Early Snow, Big Risks: Rescuers urge backcountry skiers to stay alert

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County rescuers are urging backcountry skiers and snowboarders to think twice before heading up Mount Bachelor, after their first emergency call of the season ended with a seriously injured snowboarder on The Cone and a stark reminder of how dangerous thin early-season snow can be.

Volunteer Taylor Bacci got the call early Sunday when a 26-year-old snowboarder fell and suffered severe injuries on “The Cone,” an open-to-the-public hill next to the mountain.

“I was working out,” Bacci said. “I was just getting home and preparing for actually training for a ski patrol. I’m also on Mount Bachelor National Ski Patrol.”

Rescuers say the accident highlights the dangers of venturing out early in the season, with only about a 15-inch snowpack covering rocks and uneven ground.

“Right now, Mount Bachelor is uncontrolled and unpatrolled, which is why we were called to assist on the mountain,” Bacci explained.

The team gathered at their Bend location before rushing to the scene. Once at Mount Bachelor, they hiked, took a ski lift, and used new equipment to reach the snowboarder more quickly.

“So we loaded up our teams in the back of their PistonBully, and it got us up to the compression of The Cone at a much quicker rate than us hiking ourselves up there,” she said.

Although the rescue took two hours, Bacci noted that many missions take at least five. She reminded anyone heading into the backcountry to be properly prepared and check conditions in advance.

“It is super shallow, and you just don’t know how the snow is settled on the surface with how little snow we’ve received at this point,” Bacci said.

Search and Rescue officials urge anyone considering early-season skiing or snowboarding to check Mount Bachelor’s website and the Central Oregon Avalanche Center before heading out.