Lake Tahoe avalanche survivors say skiers welcomed grim weather outlook before deadly snow slide killed 9

"Survivor Jim Hamilton said that those leading the tour for Blackbird Blackbird Mountain Guides told him not to fret when the weather discussion took place because the experts would stick to a safe path. One guide even said 'there would be so much powder that no one would care,' the Times reported."

"He and another survivor, Anton Auzans, recalled that as the avalanche threat rose, four guides met privately away from the group to plot out their next moves. It's unclear whether the guides knew of the potentially deadly forecasts or checked in with their headquarters, as their discussion happened behind closed doors."

"When the mountain gave way, Auzans described plowing through snow that hardened 'more like cement' than powder. Trapped, he thought about his 3-year-old son and the possibility of never seeing him again. The thought kept him going."

A backcountry skiing group led by Blackbird Blackbird Mountain Guides encountered a devastating avalanche near Castle Peak that killed nine people. Despite local authorities warning of widespread avalanche activity, guides minimized safety concerns, telling participants that experts would navigate safely and that abundant powder would justify the risk. Survivors reported that guides held private discussions about route planning without consulting the group or disclosing known avalanche forecasts. Two survivors, Jim Hamilton and Anton Auzans, recalled trusting the guides' expertise despite rising danger signs. Hamilton survived due to a broken ski binding that slowed his descent. Auzans was buried but escaped, driven by thoughts of his young son. The survivors spent hours searching the blizzard and discovered three bodies before rescue arrived.

Read at California Post