Eight backcountry skiers have died and one remains missing following an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California, officials confirmed on Thursday, . The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, , is the deadliest avalanche in the United States in nearly half a century.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced during a press conference that the search operation has transitioned from rescue to recovery. “Authorities have told the families the mission has moved from rescue to recovery,” she stated. The tragedy echoes the deadliest U.S. Avalanche since , when eleven climbers perished on Mount Rainier in Washington state.
The group of fifteen skiers was undertaking a three-day trek in the Sierra Nevada mountains as a severe winter storm swept across the West Coast. Six skiers were initially rescued on Tuesday, several hours after the avalanche struck. Those survivors located the bodies of three of their companions before rescue teams arrived. One of the rescued skiers remained hospitalized on Wednesday, according to Sheriff Moon.
Search and rescue crews were alerted to the incident following a 911 call reporting that fifteen skiers had been buried by the avalanche in the Castle Peak area. The challenging conditions, including heavy snowfall and the ongoing threat of further avalanches, significantly hampered the rescue efforts. Crews used a snowcat to reach a point approximately two miles from the survivors, before continuing the search on skis to avoid triggering additional slides.
The area near Donner Summit is renowned for its heavy snowfall, receiving an average of nearly 35 feet annually, according to the Truckee Donner Land Trust. The land trust, which owns a cluster of huts near Frog Lake where the group had been staying, noted that the area was previously closed to the public until a few years ago. The Sierra Avalanche Center has warned of continued high avalanche risk and advised against travel in the region, citing unstable and unpredictable snowpack conditions exacerbated by recent heavy snowfall and gale-force winds.
The expedition was led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, who notified authorities about the avalanche using both emergency beacons and direct communication. Captain Russell “Rusty” Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office stated that the skiers had limited time to react. “Someone saw the avalanche, yelled avalanche, and it overtook them rather quickly,” he said.
Authorities initially believed sixteen skiers were involved, but later clarified the number to fifteen. The victims comprise seven women and two men, ranging in age from 30 to 55. Three of the deceased were guides employed by Blackbird Mountain Guides. The bodies have not yet been recovered from the mountain due to the extreme conditions.
Blackbird Mountain Guides released a statement expressing their condolences and offering support to the authorities. “Our thoughts are with the missing individuals, their families, and first responders in the field,” the statement read. “We are assisting authorities in the search.”
The incident prompted the closure of several Tahoe ski resorts, though these facilities typically employ controlled explosions and barriers to mitigate avalanche risks, making them less vulnerable than backcountry areas. The Donner Summit area has a somber history, named after the ill-fated Donner Party, a group of pioneers who endured unimaginable hardship, including cannibalism, after becoming trapped there during the winter of .
This latest avalanche follows a similar incident in January, where a snowmobiler was killed in a separate avalanche in the same region. Nationally, between 25 and 30 people die in avalanches each year, according to the National Avalanche Center. Sheriff Moon indicated that investigators will examine the decision to proceed with the trek given the prevailing weather forecast.
The rugged terrain surrounding the huts requires significant backcountry skills, avalanche training, and appropriate safety equipment. Reaching the huts in winter involves a multi-hour trek, necessitating the carrying of all food and supplies. The area’s steep, craggy cliffs contribute to the inherent dangers of backcountry skiing.
