Two Skiers Killed, Two Injured in Oregon Avalanche
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Hemera/Thinkstock(PORTLAND, Ore.) — An avalanche in eastern Oregon killed two back country skiers and seriously injured two others on Tuesday afternoon.
The victims were part of a group of eight who were skiing in a remote part of the Wallowa Mountains.
Rescue and recovery efforts continued into Wednesday, with assistance from the Idaho and Oregon National Guard.
One injured man suffered a broken femur, while a woman suffered two broken legs and a broken arm. At the time of the incident, the skiers were on steep, 70-degree slope.
Though there is no official cause of the avalanche, officials blamed the conditions on storms hitting the Northwest.
“We have had a lot of light snow and heavy snow in the area, so there’s just mixes of snow right now which is ideal for avalanches,” said Baker County Undersheriff Warren Thompson.
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