Deadly Avalanche Kills 9 Near Lake Tahoe

New details emerge on California's worst avalanche disaster in recent history

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A group of 15 backcountry skiers were caught in a deadly avalanche near Donner Summit in Lake Tahoe on February 17, 2026. Nine of the skiers were killed in the D2.5 soft slab avalanche that struck at an elevation of around 8,300 feet. Rescue crews were able to save 3 buried individuals, while 1 person was able to dig themselves out. The bodies of the 9 victims were eventually recovered over the next few days, though the exact details of how the avalanche was triggered remain unknown due to the continuing snowstorm.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the dangers of backcountry skiing and the need for improved avalanche monitoring and safety protocols, especially in popular winter recreation areas like Lake Tahoe. The high death toll also raises questions about group size, guide qualifications, and emergency response procedures in remote mountain environments.

The details

The avalanche struck a group of 15 skiers below Perry Peak near Frog Lake and Castle Peak around 11:30 AM on February 17th. 13 members of the group were caught and completely buried in the slide, which was classified as a destructive D2.5 soft slab avalanche. Rescuers were able to save 3 buried individuals, and 1 person dug themselves out, but 9 skiers ultimately died in the incident. The victims were found clustered in a small 20x20 foot area, buried 5-8 feet deep in the avalanche debris.

  • The avalanche occurred around 11:30 AM on February 17, 2026.
  • The bodies of the 9 victims were recovered over February 20-21, 2026.

The players

Sierra Avalanche Center

The organization that provided the updated incident summary and analysis of the deadly avalanche.

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What they’re saying

“The trigger, slab thickness, depth, width, and other details of the avalanche remain unknown and may never be known.”

— Steve Reynaud, Forecaster (Sierra Avalanche Center)

What’s next

Authorities will likely conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the avalanche and review safety protocols for backcountry skiing in the Lake Tahoe region to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The takeaway

This devastating avalanche underscores the inherent risks of backcountry winter sports and the need for enhanced avalanche monitoring, education, and emergency response capabilities in popular outdoor recreation areas. Skiers and snowboarders must exercise extreme caution when venturing into uncontrolled mountain terrain.