Mt. Hood Meadows

Mt. Hood Meadows is pictured in a 2012 Oregonian/OregonLive file photo.

(Jamie Francis/Staff)

Authorities have recovered the body of a missing skier who died after apparently hitting a tree at Mt. Hood Meadows last week.

Early information indicates Steve Leavitt hit a tree on the morning of March 7 and was buried in deep powder that later became compacted by rain, according to a Hood River County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Leavitt was skiing in an area called Jacks Woods, which is rated as extremely difficult.

He ended up in a shallow tree well, said Sgt. Pete Hughes. There's no indication an avalanche contributed to his death, Hughes said.

Leavitt, a 57-year-old resident of The Dalles, last rode the resort's Heather chairlift around 11:20 a.m. on March 7. Searchers found his body late Wednesday afternoon, Hughes said in a news release, and a recovery team got his body off the mountain Thursday morning.

Hughes said Leavitt's body was at the bottom of Jacks Woods, an in-bounds area dotted with trees that searchers canvassed last week.

Ski patrollers open gates leading to Jacks Woods -- and other similarly difficult and ungroomed areas -- when conditions allow.

Hughes said conditions were good when Leavitt went missing.

Hughes said Leavitt was wearing a helmet but not an avalanche beacon or backpack with overnight supplies. He described Leavitt as an avid skier who knew the area well.

Meadows spokesman Dave Tragethon said Leavitt is a longtime resort pass holder.

He's is the first person to die on the mountain since June 2015 and the first skier to die since the previous December, according to Oregonian/OregonLive records. He's one of 17 skiers, snowboarders or patrollers who have died at Mt. Hood Meadows.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015