Tour guide companies are under fire following a tragic avalanche that claimed the lives of at least eight backcountry skiers near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday.
A video shared by Blackbird Mountain Guides, the organization that led the ill-fated three-day trek in the Sierra Nevada, sparked criticism from many commenters. They argued that the deadly situation faced by the group of 15 skiers might have been preventable.
This video, posted on Monday, highlighted an approaching “big storm” and showed the guides navigating through deep snow, indicating a weak layer that was susceptible to avalanches.
“Making people die,” one person wrote in response to the disaster following the video.
Another comment, posted before the avalanche, warned about the risks associated with the snow conditions.
“Big storm and big danger,” the user noted on Monday.
In reply, the Blackbird Mountain Guides account suggested patience, stating, “Let’s wait and see how things settle down. Please be careful outside!”
The avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, abruptly concluding a multi-day trip for Blackbird’s four guides and their 11 guests.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon reported on Wednesday that six skiers who survived the avalanche were rescued after huddling under a tarp. They were able to alert first responders through the SOS feature on their iPhones.
Sadly, rescue teams confirmed that eight skiers perished, while one remains unaccounted for, according to Moon.
Rescue efforts are complicated by hazardous conditions, including over two feet of snow that fell post-disaster and a standing avalanche warning.
Further snowfall is anticipated as rescuers continue their search for the remaining missing skier.
Although the criticism aimed at Blackbird Mountain Guides was intense, some comments defended the tour group. One user responded to the backlash, saying, “I have no idea who was there, what happened, or the decisions involved. Stop commenting like an armchair quarterback.”
This defensive stance, however, sparked more outrage from others who argued that the tour group should not have led the expedition.
“It’s irresponsible to take people into the backcountry when you know the biggest storm of the year is coming with extreme heat,” one critic pointed out. “We hope these people come back alive, but a living person would never go out in a situation like that.”
