Rescue Turns to Recovery After Avalanche Claims Eight Lives Near Donner Pass

A powerful avalanche buried a group of backcountry skiers in California's Sierra Nevada on Tuesday, killing at least eight and leaving one person still missing as recovery operations get underway.

What began as a three-day guided backcountry ski trek came to a tragic end Tuesday morning when a massive avalanche roared through the rugged terrain near Donner Pass, north of Lake Tahoe. Eight members of a 15-person expedition have now been confirmed dead, with one additional skier still unaccounted for and presumed to have perished, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced Wednesday. Six members of the group survived.

The party, organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, consisted of 11 clients and four guides who had been camping in remote backcountry huts beneath 9,110-foot Castle Peak. The group was making its way back to the trailhead when the slide hit around 11:30 am local time.

Six survivors were located and evacuated after a roughly six-hour search, with two requiring hospital treatment for their injuries. Nevada County Sheriff Capt. Russell Greene said the rescued skiers were able to signal for help using emergency avalanche beacons and the iPhone satellite SOS feature. Beacons were also found on the deceased. Among those who made it out alive were one guide and five clients; four men and two women survived overall. All next of kin have been notified, though the names of those involved have not been released.