A Sierra Nevada sheriff is digging into a Lake Tahoe guide company’s fateful decision to lead a backcountry expedition into heavy snow before a catastrophicavalanche killed eight skiers Tuesday.
The burgeoning probe into Blackbird Mountain Guides was revealed by Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon amid agrim news conferenceWednesday over the deadliest avalanche in California’s recent history.
“Those are the decisions that the guide company clearly had made,” Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said.
“We’re still in conversations with them on the decision factors.”
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The tragedy unfolded as a three-day excursion led by Blackbird Mountain Guides north of Lake Tahoe wound down.
Four tour guides and 11 clients were struck by an avalanche around 11:30 a.m., authorities said.
The snowslide prompted a desperate rescue mission amid treacherously snowy conditions — with ultimately tragic results.
Eight skiers were found dead, with a ninth still missing and presumed deceased, Moon said.
Anothersix survived the avalancheand huddled under tarps erected as makeshift tents before their rescue, the sheriff said.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
