Erica Siaulnski, Staff Writer
Eight deceased skiers and six survivors were found near Lake Tahoe in California late on Tuesday, February 17th after an avalanche that occurred around 11:30 am. The survivors were evacuated and received medical treatment if they needed it. One member from the group remains missing and is currently presumed to be dead. This remains one of the deadliest avalanches in modern California history. The identities of the victims have been kept private out of respect for their family members. Some were believed to have connections to a small private school in the area.
The skiers along with four guides had been completing a three day expedition near Castle Peak, a popular skiing destination in the area. The company that led the tour, Blackbird Mountain Guides, specialized in safety and was known for its high end precautions and understanding of the land. On top of skiing excursions, the company led courses in rockwall climbing, and offered courses in understanding terrain, they also taught evacuation procedures that included avalanches and crevasse rescuing. The company has since been dealing with the tragic consequences of such a trip. On Sunday a video was posted by the company, explaining that they understood and were aware of some of the risks surrounding the deadly avalanche.
According to CBS News, Blackbird Mountain Guides founder Zeb Blais released a statement after the avalanche saying “This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced, In addition to mourning the loss of six clients, we also mourn the loss of three highly experienced members of our guide team. We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much, and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues.”
The six survivors were able to get into contact with emergency services and be rescued by using emergency beacons and other emergency services on their cell phones. Two of the six survivors needed medical attention beyond what was offered at their rescue, and were taken to a hospital. One was released quickly while the other is being continuously treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Due to the extensive amount of snowfall, authorities were unable to remove the bodies of those who had died from the mountain and were unsure when they would get a chance to return. This horrific accident left many wondering why the party continued their trip even after the severe avalanche warning was issued for the Northern Sierra Nevada area.
Following the deaths and rescue of the survivors, Blackbird Mountain Guides released a statement saying that they were working on recovering the bodies of those on the trip who had died. A warning was sent out following the rescue, predicting heavy snowfall for at least the following 48 hours, urging people to stay safe.
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