A powerful avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada has left up to 10 skiers missing and six stranded as rescuers battle blizzard conditions and extreme avalanche danger to reach the remote backcountry site near Lake Tahoe.
WEBDESK – Act Global Media
Up to 10 skiers were reported missing and at least six others stranded after an avalanche swept across a backcountry slope in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, as rescuers struggled to reach the site amid a powerful winter storm, authorities said Tuesday.
The avalanche struck the Castle Peak area near Truckee, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe, around 11:30 a.m. local time, engulfing a group of 16 skiers that included four guides and 12 clients, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Hours later, rescue teams had still not reached the scene because of heavy snowfall, white-out conditions, and continuing avalanche danger. A nearby highway was shut due to zero visibility as darkness fell.
“It’s going to be a slow, tedious process because crews must be extremely careful — the avalanche risk remains very high,” sheriff’s spokesperson Capt. Russell Greene told local media.
Survivors sheltering in harsh conditions
Authorities said at least six people survived the slide and were sheltering at the site while communicating with rescuers through radio beacons and text messages. The group reportedly built a makeshift shelter using tarpaulins and available gear to withstand freezing temperatures.
Specialized ski patrol teams and tracked snow vehicles were dispatched from nearby resorts, but hazardous weather significantly delayed access.
High danger warnings had been issued
The Sierra Avalanche Center had warned before dawn Tuesday of “high avalanche danger” across the region as a major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to higher elevations.
Officials did not identify the ski tour company involved, but Greene questioned the decision to enter the backcountry under such conditions, saying investigators still need full details.
Could rank among deadliest US avalanches
If the missing skiers are confirmed dead, the disaster could become one of the deadliest single avalanche incidents in U.S. history.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, avalanches kill an average of 27 people each winter nationwide. Six avalanche fatalities had already been recorded this season before the California incident.
Authorities warned conditions remained unstable, with additional avalanche activity possible through Wednesday as the winter storm continued to batter the Sierra Nevada.
