picture courtesy of Central Oregon Daily News

Two backcountry skiers died in an avalanche outside Bend, along a snowmobile trail.   Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue responded late Monday night to an area known as “Happy Valley,” between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top.  Tuesday afternoon, crews recovered the bodies from the area of “Trail 8”.  Although no names have been made public at this time, Sheriff Kent van der Kamp released a statement that said in part, he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche… 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."

Authorities say avalanche danger in the Central Cascades is moderate to considerable.