California workplace safety officials have fined Blackbird Mountain Guides $151,300 following an avalanche that killed nine people in the Sierra Nevada earlier this year. The avalanche, which occurred in February, was the deadliest in the state's modern history.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, issued the fines earlier this month, citing seven alleged violations. The largest fine, $81,000, was for "failing to correct the imminent hazard posed by traveling in avalanche terrain when the avalanche danger was rated high."
Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal, stating that it believes it was in "full compliance" with all regulatory requirements. The company noted that mountain guiding occurs in dynamic wilderness environments where conditions can change rapidly.
A separate investigation by Cal/OSHA’s Bureau of Investigations is ongoing to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The Nevada County Sheriff's Department has also forwarded its criminal investigation findings to the district attorney's office for review.
The nine individuals who died were part of a 15-person backcountry skiing group on a three-day trek organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides. Three of the deceased were guides, and six were skiers. The group was near Frog Lake in the Tahoe National Forest when the avalanche struck on Feb. 17 as a winter storm moved into the region.
Six skiers, including one guide, were rescued after sheltering for hours while searchers worked through blizzard conditions. The other five violations cited by Cal/OSHA relate to alleged workplace safety issues, including insufficient employee training and failure to report the deaths of three employees in a timely manner.
The company stated that the guides on the trip possessed years of experience and held certifications from the American Mountain Guides Association, which is considered the highest level of training in the industry.