Nine Skiers Missing After California Avalanche
Nine backcountry skiers remain missing after an avalanche tore through the Castle Peak area near Truckee, close to Lake Tahoe, on Tuesday. Six others from the same group have been rescued, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office. Two of those pulled from the snow were taken to hospital for treatment.
The group, made up of guides and clients on a multi-day skiing trip, was initially thought to include 16 people. Officials later confirmed that 15 people were on the tour when the avalanche struck at around 11:30am local time.
At least 46 emergency responders have been deployed, with some travelling on skis through deep snow. Authorities said access to the area is limited and that the avalanche danger remains high, consequently slowing down the rescue operations.
“Due to extreme weather conditions, it took several hours for rescue personnel to safely reach the skiers and transport them to safety where they were medically evaluated,” the sheriff’s office said. “The search is ongoing, pending weather conditions.”
Earlier, Captain Russell Greene warned it would be a slow and risky mission. Rescuers must move carefully, he said, because “rescuers have to be very careful accessing the area due to the fact that the avalanche danger is still very high”.
The six survivors were able to alert authorities using emergency beacons that also allow text communication. Before they were reached, Greene said: “They are doing the best they can.” He added: “They have taken refuge in an area, they have made up a makeshift shelter with a tarp and are doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue.”
The Sierra Avalanche Center had already warned of dangerous conditions, saying that large avalanches were likely to continue through early Wednesday. “Rapidly accumulating snowfall, weak layers in the existing snowpack, and gale-force winds that blow and drift snow have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains,” an avalanche warning stated. “Natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely.”
The region is being hammered by a powerful winter storm. Parts of the Sierra Nevada could see several more feet of snow in the coming days, with strong winds and whiteout conditions reported around Truckee. Several ski resorts have closed, highways including Interstate 80 have shut down, and travel warnings remain in place. Forecasters say a mix of recent warm, dry weather that weakened the snow base and intense snowfall from the current storm created the perfect setup for avalanches.
With more snow expected and the threat of additional slides still high, search teams continue working against the clock in what officials describe as extremely dangerous conditions.
