Emergency responders are battling extreme conditions in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains after a major avalanche struck the Castle Peak area near Truckee on Tuesday. The incident has left 10 backcountry skiers unaccounted for while six survivors await extraction from the treacherous terrain.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the avalanche occurred approximately at 11:30 PST in the popular backcountry skiing zone. The group consisted of four professional guides and twelve clients, all now caught in one of the most dangerous avalanche scenarios in recent memory.
Rescue operations have mobilized 46 emergency personnel, including highly specialized ski teams deployed from nearby Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center. In a remarkable adaptation of equipment, rescue teams have deployed a SnoCat—typically used for slope maintenance at ski resorts—to navigate the unstable snowpack.
The meteorological conditions have created a perfect storm of danger. The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued a ‘high’ danger rating (4 out of 5), warning that ‘large avalanches may run through treed areas’ and predicting a widespread natural avalanche cycle through Wednesday morning. Boreal Mountain has recorded 76 centimeters (30 inches) of snowfall within 24 hours, prompting the resort’s closure due to high winds and poor visibility.
The storm system has caused significant regional disruption, forcing closures of major transportation arteries including Interstate 80 and Highway 50. Rescue commanders have instructed the six located survivors to shelter in place while teams work against time and elements to reach them.
This incident highlights the increasing dangers of backcountry skiing during extreme weather events and the extraordinary measures taken by mountain rescue professionals when nature turns deadly.