8 backcountry skiers found dead and 1 still missing after California avalanche

[K.I.T.T.]

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Crews found the bodies of eight backcountry skiers near California’s Lake Tahoe and were searching for one more after they were caught in an avalanche, the nation’s deadliest in nearly half a century, authorities said Wednesday.

Authorities said the skiers had little time to react.

“Someone saw the avalanche, yelled ‘Avalanche!’ and it overtook them rather quickly,” said Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene, of the Nevada County sheriff’s office.

Six were rescued six hours after the avalanche hit Tuesday morning as they were concluding a three-day trek in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada during a monster winter storm. The tour included four guides, three of whom were presumed dead, authorities said. The group was a mix of women and men between the ages of 30 and 55, authorities said.



Associated Press

 

[hedgerow]

in avalanche country, i think these tour guide companies should have someone ski ahead, perhaps one-quarter of a mile more, and throw sticks of dynamite toward the upper incline to trigger any potential avalanches before the tour group gets there

 

[Death2U]

What no video

 

[Insane.asylum]

No pics of the frozen bodies??? 😤

 

[SearCutFAL]

At the time of airing:
Bodies found, but none recovered yet, according to this CBS News 2/18/26 video.

 

[Smokinrav]

A bunch of ski moms on a ladies ski trip. An annual thing. The ski dads go off for their weekend and this week was ski moms turn.
The real question is, why the fuckity fuck did they leave perfectly good shelter and go out in a gale force blizzard dropping 4 (FOUR!) inches an hour of snow?

 

[Teeshine]

in avalanche country, i think these tour guide companies should have someone ski ahead, perhaps one-quarter of a mile more, and throw sticks of dynamite toward the upper incline to trigger any potential avalanches before the tour group gets there

They've had avalanche cannons for years now but it wouldnt have helped either. That's Donner party area, I s'pect. With a fast moving, fast dumping storm of the century kind of storm, there's not much you could expect but disaster, you'd never keep up that kind of pace. Stay home, hedgerow, live another day. Curious people get lulled in a perceived safety without regarding the danger

 

[Teeshine]

Its that Russian Donetsk shit from the '50's all over again. Its a yeti that has had it with tourists and by God he aint taking one more minute of gleeful happy shit from these invaders