The private tour company that led the group of15 skiersinto the Lake Tahoe backcountry charges a hefty price for its high-risk alpine adventures.
Blackbird Mountain Guides, a “premier guiding company” based in Truckee, California, has been facing backlash over what some are describing as a “preventable tragedy.”
The company holds a 4.9-star ratingon Googlewith more than 250 reviews, many praising its expert instruction and unforgettable backcountry experiences.
The cost to book a guide for a private tour for backcountry skiing on the company’s website is $625 per person, per night. The price changes depending on the total number of people in a group, with the per person rate decreasing for larger parties.
For a group of six — the largest booking available for a single reservation with one guide — it cost $215 a person per night.
Clients are guaranteed “Tailored Experiences” suited to their “goals, experience, and fitness,” according to Blackbird’s website.
The itinerary for a private program includes an 8 a.m. trailhead meeting for a safety briefing and beacon check, followed by an 8:30 a.m. tour to the day’s objective to ski as many runs as possible before returning by 3:30 p.m. to ensure a safe arrival with sufficient daylight, the site explains.
Following the avalanche, the company released a statement addressing the search efforts.
“The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to support the ongoing rescue operation,” the company said in a statement.
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Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
