Tips for staying safe at Mt. Bachelor

With all the fresh snow falling in Central Oregon’s mountains, skiers and snowboarders have been flocking to Mt. Bachelor. Skiing and boarding in deep powder is fun, but it can also be dangerous and lead to injuries.

Tree wells can be skiers’ and snowboarders’ worst nightmare. These areas of loose unpacked snow at the base of trees can be hazardous, even deadly to mountain-goers.

“Tree wells are super-dangerous, especially in the Northwest. There have been a number of deaths here over the years,” Mt. Bachelor spokesman Stirling Cobb said Monday.

If riders fall into the tree wells, they can get stuck in the bottomless powder and end up dying from snow immersion suffocation (known as SIS).

“If you fall into a tree well, it is so challenging to dig yourself out,” Cobb explained. “But ideally, if you can grab onto a branch, if you can roll out of it, protect your airways, so you at least have a longer chance of somebody finding you.”

Mt. Bachelor has been taking precautions to prevent such accidents. When they first opened the Northwest lift this season, they required skiers and boarders to go down the mountain in pairs.

The buddy system is no longer required, but Bachelor officials say it’s always smart to a bring a friend along on the slopes with you.

Long-time skier Brian Hamilton offered some extra safety advice: “I wear a helmet, that’s one thing — and make sure you stop before you get over-tired. We have our kids up here, so we make sure they ski with an instructor or an adult.”

Other skiers suggested always checking the conditions before heading to the mountain, and to avoid skiing or snowboarding on closed terrain.

Before the mountain opens each day, Mt. Bachelor staff check the slopes to make sure the snowpack is safe for snowboarders and skiers to enjoy.

For more safety tips, visithttp://www.mtbachelor.com/info/staying-safe/