A devastating avalanche in the backcountry near Lake Tahoe, California, has claimed the lives of eight skiers, with one still missing as of Wednesday evening. The incident, which occurred Tuesday in the Castle Peak area, marks the deadliest avalanche in California’s recorded history, according to authorities.
The search operation transitioned from rescue to recovery on Wednesday as hopes of finding additional survivors diminished. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon confirmed the deaths during a press conference, stating that the missing skier is presumed dead. The tragedy unfolded amidst a powerful winter storm that has blanketed the Sierra Nevada with heavy snowfall, complicating rescue efforts and creating ongoing hazardous conditions.
The group of 15 skiers was returning from a three-day trek when the avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. Local time. The avalanche, described as “football-field sized,” quickly overtook the skiers, leaving them with little time to react, according to Captain Russell “Rusty” Greene of the Nevada County sheriff’s office. Six skiers were rescued on Tuesday, approximately six hours after the avalanche hit. Two of those rescued sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Avalanche Conditions and Rescue Challenges
The recovery of the eight bodies has been hampered by continued severe weather. An additional three feet (90cm) of snow has fallen since the initial avalanche, creating a “pretty horrific” and unstable environment, according to Tahoe National Forest supervisor Chris Feutrier. The Sierra Avalanche Center has warned that the threat of further avalanches remains high, leaving the snowpack unpredictable. Authorities are waiting for conditions to improve before attempting to remove the deceased from the mountain, with plans to transport them to the Placer County morgue once recovered.
The rescue operation involved a joint effort from two teams and roughly 50 crew members who had to ski approximately two miles through challenging terrain to reach the survivors and the site of the avalanche. Sheriff Woo highlighted the emotional toll on the teams, noting that one of the deceased was the spouse of a member of a search-and-rescue team.
Victims and Investigation
The victims include seven women and two men, ranging in age from 30 to 55. Authorities have notified the families of the deceased but have not yet released their names. Investigators are examining the decision to proceed with the trek despite the forecast for relentless weather, Sheriff Moon stated. The group included three guides.
The avalanche occurred during the strongest winter storm of the year for the Lake Tahoe area, leading to the closure of Interstate 80 over the Donner Pass. Over two feet of snow had fallen since Sunday, February 15, 2026, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Authorities have described the conditions as “horrific,” with fierce winds and snowfall at times making visibility “impossible.”
This incident is the deadliest avalanche in the United States in nearly half a century.
The ongoing challenges of the weather and avalanche conditions mean the search for the remaining skier will continue, though authorities acknowledge the likelihood of a tragic outcome.
As the recovery operation continues, authorities are urging caution to anyone venturing into the backcountry, emphasizing the extreme risks posed by the current conditions. The focus now shifts to supporting the families of the victims and understanding the factors that contributed to this devastating event.
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