(NewsNation) — Crews have rescued six skiers caught in a California avalanche Tuesday, while nine more remain stuck in mountainous snow and ice conditions.
Two of those evacuated were hospitalized, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office told NewsNation local affiliate KTXL.
The group of 15 skiers — initially believed to be 16 — were in a backcountry area near the infamous Donner Summit heading back to a trailhead when the avalanche struck just before noon on Tuesday.
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Blackbird Mountain Guides, in a statement, said a dozen clients and several guides had been staying at huts near Frog Lake in Castle Peak since Feb. 15.
“The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred,” the company said.
Up to 10 skiers were reported missing after heavy snowfall following an avalanche on a backcountry slope in California’s Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Elif Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Castle Peak is located north of Donner Summit, a peak named for a party of pioneers that famously turned to cannibalism when they were trapped there over winter in 1846 and 1847.
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First responders were alerted by emergency beacons carried by the group, and have been able to communicate with some of them.
But rescue teams are facing extreme conditions trying to reach the remote site, battling mounting snow, strong winds and more potential avalanches.
The area has been hit hard by a winter storm. Some areas have seen 30 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, shutting down some highways and ski resorts in the area altogether.
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