8 Skiers Killed in Deadly Lake Tahoe Avalanche

Worsening weather conditions prompt urgent backcountry avalanche warning from Sierra Avalanche Center

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A deadly avalanche in the Castle Peak area near Truckee, California has killed eight backcountry skiers and left one person missing. The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued an urgent warning of high avalanche danger in the Greater Lake Tahoe area, with recovery efforts hampered by continued poor weather conditions.

Why it matters

The Lake Tahoe region is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, but this tragic incident highlights the inherent risks of backcountry skiing and the need for heightened safety precautions, especially as climate change leads to more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns that can increase avalanche risk.

The details

The avalanche, classified as a D2.5-sized slide, struck a group of 15 skiers - 4 guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and 11 clients - who were attempting to ski out of the Frog Lake huts north of Donner Summit on Tuesday morning. Six survivors used emergency beacons and satellite messaging to call for help, leading to a search-and-rescue operation that found eight members of the party deceased, while one skier remains missing and is presumed dead.

  • The avalanche occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • The Sierra Avalanche Center warning is expected to remain in effect through Thursday.

The players

Sierra Avalanche Center

A California-based organization that monitors avalanche conditions and issues warnings for the Lake Tahoe region.

Blackbird Mountain Guides

A guiding company that had four of its members among the victims of the avalanche.

Sugar Bowl Academy

A prestigious ski school that confirmed multiple members of its community were among the deceased.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This tragedy has affected each and every one of us. The depth of support for the families whose lives have been changed forever reminds us of how special this community is.”

— Stephen McMahon, Executive Director, Sugar Bowl Academy (New York Times)

“Eight of the nine additional skiers have been located deceased. We are still looking for one of the members at this time. Due to the ongoing challenges of the weather [and] the avalanche conditions, the effort remains ongoing, as well as our search for the remaining skier.”

— Shannan Moon, Nevada County Sheriff (CNN)

What’s next

Authorities said recovery operations for the eight confirmed victims and the one missing skier would resume when conditions improve, as the Sierra Avalanche Center warns that heavy snowfall and 'high avalanche danger' could continue through the day on Thursday.

The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of backcountry skiing, even for experienced guides and skiers, and underscores the critical importance of heeding avalanche warnings and exercising extreme caution when venturing into high-risk areas, especially as climate change continues to impact weather patterns and snowpack stability.