Tour company’s eerie video just days before monster avalanche left nine skiers missing in California as they race to find survivors and fury erupts
The tour company that organized a group of backcountry skiers swept away by an avalanche in California warned that harsh weather conditions were approaching just two days before the storm hit.
A Blackbird Mountain Guides ski guide on Mt Rose, Tahoe’s highest point, on Sunday revealed ‘unusual layering’ in the snowpack.
The prolonged dry season affecting the region is causing faceting, a process that causes snow to weaken, the guide warned in a post on the company’s Facebook page.
“As we head into a major storm cycle this week, pay close attention to areas where facets are particularly strong; avalanches can behave abnormally and the danger may last longer than usual,” the guide said, urging snow athletes to “be extra careful this week.”
Fifteen skiers were at Castle Peak, about 40 miles from Mt Rose, late on Tuesday morning when they were hit by a massive storm that dropped a slide and heavy snow.
As rescuers battled blizzard conditions, some were forced to seek safety in a makeshift shelter built with a tarp, the California Post reported.
Six skiers were rescued with ‘variable injuries’ Tuesday evening, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said, but mountain rescue teams battling challenging conditions are still trying to find the others as snow falls and daylight fades.
Two of the rescued skiers were taken to hospital and treated.
Authorities had previously stated that there were 16 people on the trip, including 4 guides and 12 customers, but then reduced this number to 15.
Blackbird Mountain Guides, the tour company responsible for the tour, said in a statement that it was ‘working in full coordination’ with authorities to support the rescue mission.
Six skiers with ‘variable injuries’ were rescued on Tuesday evening
A major storm dumped heavy snow on mountains near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday
The company announced that skiers were in the process of returning to the trail at the end of a three-day journey when the avalanche occurred.
“Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with the emergency contacts of affected clients and guides and is providing them with regular updates as verified information becomes available,” the statement said. The statement was included.
But skiers in the area hit out at the company, claiming the tour group should never have allowed skiers onto the mountain.
“I was at Frog Lake Thursday through Sunday, but we got out before the storm hit,” he told the Post. ‘All I can say about this is that it is an absolutely preventable tragedy.’
Another skier accused the ski guides of making a ‘bad decision’ and questioned why they were taking the group up the mountains in such poor conditions.
The group was staying at Frog Lake Backcountry Huts, a collection of remote huts near Castle Peak.
The search involved 46 emergency first responders, including “highly skilled rescue ski teams” from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, who were dispatched to rescue the six survivors, officials said.
Shopping carts were buried when a snowstorm hit the Sierra Nevada mountain range on Tuesday
Forecasters warn of whiteout conditions as a powerful storm packing several feet of snow continues to batter the Sierra Nevada mountain range throughout the day
A powerful storm packed with several feet of snow continued to hit the Sierra Nevada mountain range throughout the day, while forecasters warned of whiteout conditions.
Experts had warned that avalanche risk was expected to continue until Wednesday.
‘There is a high avalanche danger in the village. The Sierra Avalanche Center says large avalanches are expected to occur across backcountry terrain Tuesday, Tuesday night and at least early Wednesday morning.
‘HIGH avalanche danger may continue on Wednesday.’
Parts of the Sierra above 3,500 feet could see up to 8 feet of snow in the next 48 hours and winds could be as strong as 55 mph, the National Weather Service said.
Sheriff’s office Capt. Russell Green told local media station KCRA that authorities are discouraging people from skiing in the backcountry.
‘People go out and use the countryside all the time,’ Green said. ‘Of course we object to this, but I wouldn’t say it’s rare. This was not a wise choice.’
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has recorded six avalanche deaths in the U.S. so far this season; One of these happened at Castle Peak in January.
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
