Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Eight skiers died and one is missing from a group of 15 people completing a three-day backcountry tour in California's Tahoe National Forest when an avalanche struck, local law enforcement said Wednesday.
Local emergency services received a 911 call at 11:30 a.m. PST on Tuesday to report the avalanche in the Castle Peak area near Truckee, Calif., north of Interstate 80, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon told media in a news conference.
"This is a remote, very rugged area on the north side of the freeway. It is not a groomed area. This is a backcountry area [with] very rugged terrain."
She said the avalanche location is very close to the Pacific Crest Trail in Tahoe National Forest, and a group of 15 was completing a guided trip by Blackbird Mountain Guides.
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