Winter sports including skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling are all very popular in Central Oregon. But Jean Nelson-Dean at the Deschutes National Forest says there are dangers such as avalanches and tree wells. She says there is a website called Central Oregon Avalanche Center that is a great resource because it updates information on the risk of avalanches. Nelson Dean says tree wells are a hazard to skiers and boarders. She says if someone falls into a tree well they can be covered by snow and debris and end up suffocating. Nelson-Dean urges skiers and boarders to travel with a partner and keep in sight of each other in case someone needs help.