Lake Tahoe avalanche 2026: Avalanche near Frog Lake, Castle Peak kills nine in deadliest US avalanche since 1981
On February 17, 2026, a slab avalanche near Frog Lake and Castle Peak north of Lake Tahoe killed nine backcountry skiers from a guided group amid a powerful Sierra storm and active avalanche warnings, prompting a multi-agency investigation.
Key takeaways
- Fatalities: Eight bodies recovered and one person missing and presumed dead — nine presumed fatalities, the deadliest U.S. avalanche since 1981.
- Group: 11 clients and 4 guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides on a three-day backcountry trip; six survivors were found, two hospitalized with serious injuries.
- Conditions & warnings: A severe Sierra storm dumped feet of new snow; the Sierra Avalanche Center issued a watch early and later upgraded to a warning (D3 risk).
- Response & investigation: Rescue teams reached survivors ~6 hours after the slide amid blizzard conditions; local and state probes will review decisions, briefings and communications.
What happened
Authorities say the guided party was finishing a three-day trip and skiing back to the trailhead Tuesday morning when a large slab avalanche swept the group down the slope near Frog Lake and Castle Peak, north of Lake Tahoe. Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene of the Nevada County sheriff’s office described how someone shouted “Avalanche!” and a football-field-sized slab slid over the skiers “rather quickly,” leaving little time to react.
Rescue and recovery
Rescue calls reached authorities around 11:30 a.m. The storm had already dumped several feet of fresh snow since Feb. 15 and produced blizzard conditions near Castle Peak. Road closures and extreme weather delayed search teams; snowcats from Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue approached within two miles but crews could not reach the scene until about 5:30 p.m.
Searchers found six survivors — four men and two women, ages roughly 30 to 55 — who were pulled from the snow, huddled in a tarpaulin and located using emergency beacons and cellphone signals. One survivor was a guide. Two people were flown to hospitals with serious injuries; others received on-scene treatment. Crews located eight bodies at or near the slide path; one person remained unaccounted for and is presumed dead, bringing the presumed toll to nine.
“It moved rather quickly. They had very little time to respond,” — Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene.
Weather, warnings and timing
The Sierra Avalanche Center issued a public avalanche watch at 6:49 a.m. on Feb. 17, indicating dangerous avalanches were likely over the next 24–48 hours; hours later it was upgraded to a warning, meaning large avalanches were expected and could reach destructive D3 size (capable of burying a car or destroying a building). The guided group had left for the trip on Feb. 15 above Donner Pass and encountered unstable fresh layers as they returned on Tuesday.
Investigators will review whether guides received or were aware of the upgraded warning before the final run out of the wilderness and will seek records, communications and briefings to determine what information was available to trip leaders and participants.
Victims, community ties and identities
Reporting identified several people killed as close friends and experienced skiers from the Bay Area, Truckee and Idaho. The Los Angeles Times named six victims — Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt — and described them as mothers, spouses and skilled outdoor athletes who carried avalanche safety gear.
Several victims had ties to Sugar Bowl Academy; the school’s executive director requested privacy while families grieve. Blackbird Mountain Guides confirmed guides had consulted on route and conditions and urged the public to avoid speculation while emergency crews worked and families coped with loss.
Investigations and early questions
Local and state officials opened probes into decisions that led to the trip taking place during a flagged storm. Nevada County investigators will review weather briefings, guide logs, communications, route choices and whether the warning was available to or known by leaders on the trip. Officials will also examine training, equipment, beacon use and guides’ experience to determine causes and lessons.
Community reaction and strain on rescue resources
The avalanche occurred as Interstate 80 and other mountain routes were shut by the storm. Local search-and-rescue volunteers and public agencies faced dangerous travel conditions and heavy workloads during an active winter storm. Tahoe-area communities, with tight-knit outdoor networks and small volunteer rescue teams, have been deeply affected by the scale of the event and number of lives lost.
Friends and family described the victims as “passionate” and “trained,” and have asked for privacy. The tragedy has triggered grief across the region, from the Bay Area to Truckee and mountain communities tied to Lake Tahoe’s backcountry culture.
Why this matters: deadliest US avalanche in decades
Officials and experts point to the slide’s scale, record snowfall and the timing of the warning upgrade as key factors in making this the deadliest avalanche in the United States since 1981. Forecasters described D3-level danger and extreme snowfall rates — including reports of 30 inches in 24 hours at nearby Boreal Mountain Resort — placing human decisions and severe weather at the center of inquiries.
Video and eyewitness records
Local news outlets and rescue crews released footage showing harsh conditions and the challenges faced by searchers. Video and interviews published online provide a stark view of the storm and the limits of survival in deep, fast-moving slides.
Examples of published footage and reporting include Video reporting and rescue footage and additional rescue footage.
Implications for the United States
Economic: The storm and slide closed travel corridors and could increase costs for search-and-rescue and emergency services; mountain communities may face both short-term tourism losses and longer-term safety concerns.
Political: The incident is likely to prompt reviews of avalanche forecasting, public warnings and support for search-and-rescue programs, potentially affecting funding debates and communications infrastructure for rural mountain counties.
Social & cultural: The deaths raise questions about group decision-making on guided trips, risk tolerance among experienced backcountry users and the responsibilities of outdoor companies. There may be calls for clearer rules, better documentation of forecasts, and more conservative operational policies during watches or warnings.
Sources and further reading
- Los Angeles Times: “Sierra avalanche disaster: victims were mothers, adventurers, sisters”
- Wikipedia: 2026 Lake Tahoe avalanche
- Video reporting and rescue footage — Video 1
- Video reporting and rescue footage — Video 2
Reporting compiled from Times Media Service, Los Angeles Times, local officials and public records.
