Six Rescued from Lake Tahoe Avalanche as Nine Remain Missing in California
Rescue crews have pushed through treacherous mountainous wilderness in California to rescue six backcountry skiers who were trapped by a devastating avalanche near Lake Tahoe. However, nine other members of their skiing group are still missing, with search efforts ongoing amid extreme winter storm conditions.
Emergency Response in Extreme Conditions
Emergency crews battled a severe snowstorm in the rugged wilderness northwest of Lake Tahoe to reach the trapped skiers. Two of the six rescued individuals required hospital treatment, according to Ashley Quadros of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office clarified that the group comprised 15 skiers total, not 16 as initially believed.
Search teams were dispatched to Frog Lake after a 911 call reported the avalanche and buried individuals during a powerful California winter storm. The extreme conditions in the Northern California mountains significantly slowed the rescue effort, with crews taking several hours to reach the skiers and transport them to safety, where they were evaluated by the Truckee Fire Department.
The Three-Day Skiing Expedition
The skiers were on the final day of a three-day backcountry skiing trek, according to Steve Reynaud, a Tahoe National Forest avalanche forecaster with the Sierra Avalanche Center. The group had spent two nights at mountain huts during a trip that required navigating "rugged mountainous terrain" for up to 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) while carrying all their food and supplies.
Nevada County Sheriff Capt. Russell Greene said authorities were notified about the avalanche by both the ski tour company that led the expedition, Blackbird Mountain Guides, and by emergency beacons the skiers were carrying. Rescuers approached the avalanche scene cautiously due to the ongoing danger of additional avalanches.
Blackbird Mountain Guides confirmed in a statement on its website that the company was coordinating closely with authorities on the rescue operation.
Dangerous Backcountry Conditions
California is experiencing a powerful winter storm this week, bringing treacherous thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy snow to mountain areas. "It's particularly dangerous in the backcountry right now just because we're at the height of the storm," said Brandon Schwartz, Tahoe National Forest lead avalanche forecaster at the Sierra Avalanche Center.
The center issued an avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada region, including the Greater Lake Tahoe area, starting at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, with large slides expected to continue into Wednesday. The town of Soda Springs, near where the avalanche occurred, recorded at least 30 inches (76 centimeters) of snow during a 24-hour period, according to the Soda Springs Mountain Resort.
The dangerous conditions resulted from rapidly accumulating snow piling on fragile snowpack layers combined with gale-force winds. The storm has wreaked havoc on roads from the Sierra Nevada to Sonoma County, with traffic temporarily halted in both directions on Interstate 80 over and around Donner Summit due to multiple spinouts and crashes.
Area with Historical Significance
Castle Peak, a 9,110-foot (2,777-meter) mountain north of Donner Summit, serves as a popular backcountry skiing destination. The summit, which can be perilous in snowy conditions, is named for the infamous Donner Party—a group of pioneers who resorted to cannibalism after becoming trapped there during the winter of 1846-1847.
In January, an avalanche in the same region buried and killed a snowmobiler. According to the National Avalanche Center, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the United States each winter. Experts strongly recommend training in avalanche assessment and rescue, along with proper safety equipment, for backcountry skiing.
Backcountry skiing, also known as off-piste skiing, involves venturing deep into wilderness areas far outside resort boundaries. The specialized equipment includes wider, heavier skis designed for ascending and descending ungroomed terrain, unlike cross-country skis that are narrower and intended for flatter, more groomed trails.
The sheriff's office announced it would provide another update on rescue efforts during a news conference scheduled for Wednesday morning as search operations continue for the nine missing skiers.
