Tahoe-area avalanche may have buried skiers

A search and rescue team and police were responding Tuesday afternoon to a report that an avalanche near Donner Summit struck a group of backcountry skiers, with several missing and possibly buried, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said.

The reported slide occurred in the area of Castle Peak, across I-80 from the Boreal ski resort, police said.

The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning for the central Sierra Nevada — including the Castle Peak area — at 5 a.m. Tuesday, running until 5 a.m. Wednesday. The center rated avalanche risk in the region “high,” the second-most-dangerous level below extreme.

Castle Peak, a craggy 9,100-foot summit, is a popular location for backcountry skiing, which typically requires specialized equipment including “skins” affixed to ski bottoms that facilitate ascending. In early January, an avalanche in that area buried and killed a snowmobiler.

The report Tuesday came amid a blizzard that closed I-80 in both directions through the Sierra on Tuesday morning until it reopened with tire-chain controls at 2:30 p.m.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about 11:30 a.m. reporting an avalanche with people buried, Ashley Quadros, a department spokesperson, told the Associated Press.

The sheriff’s office and its search and rescue team responded to the report, Quadros said.

Boreal ski resort — with a base elevation of 7,201 feet and a summit at 7,701 feet — reported Tuesday morning that 2 1/2 feet of snow had fallen over the previous 24 hours. The resort shut down its lifts Tuesday, citing “heavy snowfall and deteriorating conditions.”

The avalanche center gives a “high” rating when its technicians determine conditions are “very dangerous.” At such times, the center advises that travel in terrain susceptible to avalanches is “not recommended.”

The center’s “high” rating applied to all elevations in avalanche terrain, with large to very large slides caused by slabs of snow “very likely,” no matter the direction a slope faced.

“Avalanches could be triggered from very low on the slope in some areas,” the center reported. “Avalanches from above could travel down through treed terrain, often thought of as ‘safe’ during storms.”

Avalanche experts warn that anyone skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or hiking in areas of avalanche risk should wear special beacons that broadcast a signal so companions and rescuers can try to locate them under snow in event of a slide, and carry snow-probe poles and shovels to pinpoint and dig out victims.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.