Photo: KGW8
A couple from Bend, Oregon tragically died in an avalanche this week. Officials originally believed “at least” one person had gone missing when search and rescue efforts began late Monday and early Tuesday, but on Wednesday they confirmed that a slab avalanche had claimed the lives of Terance “Terry” Olaf Skjersaa, 57, and his wife Susan Renee Skjersaa, 52. They believe the pair had triggered the slide.
The couple reportedly set out on a backcountry snowmobile trail between the city of Bend and Broken Top Mountain, an area known as Happy Valley. When they hadn’t returned late Monday, friends started to search for them. According to Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, family and friends used cellphone pings to try and locate the skiers and they were able to find one of the victims before midnight, Monday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry. 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. On behalf of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and our entire community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to their family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said.
“On February 17, 2025, two backcountry skiers were buried in a D2, Storm Slab avalanche,” a report from the Central Oregon Avalanche Center announced. “The avalanche occurred at 6,700 feet on a south slope. The avalanche’s crown height averaged 45 centimeters and the avalanche ran 320 vertical feet into a tight clump of trees. The weak layer was a four-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.”
