Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said the avalanche risk was expected and her office was talking with Blackbird Mountain Guides about why they decided to take people out to Frog Lake.
Eight skiers confirmed dead in California avalanche
Eight of the nine skiers missing in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada have been found dead.
The warning was clear and ominous.
A winter storm warning predicted up to 8 feet of snow in California’s Lake Tahoe region, and avalanche conditions were considered “very dangerous.” Blackbird Mountain Guides, currently under intense scrutiny for its role in the deadliest avalanche in the United States in 40 years, had posted multiple social media posts acknowledging the potential avalanche threat in the area.
“A big storm is coming!” the Feb. 15 post read, “Avalanches can behave erratically and the danger can last longer than normal.”
On the same day, an unlucky group of 11 clients led by four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides set out on a three-day trip that ended in tragedy.
They went to a pristine alpine lake called Frog Lake, just a few miles northeast of the infamous Donner Party disaster of 1847. They spent two nights in a difficult-to-access cabin on Frog Lake and enjoyed backcountry skiing all day. However, on the third and final day of the trip, an avalanche occurred, killing three guides and five guests, leaving six survivors. The ninth person has not been found and is presumed dead.
As families grieve and crews plan to remove the bodies from the mountain when it is safe to do so, guiding companies are facing difficult questions. “Given the known risks, why did they still go?”
The area where the avalanche occurred was known to be a dangerous place.
The area where the avalanche occurred is known for its beauty, skiing appeal, and danger. Donner Land Trust, which owns the Frog Lake area, states on its website that “all areas are uncontrolled avalanche terrain and proper avalanche education and equipment is required.”
“Winter nature travel should not be taken lightly. All travelers need to understand that people die in the outback every year.”
Ahead of the storm, the Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche watch for the area at 7:45 a.m. on the day the group departed. Forecasters had warned of avalanche danger in the days leading up to the monitoring.
“A powerful storm with rapidly accumulating snow and strong winds could cause widespread avalanche activity in the mountains,” the watch said. “Very dangerous avalanche conditions can occur in the backcountry. Traveling in, near, or under avalanche terrain in the backcountry is not recommended when avalanche risk is high.”
The warning was strong enough that Kurt Gensheimer said he made sure to leave the area before it snowed. The avid backcountry skier stayed with the group at the Frog Lake cabin from Thursday, Feb. 12, until Sunday, Feb. 15, when the group led by Blackbird Mountain Guides arrived, the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
“I was planning on leaving before the storm hit,” Gensheimer told the Gazette-Journal. “I think the most distinctive feature of this storm was that a large amount of snow fell in a short period of time on top of a snowpack that hadn’t fallen much in over a month.”
He said he knows several guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and said the guides who go out into avalanche areas are very experienced and know what they’re doing.
Still, he called the deadly avalanche a “100 percent preventable tragedy.”
“We love playing in the snow and we do it for fun,” he said. “But it’s also very serious and sad work.”
What are the authorities saying about this trip?
Nevada County Sheriff Shanann Moon said at a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 18, that authorities are investigating the “full scope” of the tragedy. This includes finding out why the trip was not cancelled.
“There are a lot of forecasts out there about this storm,” President Moon said. “These are obviously decisions made by the guide companies. We’re still talking to them about the deciding factors that they made.”
She said her top priority is getting to the bottom of the key questions surrounding this tragedy.
“I think at the heart of it all, I want to be able to provide answers for the families who were affected, for the guide members who were there, and for the customers who paid for this trip,” she said.
He added that the company had been “very cooperative” with search and rescue efforts following the avalanche and “we wanted to help in any way we could.”
What does Blackbird Mountain Guide say?
Blackbird Mountain Guides did not respond to USA TODAY’s email on Wednesday asking why they pressed ahead with the trip despite advance storm warnings.
The company issued a statement on the day of the avalanche, saying its leadership team is “working fully with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to assist with the ongoing rescue efforts.”
“Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with affected customers and guides’ emergency contacts and will provide regular updates as verified information becomes available,” the company said.
Later that night, the company said it was working through an “incredibly difficult situation with those involved” and referred all questions to the sheriff’s office.
Three-day tours to the Frog Lake huts are still available for $1,165, according to the company’s website.
The trip details say, “In addition to great skiing, the cabins are equipped with comfortable amenities that make sleeping deep in the backcountry an absolute joy.”
The trip includes a “deluxe breakfast and dinner” and some safety equipment, but avalanche gear is not included, although the company recommends everyone bring an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe. It’s unclear whether the company required everyone to carry such equipment or what kind of gear those affected by the avalanche were wearing.
A customer who took this trip wrote a raving review: “Frog Lake Cabin is a great place to spend a few days.”
Another wrote, “Despite severe weather and significant avalanche conditions, they kept the tour safe, fun, and exhilarating. Now I believe storm skiing may be the best way to go!”
Expert: ‘We may learn’ from deadly avalanche
Three important factors need to be considered when assessing avalanche risk, said Myron Allen, a volunteer ski patroller and chairman of the National Ski Patrol’s national board of directors.
“One is the weather, the second is the terrain, and the third is the snowpack,” Allen told USA TODAY, adding that it’s important to consider the recent heavy snowfall and steepness of the terrain.
Allen declined to comment on the Blackbird Mountain Guides trip, but noted that most avalanche accidents occur due to poor planning.
“I’m very interested to see what the final report will be. I’m very disappointed to learn that the guided group encountered such a catastrophic avalanche accident,” he said. “Perhaps we can learn by understanding how events unfolded.”
Asked why people venture into remote areas despite the heightened risks, Allen said the attractiveness of the terrain and a sense of isolation may play a role.
“From personal experience, the mountains are beautiful in the winter,” Allen said. “I think people are just drawn to the beauty and solitude of the snowy mountain wilderness. I think that’s the main motivation. Also, skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry can be a lot of fun.”
Allen advised those wishing to travel into the backcountry to “pay close attention to the weather forecast and the terrain you will be traveling through.” He also encouraged people to get avalanche training, learn how to navigate in the backcountry, plan ahead, check a map to know where rugged terrain is and have a backup plan.
“If they wake up and head into the mountains and it’s not as safe as we thought, then we can use Plan B,” Allen said. “Go on another trip and have it already prepared.”
Contributor: Jaedyn Young, Reno Gazette Journal
