Crews have recovered eight bodies after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California's Sierra Nevada, the deadliest US avalanche in nearly 50 years. One skier remains missing.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said the mission has shifted from rescue to recovery. Six others from the same backcountry group survived after sheltering in the snow during a powerful winter storm.
Experts say weeks of dry weather left a weak base layer. Heavy new snow then fell quickly and failed to bond, creating an unstable slab. Avalanche warnings were in place before the group set out on its three day trek.
