Deadliest US Avalanche in Nearly Half a Century Strikes California Backcountry
A tragic avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada mountains has claimed the lives of eight skiers, marking the deadliest such incident in the United States in nearly half a century. The disaster occurred on Tuesday during a three-day backcountry skiing trek organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides near Lake Tahoe.
Group Trapped in Blizzard Conditions
A group of 15 skiers, including four guides, was returning to the trailhead when they were overtaken by an avalanche near Castle Peak in Tahoe National Forest. The skiers had been staying in huts at 7,600 feet elevation, carrying their own food and equipment for the intermediate-to-expert level tour.
"Someone saw the avalanche, yelled avalanche, and it overtook them rather quickly," said Captain Russell "Rusty" Greene of the local sheriff's office. Six skiers were rescued after sheltering in place for hours as emergency crews battled severe blizzard conditions. Eight others were found dead, with their bodies located fairly close together, and one person remains missing. Three of the deceased were guides on the trip.
Century-Closed Terrain Reopened for Adventure Tourism
The rugged terrain where the tragedy unfolded had been closed to the public for an entire century before the Truckee Donner Land Trust purchased the area and opened the Frog Lake Huts. These basic accommodations feature sleeping pads, gas stoves, and flush toilets, catering to backcountry enthusiasts seeking pristine wilderness experiences.
Blackbird Mountain Guides, which operates from offices in California and Washington state, advertised the trip on its website with promises to "navigate in and out of the huts, manage the risks, and find the best terrain and snow quality." The company offers similar mountaineering and ski trips across the Western US, Europe, and Japan, along with safety courses in wilderness skills and first aid.
Extreme Weather Conditions Hamper Recovery Efforts
Recovery operations have been severely hampered by extreme weather conditions, preventing crews from removing the victims from the mountain. The avalanche occurred during a powerful winter storm that dumped significant snowfall across the region.
The town of Soda Springs, near the avalanche site, recorded at least 30 inches of snow within a 24-hour period, according to Soda Springs Mountain Resort. Rapidly accumulating snow piled onto fragile snowpack layers, combined with strong winds, created the treacherous conditions that led to the large slide.
Avalanche Warnings Issued Before Tragedy
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch early Sunday as the storm approached, followed by a more severe avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada region starting at 5 a.m. on Tuesday. The warning specifically covered the Greater Lake Tahoe area, with large slides expected to continue into Wednesday.
This tragedy represents the deadliest avalanche in the United States since 1981, when 11 climbers perished on Mount Rainier in Washington. According to the National Avalanche Center, between 25 and 30 people typically die in avalanches across the country each winter.
Company Coordinates with Authorities
Blackbird Mountain Guides released a statement confirming they are coordinating with authorities following the incident. The company's website notes that participants on such tours must bring their own ski equipment and avalanche safety gear, including beacons, shovels, and probes, while guides carry first aid kits and waste disposal supplies.
"Generally our guides are able to find excellent backcountry snow conditions, but often we need to travel through difficult conditions to access the goods," the website description states, emphasizing that skiers need "a solid foundation of touring skills" before attempting such adventures.
