Deadliest U.S. Avalanche in 45 Years: 8 Killed at California’s Castle Peak

The disaster struck on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, when a massive slide—roughly the size of a football field—swept through a guided group during the final day of a three-day expedition.

The group, led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, consisted of 11 clients and 4 guides. Despite having advanced safety equipment and emergency beacons, the skiers were overwhelmed by the speed of the slide. Of the 15 people involved, six were rescued alive after huddled in a makeshift shelter for hours, while one remains missing and is presumed dead.

The tragedy occurred during a severe winter storm that pummeled the Sierra Nevada with over three feet of fresh snow and gale-force winds. Rescue operations, involving nearly 50 personnel from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire, faced treacherous conditions. Rescuers were forced to use a snowcat to get within two miles of the survivors before skiing the final distance in whiteout conditions.

Among the survivors, two were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. In a heartbreaking development, local officials confirmed that one of the victims was the spouse of a member of the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue team.

Authorities have shifted the mission from rescue to recovery, though extreme weather and unstable snowpacks have made it impossible to retrieve the bodies immediately. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a "high avalanche danger" warning on the morning of the accident. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon stated that investigators would look into the decision to proceed with the tour despite the "Monster Winter Storm" warnings. Many of the victims were reportedly linked to the Sugar Bowl Academy community, a private ski school located on Donner Summit.