Eight backcountry skiers were confirmed dead and one remained missing Wednesday after an avalanche near Donner Summit in Northern California, according to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Authorities said the avalanche struck Tuesday morning during a severe winter storm, overwhelming a guided group that had been on the final day of a three‑day trek in the Sierra Nevada.

Capt. Russell Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said one member of the group shouted a warning moments before the avalanche hit, but the slide overtook the skiers almost immediately. Six people from the touring party survived and were reached by rescue crews near sunset, guided in part by emergency beacons and limited cellphone communication, according to information shared at a Wednesday press briefing.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said the operation has shifted from rescue to recovery due to the severity of the conditions and the duration of burial. Officials reported that the victims—seven women and two men between the ages of 30 and 55—were located close together, but heavy snowfall and unstable terrain have delayed removal from the mountain.

The Sierra Avalanche Center reported that three to six feet of snow had fallen in the area since the group began its trip. Subfreezing temperatures, high winds, and an unstable snowpack left the region vulnerable to further slides. The avalanche is the deadliest in the United States since 1981, when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier in Washington.

The guided tour had been operated by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which notified authorities immediately after the slide. The group had stayed two nights in backcountry huts owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust and was traveling back toward the trailhead when the avalanche occurred. Officials said one skier had withdrawn from the trip shortly before departure.

One of the six survivors remained hospitalized Wednesday. Names of the deceased have not yet been released as families are notified.

Regional context for Southwest Washington

The Cascade Range, including areas frequented by Southwest Washington residents such as Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and the Goat Rocks, shares many of the same winter conditions now under scrutiny in California: deep storms, variable layers of snow, and terrain where backcountry recreation demands specialized training. Avalanche centers in both Washington and Oregon routinely caution that large storm cycles—particularly those delivering rapid accumulations like those seen this week in the Sierra—can produce unstable snowpacks capable of releasing with little warning.

Local search‑and‑rescue teams in Cowlitz County and neighboring jurisdictions emphasize that even experienced travelers are vulnerable when forecasts shift or when storm systems intensify. The California incident highlights how quickly conditions can deteriorate and how difficult rescue operations become once deep snow, wind, and terrain hazards take hold.

Why this matters

The tragedy near Donner Summit has renewed focus on backcountry risk across the West. For residents of Longview, Kelso, and surrounding communities who travel to the Cascades for winter recreation, the event underscores the importance of monitoring avalanche forecasts, understanding when storm cycles create high‑risk conditions, and recognizing that group experience or guided status cannot eliminate hazards.

Winter recreation remains a central part of life in the region, but as officials in California noted Wednesday, deteriorating weather and unstable snowpacks leave very little margin for error. Southwest Washington’s proximity to heavily used backcountry terrain makes awareness—and personal preparation—critical during peak winter months.

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