Posted February 18, 2025 5:50 pm by COAC
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.