Nine backcountry skiers remain unaccounted for after a powerful avalanche tore through a remote slope in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, as rescue teams race against time and worsening weather to find survivors. Six other members of the group have already been located and rescued, two of them hospitalized with non‑life‑threatening injuries, authorities said.
Avalanche near Lake Tahoe
The avalanche struck on Tuesday in the Castle Peak area near Truckee, close to the popular Lake Tahoe region, an area known for its steep terrain and attractive backcountry ski routes. Officials said the slide hit a guided group of backcountry skiers during a powerful winter storm that had dumped several feet of fresh, unstable snow across the high Sierra.
Emergency services received a distress call shortly before midday, after an emergency beacon and text messages alerted authorities to the incident. Within hours, specialized ski patrols and mountain rescue units were dispatched to the site, but deep snow, poor visibility and the ongoing avalanche risk immediately complicated their efforts.
Nine skiers still missing
Despite intensive efforts, nine skiers remain missing in the avalanche debris field, which officials describe as treacherous and constantly shifting. Rescuers warn that the mission is moving at a “slow and steady” pace because any misstep on the unstable slope could trigger additional slides and endanger both trapped skiers and response teams.
The missing are part of a larger group of 15 people, including professional mountain guides and paying clients, who had set out on a multi‑day backcountry expedition. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the missing skiers, pending notification of families, but confirm that they include both men and women aged roughly between 30 and 55.
Six rescued in harsh conditions
Six skiers were reached and rescued after they managed to shelter in place and maintain intermittent contact with rescuers using radio beacons and text messages. While waiting for help, the survivors reportedly dug into the snow and used tarps and other gear to build makeshift shelters, battling freezing temperatures and high winds.
Two of the rescued skiers were airlifted to hospital for treatment, while the others were assessed for hypothermia and trauma at staging areas set up near Truckee. Doctors say one injured skier has already been discharged, while another remains under observation but is expected to recover.
For readers interested in mountain‑safety best practices and avalanche basics, resources from the American Avalanche Association and local forecast centers provide detailed guidance on backcountry risk assessment.
Massive rescue operation under way
Authorities describe the response as one of the largest backcountry search‑and‑rescue mobilizations in the region in recent years, involving dozens of specialized personnel from multiple agencies. Expert ski teams from nearby resorts, including Boreal Mountain and Alder Creek, are assisting sheriff’s deputies, state emergency crews and federal partners on the ground.
Rescuers are using a combination of snowcats, helicopters, avalanche beacons and trained teams on skis to comb the slide area while trying to avoid triggering further avalanches. Officials say operations may also require explosives and other mitigation tools to stabilize dangerous snow slabs before crews can move safely into certain zones.
Weather and avalanche danger
The search is unfolding under a continuing winter storm that forecasters say has created “high avalanche danger” across much of the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Avalanche Center has warned that heavy new snow sitting atop a weak underlying layer has produced highly unstable conditions likely to persist through at least mid‑week.
Authorities have closed off parts of Tahoe National Forest around Castle Peak to all public access in order to protect first responders and preserve a safe corridor for rescue operations. Officials urge all backcountry users to heed local avalanche forecasts, carry proper rescue equipment and avoid high‑risk terrain during and immediately after major storms, pointing to past tragedies documented by organizations like Colorado Avalanche Information Center as sobering examples.
Families waiting, investigation ahead
Families of the missing skiers have gathered in the Truckee area, anxiously awaiting news as the rescue mission continues in difficult conditions. Local officials have offered counseling and support services, while emphasizing that the priority remains to locate and bring home everyone still on the mountain.
Once the immediate crisis passes, investigators are expected to review the decision to proceed with the tour despite aggressive avalanche warnings and an approaching major storm system. The probe will likely examine guiding protocols, weather assessments and safety equipment, adding to a growing body of case studies used by avalanche‑education groups and outlets such as Outside Online to highlight the risks of backcountry skiing in extreme conditions.
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