Bend skier falls into Tumalo Mtn. tree well, rescued

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue crews came to the aid Saturday of a 62-year-old Bend man who fell into a tree well while skiing down Tumalo Mountain and needed help getting out, officials said.

County 911 dispatchers got a call around 11:20 a.m. from Gary Kean, who reported his situation near Dutchman Flat, said Deputy Jeff Winters, assistant SAR coordinator.

A tree well is a void or area of loose snow around the trunk of a tree, which can pose a danger to winter recreationists who fall into them.

Kean reported he was unhurt and was well-equipped with warm clothing, food, water and a whistle, Winters said.

Cellphone coverage in the area is inconsistent, the deputy said, making the location coordinates obtained by 911 from Kean’s phone unreliable.

SAR was activated around 12:25 p.m. and deployed a team of 11 volunteers and two deputies to find Kean using snowmobiles and a ground team on snowshoes, Winters said.

Due to the poor cellphone coverage, searchers were unable to again contact Kean by text or phone, frustrating efforts to confirm his location.

Around 2:25 p.m. the search team came within audible contact of Kean, saying they could hear him blowing his emergency whistle, Winters said. After several more minutes pinpointing his location, SAR members were able to help Kean out of the tree well and assess his condition.

Winters said Kean was treated on scene for cold exposure, but otherwise unhurt. Around 3:15 p.m., the SAR team began helping the man down to the Dutchman Flat plateau. Once there, Kean was given a snowmobile ride back to his vehicle.

The SAR team said Kean was experienced and well-equipped for the activity he was partaking in.

“The sheriff’s office wants to remind the public that emergencies can happen at any time, and urges the public to always prepare for the unexpected when recreating in the backcountry,” Winters said in a news release.