On the morning of February 17, 2026, the tranquil beauty of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains was shattered by a sudden avalanche near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe. What began as the final leg of a three-day backcountry skiing adventure for a group of 16—comprising 12 clients and four guides—quickly turned into a desperate struggle for survival and a race against time for rescue teams braving blizzard conditions.
According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the avalanche struck at approximately 11:30 a.m., catching the skiers as they returned to the trailhead after two nights spent at the remote Frog Lake Backcountry Huts. The group had traversed up to four miles of rugged, mountainous terrain, carrying all their supplies and relying on their guides’ expertise to navigate the treacherous landscape. Their trip, coordinated by Blackbird Mountain Guides, was intended to be a challenging but memorable foray into the wilderness. Instead, it became a harrowing ordeal.
The first distress call came from the ski tour company itself, quickly followed by emergency beacons carried by the skiers. These beacons, equipped to send text messages, allowed the group to maintain contact with rescuers even as the storm continued to dump snow at a relentless pace. Nevada County Sheriff Capt. Russell Greene described the situation to KCRA-TV: “They are doing the best they can. They have taken refuge in an area, they have made up a makeshift shelter with a tarp and are doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue.” Greene emphasized the danger faced by both the stranded skiers and the rescue teams: “It’s just going to be a slow, tedious process.”
Rescue operations were immediately launched, with 46 first responders—including highly skilled ski teams and SnoCat vehicles—departing from both Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center. Despite the urgency, progress was painstakingly slow. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a high avalanche danger warning at 5 a.m. that morning, cautioning that large avalanches were expected through at least early Wednesday. The warning, which remained in effect until 4 a.m. the next day, described conditions as “highly dangerous,” with rapidly accumulating snowfall piling atop a fragile snowpack and gale-force winds increasing the risk of additional slides.
Visibility was poor, and in some areas, snow was falling at rates of three to four inches per hour. The Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, located near Castle Peak, reported 30 inches of fresh snow in the previous 24 hours; other parts of the Sierra Nevada and the Pacific Coast Range were forecast to receive up to eight feet before the storm’s end. Interstate 80, a major artery through the region, was closed due to whiteout conditions and spinouts, further complicating rescue logistics. “Plan on hazardous road conditions, poor visibility due to falling and blowing snow, and even periods of whiteout conditions in locally heavy snow through late tonight,” forecasters warned, as reported by NBC News.
The skiers’ ordeal was compounded by the very elements that drew them to the backcountry. Castle Peak, at 9,110 feet, is a magnet for those seeking adventure beyond the groomed slopes of commercial resorts. Unlike resorts, which have avalanche mitigation programs and are generally safer, the backcountry offers no such protections. Skiers here are advised to carry avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes—equipment that can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. As Capt. Greene noted, “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.”
Survivors of the avalanche did what they could to shield themselves from the elements. Some took shelter under trees, using tarps to construct makeshift structures and protect themselves from the biting wind and snow. “They have at least a tarp with them, so they’re doing their best to create somewhat of a structure and get out of the elements as best they can, and we will begin treating and dealing with that when we get there,” Greene told NBC News.
Authorities worked tirelessly to reach the survivors and locate the missing. The search effort included teams from multiple agencies: Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Truckee Fire. Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company leading the expedition, said in a statement that it was “coordinating with authorities on the rescue operation” and supporting efforts to bring everyone home safely.
As darkness fell and temperatures dropped, the fate of the 10 missing skiers remained uncertain. The survivors, still awaiting rescue as of the evening of February 17, were instructed to shelter in place and conserve their strength. The treacherous conditions forced rescuers to proceed with utmost caution, mindful of the risk of triggering additional avalanches. “It’s in a tough area. It’s just going to be slow going so we don’t trigger any other avalanches, because that is definitely a possibility,” Greene explained, highlighting the delicate balance between urgency and safety.
This tragedy is not without precedent. Just a month earlier, a snowmobiler had died in an avalanche at the same mountain, underscoring the ever-present risks faced by those who venture into the backcountry. According to the National Avalanche Center, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches each year in the United States. Over the past decade, the average has been 27 deaths annually, as reported by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
The allure of the backcountry is undeniable. For many, the prospect of carving fresh tracks through untouched powder and experiencing the solitude of the wilderness is irresistible. But as this incident so starkly demonstrates, nature can be both breathtakingly beautiful and unforgivingly dangerous. Training in avalanche assessment and rescue, along with the right safety equipment, is strongly recommended for anyone considering off-piste skiing.
As the search and rescue operation continued late into the night, the entire region braced for more snow and the hope that the missing skiers would be found alive. The events at Castle Peak serve as a sobering reminder of the perils that lie beyond the boundaries of marked trails—and the courage of those who risk everything to save others when disaster strikes.