Eight Confirmed Dead in Deadliest U.S. Avalanche in Decades

TRUCKEE, CA — A massive avalanche near Lake Tahoe has claimed the lives of eight backcountry skiers, marking the deadliest snow slide in the United States in nearly 45 years. One person remains missing and is presumed dead, while six survivors were pulled from the snow following a harrowing rescue effort in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The disaster occurred Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026, near the Castle Peak area, specifically on a slope above the Frog Lake Huts. The victims were part of a 15-person expedition consisting of 11 clients and four experienced guides on the final leg of a three-day backcountry trip led by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

A “Wall of Snow” with No Warning

The avalanche, described by officials as roughly the length of a football field, struck around 11:30 a.m. local time. Survivors recounted a terrifying scene where a single shout of “Avalanche!” was the only warning before the group was overwhelmed by a fast-moving wall of snow and ice.

“It overtook them rather quickly,” said Captain Russell Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Despite being equipped with emergency beacons and GPS devices, the sheer force of the slide buried much of the group under several feet of snow.

The Survival and Rescue Effort

In the immediate aftermath, six survivors—one guide and five clients—used their gear to create a makeshift shelter under tarps as temperatures plummeted. They managed to use an iPhone SOS feature and emergency beacons to alert first responders.

While waiting for help, the survivors were able to locate three of their deceased companions. Rescue teams, hampered by a “monster” winter storm and 60 mph winds, had to use snowcats and eventually skis to reach the remote site. Two of the survivors were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

A Historic Tragedy

This event is now the deadliest avalanche in California’s history and the worst in the U.S. since 1981, when 11 climbers died on Mount Rainier.

• The Victims: Though names have not been released, authorities noted the group included men and women aged 30 to 55. Some victims were reportedly mothers of students at the nearby Sugar Bowl Academy.
• The Investigation: Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon stated that officials are looking into the decision-making process of the guide company. A “High Avalanche Danger” warning (Level 4 out of 5) had been issued just hours before the group set out for their return trek.

Recovery efforts for the final missing person and the retrieval of the victims’ bodies are currently paused as more than three feet of new snow and unstable conditions continue to threaten the safety of recovery teams.

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