Crews Battle Brutal Conditions to Recover Victims of Sierra Nevada Avalanche

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Black Hawk helicopter flew to the Sierra Nevada mountains on Saturday as crews continue their efforts to recover the bodies of the eight people killed in a fatal avalanche earlier this week. Brutal weather and the threat of more avalanches have hampered recovery efforts so far.

Why it matters

The deadly avalanche in the Sierra Nevada mountains is a tragic event that highlights the dangers of outdoor recreation in harsh winter conditions. The ongoing recovery efforts are critical to providing closure for the victims' families, but the extreme weather has made the operation extremely challenging.

The details

Four people in brown cargo uniforms boarded the Black Hawk helicopter at the airport in Truckee, California, and flew to the Frog Lake area in the Castle Peak region where the avalanche occurred. The helicopter hovered in the area for about 90 minutes as part of the ongoing recovery effort. Officials have been using water to break up the snow in the area as avalanche mitigation work to reduce the risk for rescue crews.

• On Tuesday, the fatal avalanche struck, killing 8 people.
• On Saturday, the Black Hawk helicopter flew to the avalanche site to assist in the recovery effort.
• A temporary flight restriction over the site of the avalanche has been extended to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Officials have indicated that they will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. on Saturday to provide an update on the recovery efforts.