The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit recovered the bodies of a Bend couple who were recreating in the backcountry in the area of Snowmobile Trail 8 near Trail 88 (Happy Valley Area).
Terance Olaf Skjersaa, 57 and Susan Renee Skjersaa, 52 were reported overdue during the evening of February 17th and friends began searching for them. Shortly before midnight, friends found the two bodies buried in an avalanche. The avalanche was suspected to have occurred several hours before the subjects were found.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue sent two members to the scene overnight and they were joined by additional members and a deputy to conduct theinvestigation and recovery. Both victims were recovered.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Central Oregon Avalanche Center and United States Forest Service.
The public should be aware avalanche danger in the Central Cascades area is moderate to considerable. Please use extreme caution when recreating in the areas and check coavalanche.org for more information including forecasts and observations.
