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Three survivors of the deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California used their avalanche safety gear to rescue fellow skiers buried in the snow, the Sierra Avalanche Center said in an update on Monday.Nearly a week after the avalanche killed nine backcountry skiers, new details have emerged about the moments following the disaster.The Sierra Avalanche Center has been visiting the site daily to gather observations and learn more about what happened. Wendy Antibus, the education manager for the center, shared that the slide hit 12 skiers, while three others used their avalanche safety gear, including shovels, to dig out three of their companions.”There were three people who, at the time of the avalanche, helped rescue their companions and helped dig out their companions,” Antibus said.In total, six members of the group survived, including three of the 12 hit by the avalanche, while nine died. Antibus emphasized the importance of being trained and equipped for backcountry travel.”That’s some new information, and that is like part of being trained to go out in avalanche terrain is having the equipment, the avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe, and being trained to rescue your partners in case there is an avalanche that happens,” Antibus said. The center released a new photo showing the site of the football-field-sized avalanche, where a bald spot is visible from where the tree line once stood.Antibus warned that the danger of avalanches remains present for backcountry explorers.”Whether you’re snowmobiling or you’re backcountry skiing, like no matter what you do, if you’re going into the winter backcountry mountains, like you should have that avalanche transceiver shovel, probe, and having a cellphone or satellite device is also like, great as a communication tool,” she said.While the center plays a vital role in the investigation, it is also part of a grieving community.Antibus said, “I don’t think that speculation and laying blame before we know any details is helpful to those people. I think just supporting our community through this process, because a lot of people have lost people that they care about.”The center expects high avalanche danger on Tuesday due to rain in the forecast, which will add weight to the top layer of snow and make it less stable.They encourage people to check daily updates on avalanche risk and backcountry conditions before heading out.The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the avalanche.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
Three survivors of the deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California used their avalanche safety gear to rescue fellow skiers buried in the snow, the Sierra Avalanche Center said in an update on Monday.
Nearly a week after the avalanche killed nine backcountry skiers, new details have emerged about the moments following the disaster.
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The Sierra Avalanche Center has been visiting the site daily to gather observations and learn more about what happened.
Wendy Antibus, the education manager for the center, shared that the slide hit 12 skiers, while three others used their avalanche safety gear, including shovels, to dig out three of their companions.
“There were three people who, at the time of the avalanche, helped rescue their companions and helped dig out their companions,” Antibus said.
In total, six members of the group survived, including three of the 12 hit by the avalanche, while nine died.
Antibus emphasized the importance of being trained and equipped for backcountry travel.
“That’s some new information, and that is like part of being trained to go out in avalanche terrain is having the equipment, the avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe, and being trained to rescue your partners in case there is an avalanche that happens,” Antibus said.
The center released a new photo showing the site of the football-field-sized avalanche, where a bald spot is visible from where the tree line once stood.
Antibus warned that the danger of avalanches remains present for backcountry explorers.
“Whether you’re snowmobiling or you’re backcountry skiing, like no matter what you do, if you’re going into the winter backcountry mountains, like you should have that avalanche transceiver shovel, probe, and having a cellphone or satellite device is also like, great as a communication tool,” she said.
While the center plays a vital role in the investigation, it is also part of a grieving community.
Antibus said, “I don’t think that speculation and laying blame before we know any details is helpful to those people. I think just supporting our community through this process, because a lot of people have lost people that they care about.”
The center expects high avalanche danger on Tuesday due to rain in the forecast, which will add weight to the top layer of snow and make it less stable.
They encourage people to check daily updates on avalanche risk and backcountry conditions before heading out.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the avalanche.
