C.O. seeing high avalanche danger: How you can stay safe

(Update: Adding video, comment from backcountry skiers, Mt. Bachelor, Central Oregon Avalanche Center)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Recent heavy snowfall and wind has made for dangerous avalanche conditions in the Central Oregon Cascades.

The Central Oregon Avalanche Center issued an avalanche forecast of high danger on Monday for areas above the tree line.

And in a deadly year for avalanches around the country, backcountry skiers need to be hyper-aware of the conditions.

Kevin Grove, a Central Oregon Avalanche Center board member, knows the dangers of avalanches all too well.

"January 2010, I skied a slope on Middle Sister that was unstable," Grove recalled to NewsChannel 21 on Monday.

He triggered an avalanche on the slope.

"In the years following, I've done a lot thinking about decisions made and what led up to the idea of skiing that slope,” he said.

Grove was lucky enough to stay above the slide, but it's been a deadly season for avalanche deaths around the country.

Since December, there have been at least 25 people who have died in avalanches around the country. That's the most since 2015-16, when there were 30, according to Avalanche.org.

There haven’t been any in Oregon, but this weekend’s storms left conditions prime for avalanches.

Scott Rowles, who saw the conditions himself on Monday, said, "All signs are pointing to some pretty good instability out there,”

Rowles was snowmobiling and skiing near Todd Lake, avoiding the Tumalo Bowl area, where an avalanche was reported on Saturday.

"Above tree line, which Tumalo is, it's even higher risk," he said.

Which is why terrain above the tree line at Mt. Bachelor is currently closed.

Mt. Bachelor Brand and Communications Director Leigh Capozzi said, "Starting early in the morning, our patrol is out on the mountain, doing snow safety work."

That can mean setting explosive charges to blow away unstable slabs.

But you need to take other precautions in the backcountry.

Jeff Curry, another backcountry skier, said, "Always pack a shovel, beacon, probe."

Grove added, "Be aware of what the current conditions are. They change rapidly. they can change day to day."

He doesn't want to make the same mistake again.