Eight Skiers Confirmed Dead, One Still Missing After Deadly Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe; Operation Shifts to Recovery

Truckee, California - 2/18/26: Eight backcountry skiers have been confirmed dead following a massive avalanche in the Castle Peak area northwest of Lake Tahoe, with one individual from the group still unaccounted for and presumed deceased, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced at a press conference on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The incident involved a guided party of 15 people-four professional guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides (a Truckee-based company) and 11 clients-on the final day of a three-day backcountry skiing expedition. The group had been staying at the remote Frog Lake huts since February 15 and was returning to the trailhead when the avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, in steep, north-facing terrain near Frog Lake and Perry Peak (just east of Castle Peak) at approximately 8,200–8,300 feet elevation. The slide, classified as D2.5 (destructive size capable of burying or killing people), occurred amid a powerful winter storm that dumped up to 40 inches of snow in nearby areas since Monday, accompanied by gale-force winds, near-zero visibility, and extreme cold.

Six survivors (including one guide and five clients) were located and rescued late Tuesday evening after sheltering in place for hours under a makeshift tarp. They were extracted via ski teams and SnoCat vehicles by first responders battling blizzard conditions. Two of the survivors were transported to a hospital for treatment; one was released overnight, and the other was expected to be released Wednesday.

Rescue efforts, involving nearly 100 personnel from multiple agencies-including Nevada County Sheriff's Search & Rescue, Placer County Sheriff's Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County teams, Truckee Fire, and others coordinated through the California Office of Emergency Services-shifted to recovery mode after locating the eight deceased individuals (reported as seven women and one man in some accounts, though full demographics were not officially detailed). Their bodies were marked with poles for later recovery, which has been postponed due to ongoing high avalanche risk and hazardous weather preventing safe access.

One skier remains missing, with officials stating recovery chances are slim given the conditions. All victims were equipped with avalanche beacons, aiding in location efforts.

The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a HIGH avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada-including the Lake Tahoe region from Yuba Pass to Ebbetts Pass-starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday and extended through at least Thursday morning. Forecasters cited an unstable snowpack with weak layers, rapid new snowfall (10–16 inches possible in spots), and winds contributing to dangerous conditions, warning of large to very large avalanches in backcountry terrain.

Blackbird Mountain Guides has been cooperating fully with authorities. The company posted warnings on social media days earlier about unstable snow conditions and urged caution, but questions remain about the decision to proceed amid the forecast. Sheriff Moon noted ongoing discussions with the company regarding the trip.

This avalanche is among the deadliest in modern U.S. history involving backcountry skiers, surpassing some prior incidents in the region and marking the fourth-deadliest in national records in recent decades. It follows other recent fatalities in the Lake Tahoe area, including a snowmobiler buried near Castle Peak earlier this year.

Highways including Interstate 80 and Highway 50 remain impacted by storm-related closures, and the public is strongly urged to avoid all backcountry travel in avalanche-prone areas.

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate and coordinate with partners. No names of victims have been released pending family notifications.