Few laws govern backcountry skiing in California. Experts say that people engage in the sport at their own risk, but guides have responsibilities to keep clients safe.
As the authorities begin to piece together what led to the deaths of at least eight people in an avalanche in the snowy backcountry near Lake Tahoe this week, the risks taken by the skiers and their guides — and who was responsible for fateful decisi... [1406 chars]