Tahoe Avalanche: Eight Skiers Confirmed Dead, Search Continues
Rescue teams working in the backcountry of California’s Lake Tahoe region have tragically confirmed the deaths of eight skiers following a devastating avalanche on Tuesday. The search for a ninth, and final, missing skier is ongoing, but authorities now presume that individual is also deceased, according to Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon during a Wednesday press conference.
The incident occurred in the Castle Peak area around 11:30 local time (19:30 GMT), when a massive avalanche – described as “football-field” sized – swept down the mountainside. Six skiers were rescued from the scene, but the recovery of the eight bodies has been hampered by continued hazardous conditions.
Emotional Toll on Rescue Teams
The situation is particularly poignant as one of the deceased was the spouse of a member of one of the search-and-rescue teams. Sheriff Moon acknowledged the “challenging emotionally” nature of the ongoing efforts. Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo expressed his condolences to the families affected by this tragedy, stating, “I want to offer my condolences to the family in this very trying time.”
Dangerous Conditions Hamper Recovery
Officials report that the bodies remain trapped in the snow and cannot yet be recovered due to “pretty horrific” conditions. Adding to the danger, an additional three feet (90cm) of snow has fallen on the area since the avalanche, significantly increasing the risk. “The hazard remains high,” emphasized Tahoe National Forest supervisor Chris Feutrier. Once recovered, the bodies will be transported to the Placer County morgue, and families have already been notified.
Details of the Avalanche and Rescue Operation
The victims consist of seven women and two men. The rescue operation involved a joint effort from two teams and approximately 50 crew members, who faced “extreme weather conditions” and had to traverse roughly two miles (3.2km) to reach the survivors. Two of the six rescued skiers were carried back due to injuries sustained during the avalanche and were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The group consisted of 11 recreational skiers and four ski guides. One survivor was a guide, and five were clients of Blackbird Mountain guided tours. The avalanche occurred as the group was returning at the end of a three-day trip.
State and Local Response
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office stated on X (formerly Twitter) that state authorities are “co-ordinating an all-hands search-and-rescue effort” with local emergency teams. Sheriff Woo described the current climate as “treacherous” and issued a stark warning: “Avoid the backcountry. Please allow us to focus all of our resources on continuing to recover these bodies for the family and bring them home.”
Avalanche Rating and Recent Snowfall
The Sierra Avalanche Center rated the avalanche as a D2.5 on a destructive potential scale of D1 to D5, indicating it was over half a mile in length with a snow deposit of approximately 6.5 feet. The Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, located near the accident site, has reported over 30 inches of snowfall since Tuesday and closed on Tuesday due to high winds and low visibility. Several highways, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50, have also been closed due to the storm.
Stay informed about avalanche conditions and safety precautions: Sierra Avalanche Center
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
