8 Dead In Tragic Natural Disaster In California

A powerful avalanche near Lake Tahoe turned a backcountry ski adventure into tragedy, leaving eight skiers dead and one still unaccounted for, authorities said Wednesday.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon told reporters that officials have notified families the operation is no longer a rescue.

“They were on their way back to camp when the avalanche actually hit,” Moon said. “It took these search and rescue crews hours just to find those first few survivors that we’re talking.”

The grim outcome marks the deadliest avalanche disaster in the United States in more than four decades. The last comparable catastrophe came in 1981, when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier, Washington.

Search and rescue teams working through punishing conditions pulled six survivors from the snow Tuesday night. Moon described the environment as “extreme,” with heavy snowfall and dangerous terrain complicating every step of the response.

The group had been on a three-day trek in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada when a fierce winter storm blasted the West Coast. Authorities said a 911 call reported that an avalanche in the Castle Peak area had buried 15 skiers, triggering a massive emergency deployment.

Crews battled deep snow, limited visibility, and the constant risk of additional slides. Heavy accumulation and unstable conditions slowed efforts to reach the victims, officials said.

A rescue team departs to the site of an avalanche where the group of skiers were stranded.
(Nevada County Sheriff’s Office)

Blackbird Mountain Guides, the outfitter connected to the trip, said the skiers — including four professional guides — were heading back to the trailhead when disaster struck.

“Our thoughts are with the missing individuals, their families, and first responders in the field,” Blackbird said in a statement Wednesday.

The company added that it is assisting authorities as teams continue combing the avalanche zone for the remaining missing skier.

Avalanche experts have repeatedly warned that intense storms can rapidly increase the danger in the Sierra Nevada, where layers of fresh snow and high winds create volatile slabs prone to collapse. The latest storm dumped significant snowfall across the region, raising red flags for backcountry travelers.

Officials said recovery operations will continue as weather permits.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>