Nine Skiers Confirmed Dead in Lake Tahoe Avalanche, Rescue Efforts Conclude

California search-and-rescue teams have recovered the bodies of all nine missing skiers killed on Tuesday in a devastating avalanche in a remote region of the Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe. The avalanche struck a group of 15 skiers, including four mountain guides, as they were returning from a three-day backcountry excursion to the Frog Lake huts near Castle Peak.

Avalanche Details and Rescue Operations

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call and emergency beacon messages reporting the avalanche around 11:30 a.m. Pacific time on February 17, 2026. A multi-agency response involving approximately 46 personnel was immediately mobilized. Rescue teams from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner Alder Creek Adventure Center approached the avalanche zone from both the south, and north.

Six skiers were found alive inside a makeshift shelter constructed with tarpaulin sheets and were rescued. They were able to communicate with rescuers via iPhone emergency mode. Still, the bodies of eight skiers were initially left on the mountain due to dangerous weather conditions and ongoing avalanche risk. The search for the ninth skier was hampered by unstable snowpack, high winds, and whiteout conditions, leading to a temporary suspension of operations on Wednesday and Thursday.

Victims Identified

On Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office identified the nine victims as:

• Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nev., a Blackbird Mountain Guide
• Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, Calif.
• Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Blackbird Mountain Guide
• Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho
• Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs, Calif., a Blackbird Mountain Guide
• Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, Calif.
• Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, Calif.
• Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, Calif.
• Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, Calif.

The group included close friends, sisters, and three professional mountain guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides according to the New York Times.

Deadliest Avalanche in Modern California History

Authorities have described the avalanche, which was approximately the size of a football field, as the deadliest in modern California history as reported by USA Today. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon expressed the profound impact of the tragedy, stating, “There are no words that truly capture the significance of this loss and our hearts mourn alongside the families of those affected by this catastrophic event.”

Contributing Factors

The avalanche occurred during a powerful atmospheric river storm that deposited several feet of snow onto the Sierra Nevada mountains. Rescue efforts were complicated by the unstable snowpack and challenging weather conditions. Authorities used helicopters to pour water over the area to mitigate avalanche risk before continuing the search for the final victim as detailed by the BBC.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from multiple agencies, including the California National Guard, California State Parks, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Truckee Police Department, and the United States Forest Service.