powderhouse Peak. The skier's vehicle was found in a parking area.
A short time later, the missing person's body was found by friends in an avalanche area, the sheriff's office said. However, the snowy weather forced recovery efforts to be pushed back to Tuesday.
A recovery operation began at around 6 a.m. and crews used controlled explosives to minimize any further avalanche dangers, authorities said. Crews successfully recovered the body by around 5 p.m. using a helicopter.
The identity of that skier also hasn't been released.
The Sierra Avalanche Center said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to report an avalanche fatality at Powderhouse Peak that occurred on Monday afternoon, February 17. Our condolences go out to the victim's family and friends and all those affected by this tragic accident. SAC avalanche forecasters were on scene yesterday and a full accident report will be available later today."
