Sierra Nevada avalanche leaves 9 skiers missing near Lake Tahoe: After dangerous backcountry snow slide incident
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Feb 19, 2026, 21:46 IST
A massive avalanche struck California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, turning a backcountry ski outing into a life-threatening emergency. Rescue teams rushed to the scene after multiple skiers were caught in the slide near Lake Tahoe. Six people were pulled out alive, though two suffered injuries serious enough to require hospitalization. Authorities continue an intense search for nine skiers who remain missing as weather and unstable snow conditions complicate efforts. Officials are urging caution in the region while investigators assess what triggered the devastating avalanche.
Nine skiers remain missing early Wednesday following an avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, while six others from the group have been rescued. The avalanche occurred around 11:30 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe, engulfing a group of backcountry skiers.
The rescued skiers sustained various injuries, with two requiring hospitalization. These survivors had found shelter in a makeshift structure, partly made of tarpaulin sheets, and communicated with rescuers using a radio beacon and text messages.
Authorities have cautioned that the search for the remaining missing skiers will be a slow and challenging process. Rescue teams are facing dangerous conditions, including the persistent risk of further avalanches. An ongoing winter storm has deposited several feet of fresh, unstable snow across the high Sierra in recent days.
The Sierra Avalanche Center's avalanche warning, issued on Tuesday, remained in effect on Wednesday morning.
"HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Wednesday."
The sheriff's office revised the total number of individuals in the group to 15, down from an initial estimate of 16. Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company that organized the tour, stated that the skiers were returning from a three-day excursion when the avalanche struck. The group consisted of four guides and 12 clients, according to their statement, which was released before the sheriff's revised count.
The tour group was staying at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts, located near Donner Summit northwest of Truckee, at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet. This region typically receives over 400 inches of snow annually, making it one of the snowiest locations in the western hemisphere. Blackbird Mountain Guides, founded in 2020, operates in California, Washington state, British Columbia, and various international skiing destinations. The company offers guided ski trips, alpine climbing excursions, and avalanche education.
Avalanches have resulted in an average of 27 fatalities each winter in the United States over the past decade, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. This season, there have been six avalanche fatalities in the U.S. so far.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the avalanche incident. State authorities are coordinating a comprehensive search-and-rescue effort in collaboration with local emergency teams, as announced by his office on X.
The rescued skiers sustained various injuries, with two requiring hospitalization. These survivors had found shelter in a makeshift structure, partly made of tarpaulin sheets, and communicated with rescuers using a radio beacon and text messages.
Authorities have cautioned that the search for the remaining missing skiers will be a slow and challenging process. Rescue teams are facing dangerous conditions, including the persistent risk of further avalanches. An ongoing winter storm has deposited several feet of fresh, unstable snow across the high Sierra in recent days.
The Sierra Avalanche Center's avalanche warning, issued on Tuesday, remained in effect on Wednesday morning.
"HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Wednesday."
The sheriff's office revised the total number of individuals in the group to 15, down from an initial estimate of 16. Blackbird Mountain Guides, the company that organized the tour, stated that the skiers were returning from a three-day excursion when the avalanche struck. The group consisted of four guides and 12 clients, according to their statement, which was released before the sheriff's revised count.
The tour group was staying at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts, located near Donner Summit northwest of Truckee, at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet. This region typically receives over 400 inches of snow annually, making it one of the snowiest locations in the western hemisphere. Blackbird Mountain Guides, founded in 2020, operates in California, Washington state, British Columbia, and various international skiing destinations. The company offers guided ski trips, alpine climbing excursions, and avalanche education.
Avalanches have resulted in an average of 27 fatalities each winter in the United States over the past decade, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. This season, there have been six avalanche fatalities in the U.S. so far.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the avalanche incident. State authorities are coordinating a comprehensive search-and-rescue effort in collaboration with local emergency teams, as announced by his office on X.