Avalanche at Lake Tahoe: 8 skiers dead, one missing after massive slide near Castle Peak – The Times of India

Eight backcountry skiers are confirmed dead and one remains missing after a powerful avalanche ripped through a guided expedition near Lake Tahoe in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, authorities said Wednesday.Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said searches have now shifted from rescue to recovery, with victims’ families notified. The avalanche struck the Castle Peak area near Donner Summit on Tuesday morning, amid severe winter weather that had blanketed the region with heavy snow and high winds.According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, emergency services received a 911 call around 11:30 a.m. reporting multiple skiers buried under snow. Nearly fifty rescue workers were deployed, who had to contend with poor visibility, stormy winds and persistent avalanche danger.Six members of the group were found alive after hours of searching in extreme conditions. Two were taken to the hospital with injuries — one was released Tuesday evening, while the other was expected to be released Wednesday, officials said.The skiers were on the final leg of a three-day guided backcountry trek when the avalanche, described as a massive slide of snow, ice and debris stretching about the length of a football field, tore down the slope near Castle Peak, a popular but avalanche-prone destination near Donner Summit.The expedition was led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which said it was cooperating fully with local authorities. The company had previously warned of unstable snow conditions during a powerful winter storm that passed over the Sierra Nevada.Avalanche experts said a persistently weak layer in the snowpack was overloaded by fresh snowfall, causing the deadly slide. The area had an avalanche hazard rating of 4 out of 5 at the time, with forecasters warning that both natural and human-induced avalanches were very likely.The broader Lake Tahoe region has experienced heavy snowfall that has forced road closures, disrupted travel along Interstate 80 and increased avalanche danger in the backcountry. Officials emphasized that unlike ski resorts — which use controlled blasts to control snow buildup — remote areas pose significantly higher and unpredictable risks.Castle Peak, near the Donner Summit, has witnessed deadly avalanches in the past. Data from avalanche authorities shows that backcountry travelers account for the majority of avalanche-related fatalities in the United States each year, with approximately 25 to 30 deaths recorded annually.The scale of the tragedy, which involved a large, organized and professionally guided group, has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit backcountry skiing community, underscoring the dangers of extreme weather and unstable snow conditions even for experienced adventurers.