TRUCKEE, Calif. – A desperate search-and-rescue operation is underway in the high Sierra Nevada as emergency crews battle life-threatening blizzard conditions to reach survivors of a catastrophic avalanche. The slide, which struck Tuesday morning near Castle Peak, buried a large backcountry skiing group, leaving six people confirmed alive but trapped and 10 others missing as of Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred near Frog Lake in the rugged Castle Peak area, northwest of Lake Tahoe, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. A group of 16 individuals—comprising 12 clients and four professional guides—was caught in the slide while returning from a three-day backcountry excursion.
The Rescue Operation: A “Slow, Tedious Process”
Under the coordination of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, a massive response involving 46 first responders from California and Nevada has been deployed. However, extreme weather and the risk of “reloading” avalanche paths have stymied the mission.
- The Survivors: Six skiers have been located via emergency beacons. They are currently hunkered down in a “makeshift shelter” made of tarps to survive sub-freezing temperatures and gale-force winds.
- The Missing: Ten skiers remain unaccounted for. Rescue officials expressed grave concern, noting that if all 10 perish, it would mark one of the deadliest single avalanche events in United States history.
- Tactics: Rescue teams are utilizing snowcats, snowmobiles, and highly skilled ski teams from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center. Capt. Russell Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the process is “slow and tedious” to avoid triggering secondary slides that could bury rescuers.
Unstable Snowpack and Record Snowfall
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a “High” avalanche warning at 5 a.m. Tuesday, hours before the disaster. Forecasters noted that a dangerous “facet layer”—a weak layer of snow formed during a dry spell in late January—became the point of failure when hit with massive new accumulations.
In the 24 hours surrounding the slide, the region saw staggering snowfall totals:
- Soda Springs: 30 inches of new snow.
- Tahoe Donner: 27 inches recorded as of Wednesday morning.
- Total Storm Forecast: Up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) of snow is expected across the Sierra crest before the system moves out late Wednesday.
The storm has caused widespread chaos, with Interstate 80 and Highway 50 facing intermittent closures due to whiteout conditions and spinouts. Nearby resorts, including Sugar Bowl and Palisades Tahoe, reported gusts exceeding 100 mph on Sierra ridges.
Blackbird Mountain Guides Statement
The group was led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, a Truckee-based company known as a premier provider of AIARE avalanche education courses. In a statement, the company confirmed they are in “full coordination” with authorities and are providing regular updates to the emergency contacts of those involved. The group had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since February 15 and was navigating the final four miles of their trip when the snowpack gave way.
A Dark Historical Echo
The tragedy occurred on Donner Summit, a location synonymous with winter peril. The area is named for the Donner Party, the group of pioneers who became trapped by similar Sierra storms in the winter of 1846–1847, leading to a desperate struggle for survival and eventual cannibalism.
As of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the situation. State resources remain on standby, though aerial support via helicopters remains impossible due to the ongoing blizzard and lack of visibility.