Rescuers in California have recovered the ninth and final victim of the Castle Peak avalanche in the Sierra Nevada, bringing closure to a dayslong search after one of the deadliest avalanches in modern U.S. history. The slide struck Tuesday near Lake Tahoe, engulfing a guided backcountry group and leaving nine dead and six survivors, authorities said.
“Nine individuals who lost their lives in the Castle Peak avalanche on 17 February have been safely recovered from the mountain,” the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, confirming that the last missing person had been found.
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Officials had warned Thursday that search operations would stretch into the weekend as inclement weather pummelled the Lake Tahoe area. The avalanche on Castle Peak hit a group of four guides and 11 paying clients, according to authorities. Six people survived — five clients and one guide — and were able to call for help shortly after the avalanche, but white-out conditions and the risk of further snow slides kept ground teams from reaching them for several hours.
The recovery effort unfolded under harsh winter conditions, with visibility at times reduced and slopes still unstable. Rescue teams moved cautiously across the debris field, balancing the urgency of the search with the danger of additional avalanches in the Sierra Nevada backcountry.
Late Thursday, families of six victims identified them in a statement reported by U.S. media as women who were “mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.” The families said the women were “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains,” adding, “we have many unanswered questions.”
Authorities have not released additional details about the victims, the precise circumstances of the avalanche or a full timeline of the rescue operations. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office did not provide further information beyond confirming the total number of people involved and the recovery of all nine victims.
Castle Peak, a popular backcountry destination in the Tahoe region, draws experienced skiers and riders seeking deep snow and remote terrain. Tuesday’s avalanche underscores the severe risks that persist in the high country during storms and rapidly changing conditions, even for guided groups and seasoned outdoor athletes.
The completion of the recovery marks the end of an intensive, weather-challenged mission in the Sierra Nevada. As families and friends grieve, officials said their focus had been on locating every missing person and returning them to loved ones — a goal they reached with the final recovery.
Further information on the investigation into the avalanche was not immediately available.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
