Identification of Two Backcountry Skiers Who Died in Oregon Avalanche Made Public

BEND, Ore. — The identities of two backcountry skiers who tragically lost their lives due to an avalanche in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon have been made public.
On Wednesday, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the victims were Susan Skjersaa, aged 52, and her husband, Terance Skjersaa, who was 57.
The avalanche struck late on Monday in an area referred to as Happy Valley, located west of Bend, close to the Broken Top peak. Both individuals were residents of Bend.
The recovery of their bodies was carried out on Tuesday by the search and rescue personnel from the sheriff’s office.
According to the Central Oregon Avalanche Center, the avalanche occurred at an elevation of 6,700 feet (approximately 2,042 meters) on a slope that faces southward. While the specific cause of the avalanche remains unclear, it is believed that the couple may have inadvertently triggered it during their outing on Monday afternoon.
The search operation commenced after friends expressed concern when the couple did not return from their recreational activities on Monday, as noted by Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp in comments to local news outlet KTVZ-TV.
“They intended to snowmobile into a suitable location for skiing,” he explained.
The Skjersaa family has deep roots in Bend, having been instrumental in launching the city’s inaugural ski shop as well as founding the Skyliners Ski Club.