Friends, family mourn loss of Bend splitboarder Stratton Matteson, killed in British Columbia avalanche
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Family and friends are mourning the loss of an inspiring, well-known member of Bend's backcountry community, splitboarder Stratton Matteson, who was killed by an avalanche in British Columbia earlier this week.
The Central Oregon Avalanche Center confirmed Stratton's passing in a Facebook post on Thursday, saying he "was a beloved member of the Central Oregon backcountry community, and his loss will be felt deeply by many."
Reports indicate Matteson, 28, was caught and killed Tuesday in an avalanche near Pemberton, B.C. It happened in a remote area of the Anniversary Glacier, near Mt. Joffre and Mt. Matier, according to POWDER Magazine.
The avalanche center shared, "If you’ve ever driven up Cascade Lakes Highway in the middle of winter and passed a biker heading out for turns, chances are it was Stratton," the center said.
"He was not only a passionate splitboarder, but someone who lived with intention. His love for the mountains and our planet inspired those around him," they added.
"You made the world and everyone around you better, Stratton, and we’re grateful for it," the avalanche center concluded. "Our hearts are with his family, friends, and the entire community during this incredibly difficult time."
Splitboarding is a snowboarding discipline that provides backcountry access by using a specially designed board that splits lengthwise into two skis for uphill touring with skins, then reconnects into a snowboard for the descent. It enables snowboarders to "earn their turns" without chairlifts, offering a way to explore untracked terrain.
Stratton, who posted frequently on Instagram, was known for biking everywhere, including up to Mt. Bachelor and his various backcountry trips around the country. He also ran a landscaping business, where he would bike from house to house.
Many local residents shared their thoughts and memories in a post on the Bend subreddit.
"It was always really inspiring, seeing him pedaling up Century (Drive) on a pow day," one wrote.
Another called him "a huge inspiration to me for getting out in the backcountry."
"He absolutely was one of the purest souls and kindest people you’ve ever met," another person wrote. "It was as if he was from another planet with the kind of energy he brought."
.Avalanches have proven deadly several times around Canada and the U.S. in recent weeks, including Bend snowmobiler Chris Thomason, 42, killed in a California avalanche near Lake Tahoe and the recent deaths of nine backcountry skiers due to an avalanche in the same area.
