Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe Claims Eight Lives, One Skier Still Missing
– A backcountry skiing trip near Lake Tahoe turned tragic on Tuesday after an avalanche struck a group of 15 skiers in the Castle Peak area, claiming the lives of eight individuals. One skier remains missing as of Wednesday, according to officials with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Six skiers were rescued from the avalanche site, with two requiring hospitalization. Authorities stated that neither of the hospitalized skiers sustained life-threatening injuries, and one has already been released. Five of those rescued were clients on the guided backcountry skiing trip, and one was a guide.
The incident, which occurred around 11:30 a.m. PST, is now considered the deadliest skiing avalanche in modern U.S. History, surpassing a 1982 disaster at the Alpine Meadows ski area where seven people died. Prior to this, the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. Since 1950 was the 1981 Mount Rainier climb where eleven were killed.
Search and rescue crews were initially dispatched to Frog Lake in the Castle Peak area after receiving a 911 call reporting the avalanche and buried skiers. The challenging terrain and ongoing snowstorm hampered rescue efforts, with teams working through mountainous wilderness to reach the survivors and recover those lost.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office initially reported a group of 16 skiers involved, but later clarified the number to 15, noting that one person had backed out of the trip prior to the avalanche. The search for the remaining missing skier continues, complicated by the persistent dangerous weather conditions.
Adding a personal dimension to the tragedy, authorities revealed that one of the nine missing skiers was the spouse of a member of the Placer County search and rescue team.
Rescuers described the conditions as extremely dangerous, with a high probability of further avalanches. “Highly skilled rescue ski teams” from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center were deployed to assist in the operation, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. The six survivors were directed to shelter in place as best they could while rescue teams worked to reach them.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a forecast warning of the potential for large avalanches, listing the danger rating as “high” – a four out of five on the rating scale. The center advised against travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain, predicting a widespread natural avalanche cycle over the next 24 hours.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office stated that 46 emergency responders were involved in the rescue efforts. The surviving skiers were evaluated by Truckee Fire personnel after being transported to safety. The ongoing search for the missing skier is dependent on weather conditions.
