On Tuesday, February 17, an avalanche struck a backcountry ski group in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada, located about 10 miles from Lake Tahoe near Truckee, California. The severe slide occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time amid a major winter storm that brought heavy snow, high winds and whiteout conditions across the region. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a “high avalanche danger” warning hours earlier, warning of the potential for major slides in rural terrain.
The group consisted of 15 backcountry skiers, including four guides and 11 clients, on a three-day guided trip organized by ski tour company Blackbird Mountain Guides. The group was returning from backcountry huts at Frog Lake when they were swept away by the avalanche.
The ski tour company announced in a news alert on its website: “The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides remains fully engaged in assisting search and rescue efforts on the ground as we navigate this very difficult situation alongside the participants.
Get updates on everything we know so far about the missing skiers and the avalanche that struck the area near Lake Tahoe, California.
Have the missing Blackbeard Mountain guide skiers been found?
Unfortunately, eight skiers were found dead on Wednesday, February 18th. One person is still missing, according to what the British newspaper “Daily Mail” reported New York Times. Authorities said the ninth missing person was believed to be dead. Many avalanche survivors were rescued.
Eight skiers were found dead after being caught by an avalanche during a backcountry skiing trip near Lake Tahoe, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said https://t.co/tTxD28DIkh pic.twitter.com/tttiRDwaVy
— Bloomberg (@Business) February 18, 2026
Did anyone survive an avalanche near Lake Tahoe?
Yes. Fortunately, six people were found and rescued. Due to the dangerous weather, the six survivors were forced to shelter in place under tarps and stay in touch through emergency signals and text messages while rescue teams worked to reach them.
Later, on February 18, rescue teams finally reached the survivors and were able to evacuate them.
Has California ever experienced an avalanche?
Yes, but the 2026 avalanche is considered the deadliest in California history. The last case to hit the state was in 1982 in Alpine Meadows. Seven people died near the ski resort at that time, which was indicated by Placer County Sheriff Wayne Wu during a press conference, according to the American “space” website. New York Times.
“To see this tragic incident unfold and potentially lead to this large number of lives lost, it is horrific to see,” the sheriff said of the latest tragedy.
