Nine Skiers Killed in California's Deadliest Modern Avalanche

A devastating avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada mountains has claimed nine lives, marking the deadliest avalanche in modern California history according to authorities who have now recovered all victims from the catastrophic slide.

The tragedy unfolded on February 17 when a guided group of 15 backcountry skiers was struck by the avalanche near Castle Peak in the Tahoe National Forest. The group, consisting of 11 clients and four guides from Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides, was attempting to return to the trailhead from the remote Frog Lake backcountry huts when disaster struck.

Eight skiers were initially found dead, with search and rescue teams working tirelessly to locate the final missing person. After nearly a week of intensive recovery efforts, [all nine victims have now been recovered](https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2026-02-23/9-skiers-killed-in-california-avalanche), bringing grim closure to families waiting for news of their loved ones.

The avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. on a north-facing slope below Perry's Peak, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center. The catastrophic slide overwhelmed nearly everyone in its path, leaving only six survivors from the 15-person group.

What makes this tragedy particularly heartbreaking is that the victims were experienced backcountry skiers who knew how to navigate alpine wilderness. Six of the identified victims "were all mothers, wives and friends," their families said, describing a close-knit group of friends who shared a passion for backcountry skiing.

The scale of this disaster underscores the unpredictable and deadly nature of avalanche conditions in the Sierra Nevada, even for experienced outdoor enthusiasts with proper guidance. The fact that a professionally guided group with avalanche safety knowledge could be so completely overwhelmed by the slide highlights the extreme danger these natural phenomena pose.

Survivors have begun sharing accounts of the desperate attempts to save their friends, providing new details about how quickly the tragedy unfolded and how the avalanche overwhelmed nearly everyone in its path despite their experience and preparation.

This catastrophe serves as a stark reminder that even with professional guides, proper equipment, and extensive backcountry experience, the mountains can turn deadly in an instant. The loss of nine lives in a single avalanche represents not just a statistical tragedy, but the destruction of families and a tight-knit community of outdoor enthusiasts who understood the risks but could not escape nature's sudden fury.

Sources

1. Eight of nine missing skiers found dead in California avalanche — France 24
2. 9 people were killed in a deadly California avalanche. Here's what we know — Los Angeles Times
3. How Tahoe avalanche survivors fought to save friends in deadly slide — Yahoo
4. Six victims of the deadly avalanche in California identified by their families — KHOU