On February 17, 2026, the Lake Tahoe region was gripped by one of the most perilous winter storms in recent memory, leaving a group of backcountry skiers missing after a massive avalanche swept through the Castle Peak area north of Truckee. As heavy snow, fierce winds, and whiteout conditions battered the Sierra Nevada, a carefully organized guided ski tour found itself at the center of a rescue operation that would test both the skill and resolve of emergency teams and the broader mountain community.
According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m., involving a group of 16 skiers—four professional guides and 12 clients—who were nearing the end of a three-day trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides. The group had been staying at the Frog Lake huts, a backcountry lodge operated by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, since Sunday, and was in the process of returning to the trailhead when disaster struck. The terrain, as noted by avalanche forecasters and regulars alike, is notoriously steep and prone to slides, especially in the kind of storm conditions that enveloped the region that week.
As of 4 p.m. that day, 10 skiers remained unaccounted for, while at least six survivors were able to shelter in place at the avalanche site, using makeshift tarps for protection against the elements. The survivors had been instructed to stay put as rescue teams mobilized, a daunting prospect given the relentless snow and plummeting temperatures.
The rescue operation was immense and complex. Forty-six emergency responders from a coalition of agencies—including the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Truckee Fire—were quickly dispatched. Highly skilled ski rescue teams departed from both Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, with additional snowcat teams launched to navigate the deep and unstable snow. In a statement, Blackbird Mountain Guides emphasized their full cooperation: "The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to support the ongoing rescue operation. Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with the emergency contacts of the affected clients and guides and is providing them with regular updates as verified information becomes available."
Yet, the rescue was anything but straightforward. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a high avalanche danger warning for the Castle Peak area early that morning, which remained in effect through at least the following day. According to the center, the avalanche was rated D2.5—a slide large enough to bury or seriously injure a person. Avalanche forecaster Steve Reynaud explained to The Press Democrat that the group had likely been traversing a 3.5-mile route back to the trailhead, a path that passes through numerous avalanche hazards. "An avalanche burying seven to 10 people would be a very large avalanche, or a group being in a bad location, or potentially both," Reynaud observed. He added, "As soon as you have more than one person or multiple people buried it becomes a much more difficult rescue. If a buried person isn’t dug out within 10 or 15 minutes, survival drops off pretty quickly."
The storm’s ferocity compounded the situation. The National Weather Service reported that 12 to 20 inches of snow had fallen around Lake Tahoe on February 17, with areas above 7,000 feet receiving up to 22 inches. Winds whipped across exposed ridges at speeds up to 80 mph. Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn told KCRA 3 that Soda Springs, near Castle Peak, had seen up to 40 inches of snow since Monday. These extreme conditions led to the closure of Interstate 80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line, with no estimated reopening time, and chain controls were in effect across much of the region. Other major routes, including Mount Rose Highway and U.S. 50, faced similar restrictions. The weather also forced the Reno-Tahoe International Airport to cancel at least seven flights by midafternoon and caused delays ranging from one to eight hours as snow removal crews struggled to keep runways open.
Community life ground to a halt as well. The Washoe County School District and multiple other schools, colleges, and state offices closed or shifted to remote operations. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada canceled mobile food distributions scheduled for that day, rescheduling programs for later in the week. The storm’s reach was felt across every facet of daily life, underscoring the seriousness of the situation unfolding in the mountains.
Castle Peak itself has a history of avalanche activity. In early January 2026, a snowmobiler was killed in a separate slide in the area. The Sierra Avalanche Center’s warnings were clear: “High danger means travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended,” the center stated, emphasizing that recent conditions made even treed terrain, often thought of as safer, susceptible to slides. The center further cautioned, “Avalanches could be triggered from very low on the slope in some areas. Avalanches from above could travel down through treed terrain, often thought of as ‘safe’ during storms.”
Despite these warnings, backcountry skiing remains a popular pursuit in the Sierra Nevada, even during storm cycles. Captain Russell Green of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reflected on the risks: “People go out and use the backcountry at all times. We advise against it honestly, but I wouldn’t say that it’s uncommon, not that it was a wise choice.”
Nationally, avalanches are a persistent danger in the United States, with 25 to 30 fatalities annually according to the National Avalanche Center. As of January 11, 2026, six people had already died in avalanches during the 2025-2026 winter season. The previous year saw 22 such deaths, with incidents making headlines from Washington and Alaska to Utah and California. The tragic events at Castle Peak are a stark reminder of the hazards that lurk in the backcountry, especially during periods of heightened avalanche danger.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vowed an "all-hands search and rescue effort" in response to the Castle Peak incident. Rescue teams, hindered by blizzard conditions and treacherous travel, pressed on. Helicopter support was impossible due to the storm, and even reaching the avalanche site required immense effort and coordination. As the search continued into the evening, officials reiterated a simple but urgent message for residents and visitors: stay home if you can, delay travel, and respect the hazards posed by the powerful winter weather gripping the Sierra Nevada.
The situation remained fluid as of Tuesday night, with authorities promising to release more information as it became available. For the families of those missing and for the broader mountain community, the storm and avalanche at Castle Peak serve as a sobering reminder of nature’s power and unpredictability, and of the heroism and resilience of those who answer the call when disaster strikes.