A search began Saturday for a cross country skier who became trapped by a New Year's Day avalanche in the Sierra Nevada.
A male companion wasn't able to reach a phone and report the case until Saturday, two days after the avalanche near Castle Peak west of Truckee, said a California Division of Forestry spokeswoman.
Searchers on three snowmobiles began looking for the missing skier in a remote, rugged area north of Donner Summit after receiving a call from the man shortly after 1 p.m.
CDF officials said the missing skier's companion escaped injury and apparently spent a couple of nights in the backcountry. A blizzard and heavy snow prevented him from reaching a phone earlier, they said.
The search was suspended Saturday evening and was expected to resume Sunday morning.
No details about the skiers or avalanche were immediately available, authorities said.
