Experts give tips for avalanche safety following tragedy in the Oregon Cascades

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Seven people in Oregon and 23 people in Washington have died of avalanches in the last 10 years, Northwest Avalanche Center data shows.

Although avalanches can be sudden and unpredictable, 90% of avalanche incidents are triggered by people, according to the National Weather Service. Because avalanches are often caused by humans, there are some precautions people can take to avoid getting caught in the potentially deadly flows of snow, ice and debris.

Dallas Glass, the Deputy Director and Avalanche Forecaster for the Northwest Avalanche Center, told KOIN 6 there are two main keys to avoiding avalanches: Checking the forecast and receiving proper training before heading into avalanche zones.

Avalanche centers around the U.S. issue daily avalanche forecasts. These forecasts specify what regions are at risk of avalanches and how likely they are to occur. The avalanche warning scale has five tiers: Low, Moderate, Considerable, High and Extreme.

“Each one of these levels of danger is significantly more dangerous than the one before it,” Glass said.

Avalanche danger was at Level 3 (Considerable) in Oregon’s central Cascades when a Bend couple was tragically killed in an avalanche on Feb. 17, east of Broken Top. Historically, the highest number of avalanche deaths have occurred when conditions are at the Level 3 stage, when avalanche hazards are less obvious, Avalanche.org states.

“Under [Level 3] danger, natural avalanches are possible and human-triggered slides are likely,” the website reads. “Avalanche conditions are considered dangerous and careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision making are essential. Small avalanches can occur in many areas, large avalanches in specific areas, and very large avalanches in isolated areas.”

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Manager Nathan Garibay told KOIN 6 News that telling people where you’re going and what time you’ll be back is also an important part of avalanche safety.

“I would say, in this case, the couple did everything right,” Garibay said. “[People] noticed that they were missing … people knew what general area they were going to be in. Unfortunately, that didn’t change the outcome of this tragic situation.”

Another important step for avoiding avalanche danger is education, Glass said. Avalanche.org offers free 90-minute avalanche training classes through Zoom and in person. NWAC also offers online courses.

“One: Get the forecast. Two: get the training,” Glass said. “... Free 90-minute classes are a great way to start.”