Deadly Avalanche Kills 8 Backcountry Skiers

Eight backcountry skiers were confirmed dead and a ninth remained missing and presumed dead Wednesday after a massive avalanche swept through their guided group in the Sierra Nevada mountains northwest of Lake Tahoe, marking the deadliest avalanche in modern California history and one of the worst in the United States in nearly half a century.

The tragedy unfolded Tuesday morning when a football-field-sized slide buried nine members of a 15-person party — 11 clients and four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides — near Castle Peak and Frog Lake in Nevada County, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe. The group was on the final day of a three-day trek, having stayed at the Frog Lake huts since Sunday and heading back to the trailhead when the avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said rescuers located the bodies of eight victims — seven women and one man, ranging in age from 30 to 55 — clustered relatively close together amid “pretty horrific” conditions of heavy snowfall, gale-force winds and low visibility. The ninth skier, whose identity and gender were not released, was presumed to have perished given the extreme weather, unstable snowpack and prolonged burial time.
Six survivors — five women and one man, also aged 30 to 55 — were rescued about six hours later, around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. They had built a makeshift shelter and were found with various injuries; two required hospital treatment, one released Tuesday night and the other expected to be discharged Wednesday.

The operation involved nearly 100 first responders from multiple agencies, who navigated treacherous terrain on skis and used avalanche beacons and cellphone signals to locate the group. Recovery efforts were hampered by ongoing blizzard conditions, with bodies still trapped under snow and additional avalanche risks preventing immediate extraction.

The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a warning for the Central Sierra Nevada effective Tuesday through 5 a.m. Thursday, citing heavy new snow — up to 40 inches in nearby Soda Springs since Monday — combined with strong winds and unstable layers. The slide occurred on a north-facing slope at about 8,300 feet elevation, classified as D2.5 destructive size, capable of burying or killing people.

This incident surpasses previous deadly California avalanches, including the 1982 Alpine Meadows resort slide that killed seven and a 1911 event in Mono County that claimed eight lives. Nationally, it ranks as the deadliest since 1981, when 11 climbers died on Washington’s Mount Rainier, and the fourth-worst in U.S. history per records from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

The Castle Peak area, popular for backcountry recreation in the Tahoe National Forest, has seen frequent slides; the Sierra Avalanche Center documented at least 50 avalanches in the broader Lake Tahoe region since September 2025. A January 2026 slide nearby killed a snowmobiler.

Authorities have not released victim names pending family notifications. Blackbird Mountain Guides, a respected outfitter, has not commented publicly. The group was experienced, equipped with standard safety gear including beacons, probes and shovels, but officials emphasized that backcountry travel in high-risk conditions carries inherent dangers even with preparation.

Search efforts shifted to recovery mode Wednesday as weather remained severe, with forecasters warning of continued instability and potential for more slides. Nearby resorts like Sierra-at-Tahoe closed for the day due to the storm, which dumped over 5.5 feet of snow in recent days.

The incident highlights ongoing avalanche hazards amid a powerful West Coast winter storm system. Experts urge backcountry users to check forecasts, carry gear and travel in groups with communication plans. The National Avalanche Center reports 25-30 U.S. avalanche deaths annually on average, with California ranking eighth in fatalities since 1950.

As recovery continues under challenging conditions, officials expressed deep sorrow for the victims and support for survivors and families. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office leads the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies.