Updated: March 1 7:25pm

By Kathryn Reed

Three skiers in the backcountry near Alpine Meadows triggered an avalanche Thursday that caused one man to be brought out in a basket by a rescue team.

The names of the three have not been released.

They were climbing with skins on their skis about 500 vertical feet below Stanford Rock when the slide occurred.

Dena Erwin, spokeswoman for Placer County Sheriff’s Office, told Lake Tahoe News that officers at the rescue site said the skiers believe they caused the avalanche. But she did not know how wide the slide was.

This area is considered extremely rugged. It is on the backside of Alpine, but not in the ski resort’s boundaries.

The Sierra Avalanche Center on March 1 rated this a “considerable” avalanche danger day. This is typical after a substantial snowfall on a slick surface.

One of the three men was able to ski out to call for help, while the other skier stayed with their injured friend.

The call came into the sheriff’s department about 2pm. The skier was  hauled out of the backcountry close to 5pm. Erwin said he  was in critical condition when he was taken to Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee

Also assisting with the rescue were members of Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue.