The backcountry ski excursion affected by the avalanche was guided by a company that provides mountain adventures around the world.
A group of 15 backcountry skiers was participating in a arranged by Blackbird Mountain Guides in the untouched wilderness close to Frog Lake in California’s Sierra Nevada, near Lake Tahoe.
The skiers departed on Sunday, bringing their own meals and staying overnight in huts located at 7,600 feet (3,415 meters) in Tahoe National Forest—an area where a winter storm rolled in and an avalanche watch was put in place that same morning.
“If you’ve booked the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee, trust our guides to elevate your trip to the next level,” the business said on its website, advertising the trip. “We’ll navigate in and out of the huts, manage the risks, and find the best terrain and snow quality for you and your group!”
On Tuesday, the group was trapped by an . Officials reported Wednesday that eight individuals lost their lives and one person remained unaccounted for. Six skiers were rescued after taking shelter for hours while crews faced harsh blizzard conditions.
Blackbird Mountain Guides stated in a release that it was coordinating with authorities. The company noted the group—including four guides—was returning to the trailhead when the avalanche struck near Castle Peak. Three of the guides were among those killed, officials confirmed.
With offices in California and Washington state, the company offers mountaineering and backcountry ski trips across the U.S. West Coast as well as in Europe and Japan. It also provides safety courses like wilderness skills and first aid training.
The rugged area where the skiers died had been closed to the public for a century until the Truckee Donner Land Trust purchased it and opened the huts, which feature basic amenities such as sleeping pads, gas stoves, and flush toilets.
An avalanche watch was issued Sunday morning as moved into the state. The Sierra Avalanche Center issued a more severe warning for the Central Sierra Nevada—including the Greater Lake Tahoe region—starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday, with large slides expected through Wednesday.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said investigators would examine the decision to proceed with the trip despite concerns about potential avalanches.
“We’re still in conversation with them on the decision factors that they made,” Moon said at a Wednesday news conference announcing the deaths.
The sheriff noted the search took place under “horrific conditions” in an area where rescue missions are common.
Per the company’s website, the tour cost $1,165 per person and was rated for intermediate-to-expert skiers with at least 20 days of backcountry experience, who should be prepared to climb up to 2,500 vertical feet (760 meters) in a day. Guides carry first aid kits and “wag bags” for waste disposal, but participants must bring their own ski equipment and avalanche gear—including a beacon, shovel, and probe.
“Generally our guides are able to find excellent backcountry snow conditions, but often we need to travel through difficult conditions to access the goods,” the website description said. “This requires riders to be adept with their backcountry touring skills and have a solid foundation of touring before the trip.”
Rapidly accumulating snow on fragile snowpack layers, combined with strong winds, contributed to the dangerous conditions.
The town of Soda Springs, near the avalanche site, recorded at least 30 inches (76 centimeters) of snow over a 24-hour period, according to the Soda Springs Mountain Resort.
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Associated Press writer Julie Watson in San Diego contributed to this report.