A massive avalanche struck near Castle Peak in California’s Sierra Nevada on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, sweeping up a guided group of backcountry skiers and triggering a sprawling rescue operation that has gripped the Lake Tahoe region. As of late Tuesday evening, ten skiers remained missing while six others, battered but alive, huddled in makeshift shelter awaiting rescue amid some of the worst winter conditions the region has seen in years.
The avalanche, reported at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time, thundered through steep, snow-laden slopes near the Frog Lake backcountry huts, just north of Donner Pass. According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and multiple outlets including BBC and CBS News, the group caught in the slide consisted of sixteen people: twelve clients and four guides, all part of a three-day guided trip organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides.
They had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since February 15, and were on their way back to the trailhead to conclude their adventure when disaster struck. In a statement released by Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company confirmed, “A total of 12 clients and four guides had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since February 15. The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred.”
Survivors managed to build a rough shelter using a tarp and activated emergency beacons to communicate their position to authorities, according to Captain Russell Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, who told KCRA3, “They’re doing the best they can. They are doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue.”
But reaching them was no small feat. The avalanche struck during a ferocious Sierra storm, dumping over 30 inches (76 cm) of fresh snow in just 24 hours, as reported by Boreal Mountain Ski Resort. Fierce winds and whiteout conditions battered the region, shutting down Interstate 80 over Donner Summit and forcing several ski resorts—including Boreal Mountain and others around Lake Tahoe—to close for the day. The California Highway Patrol described snowfall rates of about three inches per hour, making travel and rescue operations perilous.
Authorities wasted no time launching a full-scale, multi-agency response. Highly skilled rescue ski teams from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center set out immediately, joined by Nevada County Search and Rescue and a SnoCat team—those tracked vehicles usually seen grooming ski slopes, now pressed into service to traverse the deep, unstable snow. California’s Office of Emergency Services also coordinated additional resources, and Governor Gavin Newsom was briefed on the situation, with his office confirming a state-level, all-hands search-and-rescue effort.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a dire warning in the hours before the tragedy. “Large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning across backcountry terrain,” the center stated, rating the avalanche danger as high—four out of five on its scale. “Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours.” The avalanche that struck the skiers was rated D2.5—“large” to “very large,” capable of burying or seriously injuring a person.
Castle Peak, rising above 9,000 feet and known for its challenging backcountry terrain, is a magnet for experienced skiers and snowboarders. But the area’s beauty masks serious risks. The Frog Lake huts, remote cabins accessible only by skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing several miles from the nearest trailhead, sit in terrain where avalanche danger is a constant winter threat. The Truckee Donner Land Trust, which manages the huts, warns that “all routes to the Frog Lake huts during winter have some degree of avalanche hazard,” and urges visitors to carry avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels—and to have proper avalanche education.
The rescue operation, involving at least 46 emergency responders, has been hampered by relentless snowfall, high winds, and the ever-present threat of more avalanches. The Sierra Avalanche Center’s warning extended through 5 a.m. Wednesday, and forecasters predicted snowfall totals of 12 to 22 inches above 7,000 feet, with wind gusts on exposed ridges reaching up to 80 mph. The storm not only complicated rescue efforts but also forced authorities to close major highways and implement chain controls throughout the region, with travel over Donner Pass deemed unsafe for the foreseeable future.
As the hours ticked by, the fate of the ten missing skiers remained uncertain. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has not released their identities, and the duration of the search remains unclear. Blackbird Mountain Guides said it was in direct contact with the families of those involved, providing regular updates as verified information became available.
The tragedy comes against a grim backdrop: avalanches claim 25 to 30 lives each winter in the United States, according to the National Avalanche Center. The 2025–2026 season had already seen six fatalities as of January 11, and the Castle Peak incident is the latest in a string of deadly avalanches in the West. Just last month, a snowmobiler was killed in a separate slide near Johnson and Castle Peak, a sobering reminder of the persistent dangers lurking beneath the Sierra’s winter snows.
Despite the risks, the allure of deep powder and pristine wilderness continues to draw skiers to the backcountry. But as this week’s events have shown, even the most experienced guides and well-prepared groups are not immune to nature’s fury. “High danger means travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended,” the Sierra Avalanche Center cautioned, and officials echoed the warning, urging anyone considering backcountry travel to exercise extreme caution and check avalanche forecasts before venturing out.
For now, the focus remains on the ongoing rescue effort. As the storm continues to rage and search teams press on through the night, the Lake Tahoe community and outdoor enthusiasts across the West are holding their breath, hoping for a miracle in the mountains above Truckee.