An avalanche in Oregon's Cascade Mountains killed two backcountry skiers while another backcountry skier was found dead in an avalanche field near South Lake Tahoe, authorities said.

A couple in Central Oregon was found dead after being caught in an avalanche while skiing the day after another person was killed in a separate avalanche in California. "I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry,

Mammoth Mountain shut down all lift operations on Friday, Feb. 14, after an avalanche on Lincoln Mountain. Two ski patrol workers were caught in the slide.

Three people died in avalanches Monday — one person near Lake Tahoe in California and two backcountry skiers in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. The avalanche danger was elevated for most of Colorado’s mountains earlier this week but conditions have improved somewhat in some areas.

A growing number of skiers, weary of high prices and long lift lines at crowded resorts, are turning to the solitude of backcountry slopes. But the avalanche dangers are real, and skiers should go in prepared.