A group of skierstrapped up a California mountainby a huge avalanche have created a makeshift shelter using tarp.
They were forced to take the drastic action on Tuesday night as rescuers battled a raging blizzard to try to find them in the backcountry nearLake Tahoe.
Sixteen people are believed to have been hit by the terrifying slide on Tuesday morning. Six were known to have survived the impact, while ten were unaccounted for.
Nevada County Sheriff Captain Russell Greene shared shocking new details of the situation on Tuesday night, saying they were searching for the survivors using their emergency beacons.
But in a glimmer of hope he said they were receiving texts from some of them through the system, but did not elaborate on what they said.
He toldKCRA: “They are doing the best they can. They have taken refuge in an area, they have made up a makeshift shelter with a tarp and are doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue.”
He continued: “We have brought in snowcats. We have snowmobiles on standby. We have individuals on skis.
“We have several different ways that people are attempting to get there. “It’s just going to be a slow, tedious process.”
It comes after a tour guide company that organized the trip for the skiers spoke out about the incident for the first time.
Blackbird Mountain Guides said 12 clients and four guides were at the Frog Lake huts in the Castle Peak area of the mountain when the avalanche struck.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
