Search Ongoing for Missing Skiers after Avalanche near Lake Tahoe
Nine individuals are currently unaccounted for following an avalanche that struck a group of backcountry skiers near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday, amid a severe winter storm jamming California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) reported that rescuers managed to extract six survivors from the Castle Peak area after dealing with challenging weather conditions for several hours. Initially, the group was thought to include 16 skiers, but that count was later adjusted to 15. Two of the rescued skiers were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Emergency beacons played a crucial role in helping rescuers find the survivors in the darkness. Reports indicate that the six skiers took refuge in a wooded area, using tarps to shield themselves from the elements. They maintained communication with authorities via satellite messaging gear. Capt. Russell Greene of the sheriff’s office cautioned that rescuers needed to be careful, as further avalanches were a real concern.
“This is a challenging area. We’ll be moving slowly to avoid triggering another avalanche, which could certainly happen,” Greene mentioned.
The skiers had arrived at the Frog Lake backcountry hut on Sunday and were making their way back to the trailhead when the avalanche hit. This expedition was organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, and according to the Sierra Avalanche Center Director, Brandon Schwartz, the region saw significant snowfall, with 2 to 3 feet accumulating in just 36 hours.
Avalanche warnings were issued by the Sierra Avalanche Center earlier that morning, indicating that a natural avalanche was likely and suggesting a “very high chance” of people being caught in a man-made slide.
Each year, avalanches claim the lives of 25 to 30 people in the U.S. As of early January, the ongoing winter season had already seen six fatalities, based on reports from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
A press briefing is set for Wednesday morning, with search efforts for the missing individuals ongoing as long as weather conditions allow.
