Slide Fatality - Mt Bailey Cat Skiing Lead Guide

Sad news out of Mt Bailey Cat skiing operation in Central Oregon. Lead guide Rick 'Oz' Oswald was killed Tuesday while conducting avalanche control on a guided cat ski outing. Details are pretty sparse at this point but it sounds like trauma was the COD.

Having skied 15+ days with the Mt Bailey cat skiing operation I can tell you this mountain has some big terrain. The chutes on the North side are the main play area for the operation and they roll over in classic convexity into 1500-2000 vertical 35 degree chutes. I've seen a few explosive and cut triggered slides here triggered by the guides. Scary stuff.

Oz was larger than life. Built like an Ox, he was a lumberjack in the summer and a ski guide in the winter. He was as central Oregon as you can get. Prayers for his friends and family.

This story is far too common this winter. Remember, it takes big balls to say no to a line. Bigger than it does to ski it. Be safe out there.

unofficialnetworks.com/2016/03/avalanche...lead-guide-in-oregon