Deadliest California Avalanche: Eight Skiers Lost Near Lake Tahoe
Deadliest California Avalanche: Eight Skiers Lost Near Lake Tahoe
Eight backcountry skiers died and one remains missing after a Sierra Nevada avalanche near Castle Peak; rescuers shift to recovery as weather worsens.
Eight backcountry skiers were found dead and one remains missing after an avalanche buried a group near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada, not far from Lake Tahoe. The group, including four guides, had been heading back to the trailhead when the slide struck, trapping 15 skiers in total. Six of those involved were found alive, and two of the rescued were taken to hospital for treatment after hours of searching. The scene prompted a major rescue operation that faced heavy snow, gale-force winds, and the threat of further avalanches.
Rescue crews have since shifted from a rescue to a recovery mission as the weather hampered efforts and the number of lives lost grew clearer. Nevada County authorities publicly communicated that families had been notified and that the mission was transitioning to recovery work. Dozens of responders worked through the snowbound terrain near Frog Lake, with the Sierra Avalanche Center issuing warnings about continuing high risk in the area and advising against travel.
The incident occurred during a three-day trek in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada as a monster winter storm pounded the West Coast. Donner Summit and the surrounding zone are among the snowiest places in the Western Hemisphere, with local advocates noting massive snow accumulations and persistent instability. The region’s extreme conditions have repeatedly heightened avalanche danger this season, complicating search efforts and leaving many residents on alert.
Officials described it as the deadliest avalanche in modern California history and the worst in the United States in more than four decades since the Mount Rainier disaster in 1981. The tragedy underscores the peril of backcountry skiing in high-risk conditions and the ongoing challenges crews face in snowbound, remote terrains. Investigations will likely focus on weather patterns, timing, and safety protocols for guided treks and backcountry groups in conditions that remain volatile.
