A group of 15 backcountry skiers on a guided ski trip ended up in peril after an avalanche Tuesday, and a desperate search began for nine missing people. That rescue mission has now switched to a recovery mission, according to a live press conference.
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According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the group was skiing in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada mountain range when the avalanche occurred. Search and rescue crews were able to retrieve the six survivors who had used an SOS beacon to signal their location. Conditions made the search for more survivors incredibly difficult.
A live press conference has confirmed that rescue crews have located eight of the nine missing individuals deceased, and the recovery mission for the final missing skier is ongoing. The group consisted of multiple guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and around a dozen guests.
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Authorities revealed that the group consisted of nine women and six men. The survivors include one guide and five clients. Of the survivors, there are five women and one man. Two of the survivors sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and one remains in the hospital.
See updates from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office:
This incident is still developing, and details may change.
Header stock image by Nigel Killeen/Getty Images
