Nine Bodies of Skiers Recovered in Deadly Sierra Nevada Avalanche, Officials Say
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The bodies of nine skiers killed in a deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe were recovered by authorities, concluding a challenging rescue effort delayed by hazardous weather.
- The victims included six women and three professional guides from a group of 15 on a backcountry trek in the Sierra Nevada, with the avalanche occurring despite warnings of high avalanche danger.
- Recovery operations began Friday after conditions were deemed safe, with all bodies airlifted to a staging area near the Frog Lake huts where the group had been lodging.
- Six survivors were rescued using avalanche beacons and SOS satellite functions, and they helped rescuers locate several victims before the full recovery was completed.
- The avalanche, which struck Tuesday morning, is the deadliest in modern California history
