Nine backcountry skiers are missing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe after an avalanche struck Tuesday, authorities said. Six skiers were rescued with varying injuries, but the search for the remaining nine continues under “highly dangerous” conditions.
The avalanche occurred around midday in the Castle Peak area of Nevada County, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. A group of 15 skiers, participating in a guided trip, was caught in the slide. Rescue teams worked for several hours to reach the skiers, hampered by extreme weather.
“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 by Truckee Fire,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. Two of the rescued skiers were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Brandon Schwartz, director of the Sierra Avalanche Center, described the conditions as very difficult, noting that rescuers themselves faced avalanche danger. The area had received 2 to 3 feet of modern snow in the 36 hours prior to the avalanche, with snowfall continuing at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour, according to Schwartz, who spoke with ABC News.
The incident took place near the Frog Lake huts, where the group had been staying since Sunday, according to Blackbird Mountain Guides, the organization leading the trip. The skiers were returning to the trailhead at the end of a three-day excursion when the avalanche occurred.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, including the Lake Tahoe area, citing “high” avalanche danger. The warning highlighted rapidly accumulating snowfall, weak layers in the snowpack, and strong winds as contributing factors. “Natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely,” the center warned.
The avalanche warning remains in effect through Wednesday morning, with the center advising against travel in backcountry avalanche terrain. They cautioned that “large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning.” The danger level may continue through Wednesday.
Whiteout conditions were reported in the region, and the California Highway Patrol’s Truckee office warned of high winds creating “full whiteout conditions” across the Donner Summit. Interstate 80 over Donner Summit was closed in both directions Tuesday due to the poor visibility.