Eight Skiers Die in Lake Tahoe Avalanche
An avalanche near Lake Tahoe's Castle Peak has killed eight backcountry skiers and left one person missing. The area is known for its high avalanche risk. Six other skiers were rescued from the slide, and survivors were able to locate three of the deceased before rescue teams arrived.
- The avalanche occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, near Castle Peak, a popular backcountry destination north of Lake Tahoe. - The group of 15, consisting of 11 clients and four guides from the Truckee-based outfitter Blackbird Mountain Guides, was on the final day of a three-day trip to the Frog Lake backcountry huts when the slide occurred. - This event is the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, surpassing the 1982 Alpine Meadows avalanche which killed seven people. It is also one of the deadliest in U.S. history. - The slide was approximately the size of a football field and was rated as a D2.5 on the destructive scale, which is considered large to very large. - Officials stated the avalanche was caused by a persistent weak layer in the snowpack that became overloaded by a large amount of new snow from a major winter storm. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a "HIGH" avalanche danger warning for the area prior to the incident. - Rescue efforts were hampered by blizzard conditions, high winds, and continued high avalanche danger, forcing a shift from a rescue to a recovery mission. - All the victims were reportedly wearing avalanche beacons, and survivors were able to locate three of the deceased before rescue teams arrived. - Multiple members of the Sugar Bowl Academy community, a local ski academy, were among the victims of the slide.
