“He was kind—to people and the planet’: Bend father reflects on son lost in avalanche

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Stratton Matteson, a Bend native and well-known split-boarder, was killed in an avalanche on February 26 at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park in British Columbia. The experienced outdoorsman was a prominent member of the Central Oregon backcountry community and the owner of a local bicycle-based landscaping business.

George Wuerthner, Matteson’s father, provided details regarding the incident at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, located east of Whistler. Matteson had been traveling through the North Cascades and Washington before meeting a friend to explore the backcountry in British Columbia. During one of their first runs of the day, a wind slab avalanche was triggered and buried Matteson under five to six feet of snow. Wuerthner stated that the coroner identified the cause of death as asphyxiation.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian search and rescue teams responded to the scene. "They immediately sent three helicopters out with search and rescue folks and a dog," Wuerthner said. Rescuers located Matteson quickly because his avalanche beacon was still functioning, but the father noted that survival is rare if a person is not found within 30 minutes.

Matteson was considered an elite athlete in the region. Wuerthner shared that his son was highly regarded for his skills. "People tell me he was like one of the best snowboarders, you know, in the Pacific Northwest," Wuerthner said. Just days before his death, Matteson had successfully rescued another person from an avalanche in Washington, helping to drag the survivor to safety on a tarp. Despite his expertise, Wuerthner noted that his son remained humble and was dedicated to safety, having taken several avalanche courses.

Beyond his snowboarding, Matteson was known for his environmental commitment and a unique landscaping business in Bend. He operated the business entirely from his bicycle, towing a trailer from house to house to reduce his carbon footprint. Wuerthner explained that his son used his work to advocate for the environment. "And he was trying to promote local plants for people's yards, you know, the native plants," Wuerthner said. Matteson frequently biked to Mount Bachelor and other backcountry locations, even during winter storms, as part of his effort to live a low-carbon lifestyle.

The outdoor community in Central Oregon has shared numerous stories of Matteson’s personality, including his humor and quirks. Wuerthner recalled that his son was an "old soul" who was known for his "stinky shoes," which often had to be kept in the garage. His father also remembered Matteson's lifelong obsession with the mountains, which occasionally led him to miss school to find fresh snow. "Well, Stratton didn't show up for fourth-period class, and I said, well, yeah, he wasn't feeling well. He's home now," Wuerthner said, recounting a phone call he once received from his son's school.

The loss of Matteson follows a previous tragedy for the family and the local community. Four years ago, Matteson’s best friend, Alex Koehler, died in a kayaking accident on the Deschutes River. Wuerthner noted that his son kept a photograph of Koehler on the dashboard of his car. "It was, like Stratton's best friend. And, in fact, I'm sitting in Stratton's car right now, and he's got a picture of Alex right here on the dash," Wuerthner said.

The family has found comfort in sharing memories of Matteson. "We've done a lot of crying up here, but we've also done a lot of laughing because we just have, you know, telling Stratton stories and all the funny things that happened are things we saw with him," Wuerthner said.

Matteson’s father described his son as a kind and respectful person who maintained close ties with his family. "He was very kind to people. And, you know, because I always ask him, but he would always call me when he was on his way back from a trip," Wuerthner said. Major outdoor organizations and community groups, including Patagonia, the Mount Bachelor Education Foundation and Protect Our Winters, have posted public tributes honoring Matteson’s life and his contributions to the backcountry community.

George Wuerthner and his family are currently in British Columbia to collect Matteson’s ashes before returning to Bend. The family is planning a celebration of life for the Central Oregon community, which they hope to hold in May. Further details regarding the location and arrangements for the memorial service will be announced once plans are finalized.