The backcountry trip near Lake Tahoe where eight skiers were killed after an avalanche was led by a tour outfit that promises global mountain adventures including skiing and rock climbing in the wilderness. The group of 15 was on a three-day trek organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides in which participants carried their own food and overnighted in high-elevation forest huts. The rugged terrain had been closed to the public for a century before a land trust bought it and opened the huts, which are outfitted with basic accommodations like gas stoves and flush toilets. The tour was rated for intermediate-to-expert skiers.
