BEND, Ore. — The tragic identities of two backcountry skiers who lost their lives in an avalanche in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains have been confirmed.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims as Susan Skjersaa, 52, and Terance Skjersaa, 57, a couple from Bend. The devastating avalanche occurred late Monday in the Happy Valley area, near Broken Top Peak.
On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office search and rescue team successfully recovered the couple’s bodies.
According to the Central Oregon Avalanche Center, the avalanche struck at an elevation of 6,700 feet (2,042 meters) on a south-facing slope. While the exact trigger remains unknown, it is suspected that the couple may have inadvertently caused the avalanche themselves during their skiing excursion.
Search efforts began after friends reported the couple missing on Monday, as they had failed to return from their recreational outing.
Their plan was to snowmobile into a location ideal for skiing, as noted by Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp.
The Skjersaa family’s legacy in Bend is significant, having established the city’s first ski shop and founded the Skyliners Ski Club.
