An equipment failure may have played a significant role in the tragic deaths of a group of backcountry skiers who were caught in a devastating avalanche near Lake Tahoe in February, which is considered one of California’s worst snow disasters.
During a guided ski trip on Donner Summit Pass, nine skiers were killed when the avalanche buried them under as much as eight feet of snow, trapping them in a hollow.
According to the Sierra Avalanche Center, some skiers were equipped with avalanche airbag backpacks, but unfortunately, these did not deploy when needed.
A final report detailing the accident was published by the Sierra Avalanche Center on Tuesday, providing somber insights into the disaster.
The avalanche airbag backpack is designed to inflate within three seconds when a cord is pulled, increasing the wearer’s volume and helping them stay closer to the snow’s surface during an avalanche. This can greatly reduce the likelihood of being fully buried.
The center did not clarify if the airbag malfunctioned or simply failed to deploy for the skiers involved in the Lake Tahoe incident.
No information was given about the specific brand of the backpacks or how many skiers were using them.
Of the 15 skiers on the February 17 tour, only six managed to survive. The report acknowledges that many questions still linger regarding the incident.
The avalanche occurred on a north-facing slope that was sparsely wooded, with enough accumulated snow to bury 13 individuals and claim the lives of nine, according to the latest report from the Sierra Avalanche Center. Yet, the exact size of the avalanche remains unclear.
As fear spread through the group when the ski guide called out “avalanche,” one survivor described looking up and seeing “a blurred white wall of strange colors.”
Many aspects surrounding the accident, particularly human factors, decision-making, and specific avalanche details, remain unknown, but the investigation is ongoing, and more information is expected to surface.
An earlier report suggested that the skiers may have been trapped in a “small depression” in the terrain, while other sources mentioned that they opted for a path with a higher avalanche risk instead of taking longer, safer routes to escape the snowstorm.
The group included guides, mothers, and friends who traveled from various locations for a ski trip.
Investigations by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and California’s OSHA are underway to determine why the Blackbird climbing guide proceeded with the trip amid severe weather conditions.
Among those who lost their lives were Andrew Alisandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Michael Henry, 30, from Tampa Bay, Florida; Nicole “Niki” Chu, 42, of South Lake Tahoe; Carrie Atkin, 42, of South Lake Tahoe; Liz Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Daniel Keetley, 44, of Marin County; Kate Morse, 45, of Marin County; Caroline Sekar, 45, from San Francisco; and Kate Witt, 43, of Marin County.
