Skiers paid $1,165 to join a guided tour that left 8 dead and 1 missing in a California avalanche

The backcountry ski trip hit by avalanche was led by an outfit offering mountain adventures globally.

The group of 15 backcountry skiers was on a three-day trek organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides into pristine wilderness near Frog Lake in California’s Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe.

The skiers set out on Sunday, carrying their own food and overnighting in huts situated at 7,600 feet (3,415 meters) in Tahoe National Forest, where a winter storm arrived and an avalanche watch was issued that morning.

“If you’ve booked the Frog Lake Huts in Truckee, trust our guides to elevate your trip to the next level,” the business said on its website, advertising the trip. “We’ll navigate in and out of the huts, manage the risks, and find the best terrain and snow quality for you and your group!”

On Tuesday, the group was trapped by an avalanche. Authorities said Wednesday that eight people were killed and one person remained missing. Six skiers were rescued after sheltering in place for hours as crews battled blizzard conditions.

Blackbird Mountain Guides said in a statement that it was coordinating with authorities. It said the group, including four guides, was returning to the trailhe...