Eight backcountry skiers lost their lives in the California avalanche that hit the Sierra Nevada mountains, and one more is still missing; authorities believe he’s gone too. It’s the deadliest avalanche the U.S. has seen in 45 years. The slide hit near Castle Peak, out in the wild country about 10 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said the avalanche swallowed up a group of 15 skiers around 11:30 PT in the morning, just as they were heading back to the trailhead after three days out in the snow. This thing was massive, about the size of a football field, and it ripped through Castle Peak while heavy snow and brutal winds battered the area.

Source: X

Survivors Prolong Harsh Conditions

Six skiers survived the avalanche by taking shelter in a temporary shelter built partly with tarpaulin materials. The survivors employed emergency location beacons and text messaging to communicate their location to rescuers, and one of the four professional guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides was among those who were rescued. An injured skier was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Rescue efforts were challenged by the blinding snow, lack of sunlight, and strong winds, and about 50 rescuers were dispatched from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center. The rescuers utilized snowcats to reach within two miles of the location before proceeding on skis to avoid the risk of triggering another avalanche.

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High Avalanche Danger and Forecast Warnings

The area had received several feet of fresh, unstable snow from a strong winter storm, according to authorities, and the Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a “high” avalanche danger warning, which was extended through Wednesday. Local areas of Interstate 80 were closed because of near-zero visibility during the rescue operation.

Sheriff Shannan Moon said that the avalanche danger had been well forecast before the outing, and an investigation was underway into why the group decided to go ahead with the guided excursion. The area where the group had been staying was the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts near Donner Summit, at an elevation of 7,500 feet.

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Comparatively High Casualty Toll

Prior to this week’s incident, there had only been six recorded avalanche fatalities nationwide during the winter, and expert analysis shows that this incident represents the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. since 1981, when 11 climbers perished from an avalanche on Mount Rainier, Washington.

The California avalanche not only highlights the tremendous danger posed by the extreme weather present during winter, but also serves as a reminder of the terrible consequences that may result from such weather patterns in one of North America’s most heavily snow-traveled regions.

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