Six rescued near Lake Tahoe, California as avalanche traps skiers during powerful winter storm
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Avalanche strikes during a major winter storm
A powerful winter storm pushed across Northern California as rescuers moved into rugged terrain near Lake Tahoe, CA.Snow fell hard. Winds roared across exposed ridgelines. The mountains closed in.
Crews fought through the storm to reach backcountry skiers trapped by snow and ice after an avalanche near Frog Lake in the Castle Peak area, northwest of Lake Tahoe, CA. A 911 call reported people buried. The storm was already in place when the call came in.
Six skiers were located alive and pulled from the debris field. Two of them were taken to a hospital for treatment, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Nine others from the tour group remained missing as the night fell.
Authorities later clarified that there were 15 skiers on the trip, not 16 as first reported.
Rescue slowed by extreme mountain conditions
Search and rescue teams were dispatched toward Frog Lake as heavy snow and high winds reduced visibility and slowed movement.It took hours to reach the skiers. The terrain stretched for kilometers through steep, remote slopes.
Crews worked cautiously because of the danger of additional avalanches. Snow continued to load fragile layers beneath. Winds pushed fresh snow into slabs along ridgelines and gullies.
Once rescued, the six survivors were transported to safety and evaluated by the Truckee Fire Department. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said another update on the rescue effort would be provided at a news conference the following morning.
A three day backcountry tour ends in disaster
The group was on the final day of a three day backcountry skiing trek.They had spent two nights in huts, carrying all food and supplies while navigating rugged mountainous terrain for up to 6.4 kilometers.
Authorities said the avalanche was reported both by the ski tour company that led the expedition, Blackbird Mountain Guides, and by emergency beacons carried by the skiers. The company said it was coordinating with authorities during the rescue operation.
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Avalanche rescue near Lake Tahoe, California as winter storm drives extreme dangerAvalanche danger peaks across the Central Sierra Nevada
The winter storm brought treacherous thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy mountain snow across Northern California.Avalanche forecasters warned that conditions in the backcountry had become especially dangerous.
“It is particularly dangerous in the backcountry right now just because we are at the height of the storm," said Brandon Schwartz, Tahoe National Forest lead avalanche forecaster at the Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee, CA.
The center issued an avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada, including the Greater Lake Tahoe region, with large slides expected through Wednesday.
In Soda Springs, CA, at least 76 centimeters of snow fell in 24 hours, according to the Soda Springs Mountain Resort.
Snow piled rapidly on fragile layers. Gale force winds reshaped the surface. The snowpack turned unstable.
Storm impacts spread from mountains to major roads
The storm disrupted travel across the region.Traffic halted in both directions on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit because of spinouts and crashes.
Several ski resorts around Lake Tahoe were fully or partially closed as conditions deteriorated. Resorts along highways operate avalanche mitigation programs and were not expected to face the same level of risk as the backcountry.
Forecasters warned that travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain remained strongly discouraged as the storm continued to load slopes with new snow.
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