Eight backcountry skiers are dead and one remains missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, authorities confirmed Wednesday, marking the deadliest avalanche in the United States in more than four decades. The incident occurred Tuesday in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada mountains, as a severe winter storm continued to batter the West Coast.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported that the bodies of the eight skiers were recovered Wednesday. The missing skier is presumed dead, according to officials. Six other members of the group were rescued Tuesday and one remained hospitalized Wednesday, authorities said.
Captain Russell Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Someone saw the avalanche, yelled avalanche, and it overtook them rather quickly.” The group was on a guided, three-day trek led by Blackbird Mountain Guides when the avalanche struck.
The victims include seven women and two men, ranging in age from 30 to 55. Three of the four guides accompanying the group were among those killed, Captain Greene said. Recovery efforts have been hampered by continued hazardous conditions, preventing crews from removing the bodies from the mountain.
The avalanche occurred on Castle Peak, a 2,777-meter mountain known for its challenging terrain and heavy snowfall. The area receives an average of nearly 10 meters of snow annually, according to the Truckee Donner Land Trust, which owns nearby huts where the group had been staying. The summit, historically perilous, is named after the ill-fated Donner Party who were trapped there during the winter of 1846-47.
The Sierra Avalanche Center warned Wednesday that the avalanche risk remains high in the region and advised against backcountry travel. Multiple meters of snowfall and strong winds have created an unstable snowpack, with additional snowfall forecast.
Blackbird Mountain Guides confirmed it notified authorities about the avalanche using the skiers’ emergency beacons. The company stated It’s cooperating with the ongoing search and rescue operation. “Our thoughts are with the missing individuals, their families, and first responders in the field,” the company said in a statement.
This avalanche is the deadliest in the U.S. Since 1981, when eleven climbers were killed on Mount Rainier in Washington state. In January, a separate avalanche in the region claimed the life of a snowmobiler. The National Avalanche Center reports that, on average, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the U.S. Each winter.
Several Tahoe ski resorts experienced closures or partial closures due to the severe weather. Whereas resorts employ avalanche control measures, the backcountry remains significantly more dangerous.
Global Affairs Canada has stated it is not currently aware of any Canadian citizens involved in the incident.
