Private tour company at center of avalanche disaster is quite pricey

The private tour company that led the group of 15 skiers into the Lake Tahoe backcountry charges a hefty price for its high-risk alpine adventures.

Blackbird Mountain Guides, a “premier guiding company” based in Truckee, California, has been facing backlash over what some are describing as a “preventable tragedy.”

The company holds a 4.9-star rating on Google with more than 250 reviews, many praising its expert instruction and unforgettable backcountry experiences.

The cost to book a guide for a private tour for backcountry skiing on the company’s website is $625 per person, per night. The price changes depending on the total number of people in a group, with the per person rate decreasing for larger parties.

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For a group of six — the largest booking available for a single reservation with one guide — it cost $215 a person per night.

Clients are guaranteed “Tailored Experiences” suited to their “goals, experience, and fitness,” according to Blackbird’s website.

The itinerary for a private program includes an 8 a.m. trailhead meeting for a safety briefing and beacon check, followed by an 8:30 a.m. tour to the day’s objective to ski as many runs as possible before returning by 3:30 p.m. to ensure a safe arrival with sufficient daylight, the site explains.

Following the avalanche, the company released a statement addressing the search efforts.

“The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to support the ongoing rescue operation,” the company said in a statement.

“Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with the emergency contacts of the affected clients and guides and is providing them with regular updates as verified information becomes available.”

Here are the latest stories on the California Avalanche:

The group caught up in the avalanche consisted of four guides and 11 guests. One man and five women were rescued after the avalanche. Of those six people, one was a guide, according to officials.

Eight people were confirmed dead and one still missing as of Wednesday morning.

The slide happened in the Castle Peak area north of Interstate 80 around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Blackbird was founded by Zeb Blais in 2020 and is a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations. According to the website, there are at least 10 guides offering services ranging from backcountry skiing to rock climbing and more.

The group of missing skiers stayed in small lodges called the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts.

The Ted R. Hut, which accommodates eight guests, costs $1,331 including taxes for two nights in February.

According to the website, the hut includes a private bathroom, drying racks for boots, clothes and skins, as well as charging ports for phones. Propane stove heaters keep the hut warm, and LED lighting eliminates the need for a headlamp indoors. Flush toilets and running hot and cold water are also provided.