Eight backcountry skiers are dead and one remains missing following an avalanche near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, officials confirmed Wednesday. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office announced the deaths at a press conference, marking one of the most significant search and rescue operations the agency has undertaken in recent years.
The incident began Tuesday around 11:30 a.m. When a 911 call reported a group of 15 skiers, including four guides, buried in the avalanche. Search and rescue teams, comprising approximately 50 personnel, responded immediately. Six skiers were rescued and found to be alive. The bodies of eight others were recovered and the search continues for the final skier, who is presumed deceased.
Sheriff Shannan Moon stated that the recovered bodies and the survivors were found in close proximity to each other. One of the deceased is a spouse of a member of the search and rescue team, adding a deeply personal dimension to the tragedy. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those involved, pending notification of families.
The rescue operation transitioned from a rescue attempt to a recovery effort as conditions deteriorated and the risk of further avalanches remained high. Rescuers have been working to move the deceased from the immediate avalanche area to a more accessible location for recovery.
The avalanche occurred approximately a mile from the site of another slide reported in early January in the Castle Peak area, according to Sheriff Moon. The current conditions are described as challenging, with a “slow and steady” pace required due to the persistent avalanche hazard. The initial avalanche was triggered by a persistent weak layer of snow burdened with a significant accumulation, and that layer has since reloaded, increasing the risk.
The group had been on a three-day backcountry skiing trip in the Sierra Nevada when the avalanche struck, coinciding with a period of heavy winter weather impacting the region. The area near Donner Summit is known for its substantial snowfall, averaging nearly 10 meters annually, according to the Donner Land Trust, which owns nearby properties.
The skiers had spent two nights in cabins located around 2,300 meters above sea level, and the avalanche occurred on the final day of their trip. Access to the cabins requires carrying all supplies and necessitates advanced skiing and avalanche safety skills, including appropriate equipment.
Prior to the avalanche, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center had issued an avalanche warning for the area, highlighting the elevated risk. The incident represents the deadliest avalanche in the United States since 1981, when eleven climbers perished on Mount Rainier in Washington state. On average, 27 people die in avalanches across the US each winter, according to the center.
Five of the rescued skiers were women and one was a man. One of the survivors remains hospitalized Wednesday, but their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
