A major rescue effort is underway in the Sierra Nevada after Ten skiers are unaccounted for and six others are stranded following an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California. Authorities say the slide struck Tuesday in a popular backcountry skiing area, leaving families anxiously waiting for updates as crews battle severe weather to reach the site.
Avalanche Strikes Popular Backcountry Route
The avalanche occurred near Castle Peak, a well-known backcountry destination northwest of Lake Tahoe and close to the town of Truckee. According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, a total of 16 people — including four professional mountain guides and 12 skiers — were caught up in the slide.
Officials confirmed that six individuals survived the avalanche and remained at the scene, awaiting rescue teams navigating dangerous terrain. The remaining 10 skiers were still missing as of Tuesday evening.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation,” said Captain Russell Greene of the sheriff’s office. He added that authorities were in the process of notifying family members of those involved.
Emergency Alerts and Rescue Response
The avalanche was first reported around 11:30 a.m. by a mountain guide service. Around the same time, authorities also received a separate distress signal from an emergency beacon device in the area.
By Tuesday night, approximately 46 rescue personnel were making their way toward the avalanche zone. However, blizzard conditions and unstable snowpack slowed their progress, and they had not yet reached the group by late afternoon.
Officials remained in contact with the stranded skiers through a satellite messaging service, allowing survivors to send text updates while awaiting assistance.
Guided Tour Group Caught in Slide
In a statement released Tuesday evening, Blackbird Mountain Guides confirmed that the affected group included 12 clients and four of its professional guides. The group had been wrapping up a three-day guided backcountry ski trip and was heading back toward the trailhead when the avalanche struck.
They had been staying at Frog Lake Backcountry Huts since Sunday. The company said it is fully cooperating with local authorities and search-and-rescue teams to support ongoing recovery operations.
Survivors Taking Shelter in Harsh Conditions
Rescue officials said the surviving skiers had moved into a wooded area nearby to seek protection from the elements. They were using a tarp to construct a makeshift shelter as they waited for help.
“It’s a very difficult area,” Greene explained. “We have to move carefully to avoid triggering additional avalanches. That risk is significant enough that we’re hesitant to send in snowmobiles.”
The danger of secondary slides remains high, forcing rescuers to proceed cautiously.
Blizzard Conditions Complicate Search
Truckee, a mountain town of roughly 17,000 residents near California’s eastern border with Nevada, has been experiencing severe winter weather. Blizzard conditions, heavy snowfall, and whiteout visibility have hampered rescue efforts.
The nearby Boreal Mountain Ski Resort reported nearly 30 inches of fresh snow within 24 hours. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service warned that snowfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour were occurring in parts of the Sierra Nevada.
Forecasters cautioned that hazardous road conditions, poor visibility, and whiteout periods would likely continue through the night. Interstate 80 was closed due to near-zero visibility, further complicating emergency response.
“It obviously slowed our response,” Greene said.
Avalanche Warning Had Been Issued
Before the avalanche occurred, the Sierra Avalanche Center had already issued a warning for the Tahoe region due to intense snowfall and unstable snowpack.
The bulletin warned of “HIGH avalanche danger” across backcountry terrain, noting that natural avalanches were likely and human-triggered slides were very likely. Experts also warned that avalanches large enough to bury vehicles or severely damage structures were possible.
Meteorologists were particularly concerned about a storm slab avalanche — a type of slide caused when heavy new snowfall accumulates on top of a weak, sugary layer of older snow left behind after a recent dry period.
The Risks of Backcountry Skiing
Backcountry skiers typically carry safety equipment such as avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes. Avalanche transceivers allow skiers to emit and detect signals in the event someone is buried beneath snow.
During rescue operations, searchers use these devices along with long aluminum probes to pinpoint buried victims. However, time is critical in avalanche situations.
Victims can suffer traumatic injuries during a slide, but suffocation remains the leading cause of death. Survival rates drop sharply after 15 to 20 minutes of burial beneath dense snow.
According to national avalanche data, the United States has averaged approximately 27 avalanche-related deaths per year over the past decade.
A Community on Edge
As night fell over the Sierra Nevada, families of the missing skiers waited for news while rescue teams pushed forward despite dangerous conditions. Authorities emphasized that updates may change as crews reach the site and assess the situation more clearly.
For now, the focus remains on safely locating the missing individuals and bringing the stranded survivors out of the mountains.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable power of winter storms — and the heightened risks that come with venturing into the backcountry during periods of extreme avalanche danger.
