Eight backcountry skiers are confirmed dead, and one remains missing following a devastating avalanche near Lake Tahoe. Authorities have transitioned from a rescue to a recovery mission.
Of the 15 individuals on a guided tour, six were rescued, and two were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The survivors range in age from 30 to 55. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is leading the ongoing search efforts, hampered by challenging weather and avalanche conditions.
Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company that organized the trip, is cooperating with authorities. The exact causes of death are pending official determination by the county coroner.
This incident is considered one of the deadliest avalanches in modern U.S. history. The group was on a three-day backcountry trip in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada, known for its heavy snowfall.