Six backcountry skiers have been safely rescued after an avalanche struck near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Although, the search continues for 10 others who remain missing as a powerful winter storm continues to batter the region. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Local time, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting the avalanche with individuals buried, initiating a swift response from sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue teams and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The group was on a three-day backcountry skiing trip, navigating “rugged mountainous terrain” for up to four miles each day, according to Steve Reynaud, a Tahoe National Forest avalanche forecaster with the Sierra Avalanche Center. The skiers had been staying in huts and were equipped with all necessary food and supplies.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Severe Weather
Rescuers faced challenging conditions, battling blizzard conditions to reach the six skiers who were initially located. Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, stated that the rescued skiers were asked to shelter in place “as best they can” while rescue teams worked to reach them. As of Tuesday evening, two of the six skiers rescued were transported to a hospital for treatment, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear. A total of 46 emergency first responders are currently involved in the search and rescue operation.
The initial reports indicated 16 people were on the trip, but officials have since revised that number to 15, comprised of four ski guides and 12 clients, according to Quadros. The search for the remaining nine missing skiers is ongoing, with plans to utilize aircraft on Wednesday to survey the area, weather permitting. The Castle Peak area, a 9,110-foot peak in the Donner Summit area, is a popular destination for backcountry skiing.
High Avalanche Danger in the Sierra Nevada
The avalanche occurred amidst a severe winter storm that has brought treacherous conditions to the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an Avalanche Warning for the Central Sierra Nevada, including the Greater Lake Tahoe region, effective through 5 a.m. Wednesday, citing high avalanche danger and the expectation of large slides. The danger is attributed to rapidly accumulating snowfall on already unstable snowpack layers, combined with strong winds.
“It’s particularly dangerous in the backcountry right now just because we’re at the height of the storm,” said Brandon Schwartz, Tahoe National Forest lead avalanche forecaster at the center. Several ski resorts around Lake Tahoe have been fully or partially closed due to the extreme weather, though those resorts with avalanche mitigation programs are considered less at risk than the backcountry.
The storm has also caused significant disruptions to transportation, with Interstate 80 temporarily closed in both directions near the Nevada state line due to spinouts and crashes, as reported by the California Department of Transportation. In January, a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche in the same region, highlighting the inherent risks of backcountry travel during periods of heavy snowfall. On average, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the U.S. Each winter, according to the National Avalanche Center.
Authorities are urging anyone planning backcountry activities in the Sierra Nevada to heed avalanche warnings and exercise extreme caution. The search for the missing skiers will continue as conditions allow, with rescue teams working diligently to locate those still unaccounted for.
As the storm begins to move through the region, officials will continue to assess the stability of the snowpack and provide updates on the search efforts. The focus remains on locating the missing skiers and ensuring the safety of all those involved in the rescue operation.
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