9 skiers missing after California avalanche

Rescuers are searching for survivors after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, swept over a party of 15 backcountry skiers returning to the trailhead Tuesday. Six people have been rescued, with 9 still missing in the ice, rocks and debris.

The disaster at Castle Peak set off a dangerous, hours-long rescue effort that was hampered by extreme weather conditions that were hammering the skiers: Heavy snow and strong winds from the winter storm roaring through the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains in northern California.