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Eight skiers lost their lives in a California Sierra Nevada avalanche, with one more believed to be missing, according to officials. This incident ranks among the deadliest avalanches in U.S. history. Rescuers on skis managed to reach six survivors during a fierce winter storm that recently dumped several feet of fresh snow on the Sierra. One individual remains unaccounted for.
The avalanche, stretching roughly the length of a football field, occurred near Castle Peak in Truckee, California, approximately 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe, around 11:30 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday. It caught a group of backcountry skiers on a three-day guided trip. One of the survivors is hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening, said Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon during a press briefing.
The skiers had taken shelter in a temporary structure built from tarps and communicated their status via radio beacon and text messages to rescuers. Two teams, about 50 members from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, moved toward the avalanche zone from opposite directions—south and north.
Rescue crews faced extreme conditions, including blinding snow and strong winds. A snowcat was used to bring a team within two miles of the survivors, after which they approached the site on skis. All eight deceased skiers had active emergency beacons and their bodies will be recovered when weather conditions allow. One of the victims was married to a rescue team member.
The avalanche took place during a three-day backcountry ski tour operated by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which included four guides and 11 clients staying at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts near Donner Summit at approximately 7,500 feet elevation. This area normally receives over 400 inches of snow each winter, making it one of the snowiest regions in the Western Hemisphere.
Sheriff Moon noted that weather forecasts had predicted the storm and the associated avalanche risk. The local Sierra Avalanche Center extended its warning, indicating a “great” danger could persist throughout Wednesday. Blackbird Mountain Guides issued a statement confirming cooperation with authorities to assist in rescue efforts.
Founded in 2020, Blackbird Mountain Guides operates in California, Washington, British Columbia, and internationally, offering guided ski trips, climbing expeditions, and avalanche safety courses. Over the past decade, avalanches in the U.S. have caused an average of 27 fatalities per winter, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Before Tuesday’s event, this season had already seen six avalanche-related deaths nationally.
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