Director of Wallowa Avalanche Center Dies in Oregon Avalanche

Confirmed in a statement published yesterday by the Wallowa Avalanche Center, Kip Rand, the center’s director, died Tuesday in an Oregon avalanche. Rand, who assumed the role of Wallowa Avalanche Center Director last November, was skiing Chief Joseph Mountain, west of Joseph, Ore., when the avalanche occurred.

Kip Rand, Director of the Wallowa Avalanche Center. [Photo] Courtesy Wallowa Avalanche Center

Kip Rand, director of the Wallowa Avalanche Center. [Photo] Courtesy Wallowa Avalanche Center

According to The Observer, Rand, 29, was skiing with one other individual in Miner’s Gulch, a large basin on Chief Joseph Mountain (9,616 ft.) in northeastern Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. The avalanche carried Rand nearly 600 feet, Wallowa County Sheriff Steve Rogers told The Observer, and while Rand survived the slide, he later succumbed to his injuries. Rand’s partner, visiting from out of town, was unharmed, and area skiers, along with Wallowa County Search and Rescue, assisted with the recovery effort.

“If it wasn’t for the backcountry skiers it would be a lot harder for search and rescue to reach people in some of these higher altitude, deep snow rescues we have to do from time to time,” Rogers said.

The Wallowa Avalanche Center’s most recent advisory—published over the weekend by Rand—spoke of storm snow and wind slabs as the primary hazards, with a recent storm bringing rain and wet snow to northeastern Oregon. According to the Wallowa Avalanche Center statement, Rand was not working on the day of the avalanche.

“We are simply stunned with sorrow,” Wallowa Avalanche Center board member Keith Stebbings said in the statement. Reflecting on Rand’s short tenure with the Avalanche Center, Stebbings continued:

“He came to us with extensive avalanche training, many years of experience as a guide, avalanche educator and pro observer. Most of all, he came to us with a humble, collected and thoughtful demeanor as he spoke and shared his knowledge.”

As more details on this accident emerge, we’ll share them here.

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Comments

  1. Dave savage says:

    Kip Rand was a true gentleman. My condolences to his family – he will be missed by all who knew him.

  2. My heart goes out to all of Kip’s Family friend and loved ones.
    So heartbreaking and so young. We lost our boy a year ago in an avalanche in Austria. If there is anything I can do to help you promote awareness, look me up. Thinking of you all.
    Best,
    Laura Astle

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