Daijiworld Media Network - California
California, Feb 18: An avalanche struck a group of backcountry skiers near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe, on Tuesday, leaving six people rescued while nine remained missing, authorities said. The incident occurred in a popular off-trail skiing area, with heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions hampering rescue efforts.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported that the six survivors were located after rescuers navigated treacherous terrain for several hours. Two of the rescued skiers were transported to a hospital for treatment. Officials clarified that the group caught in the avalanche comprised 15 people, including clients and guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides.
Russell Greene, a captain with the sheriff’s office, said the avalanche was first reported around 11:30 a.m., both through a mountain guide service and an emergency beacon device. About 46 rescuers were en route to the site, he added.
“The six survivors had taken shelter in a treed area with at least a tarp to protect against the elements,” Greene said. He warned that additional slides could occur, making the rescue operation slow and risky.
The group had been staying at Frog Lake Backcountry Huts since Sunday as part of a three-day guided trip. The huts are set in a remote alpine area near Lake Tahoe, providing overnight accommodations for backcountry skiers.
Truckee, a town of roughly 17,000 near the Nevada border, experienced heavy snowfall, with Boreal Mountain Ski Resort reporting about 30 inches in 24 hours. The National Weather Service warned of 3–4 inches of snow per hour in some Sierra regions, causing hazardous road conditions, whiteout visibility, and the closure of Interstate 80.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a high avalanche danger alert earlier in the day, warning that both natural and human-triggered avalanches were likely, particularly on shaded north-facing slopes with weak snow layers. The avalanche in question occurred at around 8,200 feet, below Perry’s Point, near the Frog Lake Huts, in terrain considered relatively low-angle but overshadowed by steeper slopes above.
Backcountry skiers typically carry avalanche safety gear, including transceivers, shovels, and probes. In avalanches, victims face high risks of suffocation within the first 15–20 minutes, along with injuries like broken bones or ligament tears. Over the past decade, the U.S. has recorded an average of 27 avalanche-related deaths per year.
Blackbird Mountain Guides said it is working closely with the sheriff’s office and search-and-rescue teams to support the ongoing operation. Officials continue to monitor weather and snow conditions before proceeding with further rescue attempts.
The search is ongoing, with authorities urging caution and warning of continued avalanche risks in the region.