Deadly Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe Claims Eight Lives, Search Continues for One Skier

NEVADA CITY, Calif. — Eight backcountry skiers have been found dead and one remains missing near California’s Lake Tahoe after being caught in an avalanche on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The incident is the deadliest skiing avalanche in modern U.S. History, according to authorities.

Avalanche Details and Rescue Efforts

The avalanche struck a group of skiers during a three-day trek in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as a major winter storm impacted the West Coast. Six skiers were rescued approximately six hours after the avalanche hit. According to Captain Russell “Rusty” Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, those caught in the avalanche had little time to react. “Someone saw the avalanche, yelled avalanche and it overtook them rather quickly,” he stated.

Search and Recovery Operation

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced that the mission has shifted from rescue to recovery. The victims, including three guides, were found close together, but extreme conditions are hindering the removal of the bodies from the mountain. The deceased include seven women and two men, ranging in age from 30 to 55.

Weather Conditions and Avalanche Risk

The area has received three to six feet of snow since Sunday, accompanied by subfreezing temperatures and gale-force winds. The Sierra Avalanche Center has warned of continued avalanche threats, citing unstable and unpredictable snowpack in the region’s steep and rugged terrain.

Rescue Technology and Survivor Actions

Rescuers were aided by the skiers’ avalanche beacons and, in at least one case, a cellphone signal. The survivors used available equipment to shelter themselves from the freezing temperatures while awaiting rescue. They also located three deceased skiers during the wait. Rescuers utilized a snowcat to reach a point two miles from the survivors before skiing the remaining distance to avoid triggering further avalanches.

Investigation and Background

Sheriff Moon indicated that investigators will examine the decision to proceed with the trip given the weather forecast. The group was on the last day of their backcountry excursion and had spent two nights in huts near Frog Lake. The area, near Donner Summit, receives an average of nearly 35 feet of snow annually and was reopened to the public in 2020 after being closed for nearly a century.

Historical Context

This avalanche is the deadliest in the U.S. Since 1981, when eleven climbers were killed on Mount Rainier in Washington. Nationally, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches each winter, according to the National Avalanche Center. A separate avalanche near Castle Peak earlier this year claimed the life of a snowmobiler in January.

Blackbird Mountain Guides Statement

Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company leading the expedition, released a statement regarding the incident. Authorities are withholding the victims’ names to allow families time to grieve.

“They’re still reeling,” Sheriff Moon said. “I could not imagine what they’re going through.”