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Deadly California Avalanche Sparks Criminal Probe of Ski Guides
Investigators examine if backcountry guides were criminally negligent during fatal ski trip
Feb. 21, 2026 at 10:03am
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An investigation has been launched to determine if backcountry ski guides were criminally negligent during a California ski trip that ended with eight people killed in an avalanche and another presumed dead. Legal experts say the probe has scant precedent, as backcountry tour clients typically sign waivers shielding guides from liability, and skiing is recognized as an inherently dangerous activity.
Why it matters
This case is drawing closer scrutiny likely due to the scale of the tragedy and the decision to proceed despite forecasts indicating potential avalanche risks. The investigation could set a precedent for how guides and tour companies are held accountable for deaths during backcountry excursions.
The details
The large avalanche hit the group as they skied out of the remote Sierra Nevada wilderness on Tuesday. The victims included three of the four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides leading the trip. Pivotal moments for investigators may include the guides' choice to embark on the three-day backcountry trip with 11 clients at a time of heightened avalanche risk, followed by the decision to ski out Tuesday after avalanche conditions had worsened due to a severe storm.
- The 15 skiers began their trip on Sunday, just as warnings about the storm were intensifying.
- By early Tuesday, officials cautioned that avalanches were expected.
The players
Blackbird Mountain Guides
The company leading the ill-fated ski trip, whose four guides included three of the victims.
Andrew McDevitt
An attorney in California who handles civil cases resulting from skiing accidents and said he had not previously heard of a fatal avalanche during a guided trip sparking a criminal investigation.
Rob Miner
A Utah ski injury attorney who points out that waivers signed by backcountry tour clients don't absolve guide companies of responsibility if they don't follow appropriate safety protocols or fail to fully inform clients of the risks.
Ravn Whitington
An attorney in Truckee, California who specializes in ski injury and wrongful death cases and said there is a lot of speculation around what investigators know about the guides' decisions and communication with clients.
What they’re saying
“They're guides. It is presumed they will not guide you into an experience that may kill you, or that creates an unreasonable risk of death.”
— Rob Miner, Utah ski injury attorney
“There's a lot of speculation. What investigators know at Nevada County Search and Rescue, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office and the Nevada County District Attorney's Office are just not known to the public.”
— Ravn Whitington, Attorney specializing in ski injury and wrongful death cases
What’s next
The judge overseeing the criminal investigation will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the Blackbird Mountain Guides' employees to be released on bail.
The takeaway
This tragic avalanche has raised serious questions about the accountability of backcountry tour guides, even with liability waivers in place. The outcome of this investigation could set an important precedent for how guide companies are held responsible for deaths during inherently dangerous outdoor activities.
