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California Avalanche Claims Six Friends, Leaves One Missing as Recovery Continues

Updated (29 articles)
  • Snow piles up along a road on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
    Snow piles up along a road on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
    Image: Newsweek
    Snow piles up along a road on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier) Source Full size
  • Snow on a skiing hill in the Lake Tahoe region in Truckee, California, on February 12, 2026.
    Snow on a skiing hill in the Lake Tahoe region in Truckee, California, on February 12, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    Snow on a skiing hill in the Lake Tahoe region in Truckee, California, on February 12, 2026. Source Full size
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  • A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group
    A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group
    Image: BBC
    A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group (Nevada County Sheriff's Office) Source Full size
  • Images shared by the local sheriff’s office show rescue efforts underway on February 17, 2026. (Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.)
    Images shared by the local sheriff’s office show rescue efforts underway on February 17, 2026. (Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.)
    Image: Newsweek
    Images shared by the local sheriff’s office show rescue efforts underway on February 17, 2026. (Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.) Source Full size
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  • Snow and trees along Lake Tahoe on December 31, 2025, in Glenbook, Nevada.
    Snow and trees along Lake Tahoe on December 31, 2025, in Glenbook, Nevada.
    Image: Newsweek
    Snow and trees along Lake Tahoe on December 31, 2025, in Glenbook, Nevada. Source Full size
  • Snow comes down on a dog as traffic is backed up along interstate 80 during a storm Thursday near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    Snow comes down on a dog as traffic is backed up along interstate 80 during a storm Thursday near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Snow comes down on a dog as traffic is backed up along interstate 80 during a storm Thursday near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • Rescue teams have been deployed to the site of an avalanche in a backcountry slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.
    Rescue teams have been deployed to the site of an avalanche in a backcountry slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.
    Image: BBC
    Rescue teams have been deployed to the site of an avalanche in a backcountry slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. (Reuters) Source Full size
  • Rescue teams have been deployed to the site of an avalanche in a backcountry slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.
    Rescue teams have been deployed to the site of an avalanche in a backcountry slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.
    Image: BBC
    Rescue teams have been deployed to the site of an avalanche in a backcountry slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. (Reuters) Source Full size
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  • A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group
    A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group
    Image: BBC
    A type of vehicle normally used for grooming snow is trying to reach the trapped group (Nevada County Sheriff's Office) Source Full size
  • Snow and trees along Lake Tahoe on December 31, 2025, in Glenbook, Nevada.
    Snow and trees along Lake Tahoe on December 31, 2025, in Glenbook, Nevada.
    Image: Newsweek
    Snow and trees along Lake Tahoe on December 31, 2025, in Glenbook, Nevada. Source Full size
  • Snow on a skiing hill in the Lake Tahoe region in Truckee, California, on February 12, 2026.
    Snow on a skiing hill in the Lake Tahoe region in Truckee, California, on February 12, 2026.
    Image: Newsweek
    Snow on a skiing hill in the Lake Tahoe region in Truckee, California, on February 12, 2026. Source Full size
  • Snow piles up along a road on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
    Snow piles up along a road on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
    Image: Newsweek
    Snow piles up along a road on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier) Source Full size
  • Images shared by the local sheriff’s office show rescue efforts underway on February 17, 2026. (Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.)
    Images shared by the local sheriff’s office show rescue efforts underway on February 17, 2026. (Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.)
    Image: Newsweek
    Images shared by the local sheriff’s office show rescue efforts underway on February 17, 2026. (Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.) Source Full size
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  • Snow comes down on a dog as traffic is backed up along interstate 80 during a storm Thursday near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    Snow comes down on a dog as traffic is backed up along interstate 80 during a storm Thursday near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Snow comes down on a dog as traffic is backed up along interstate 80 during a storm Thursday near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) (Credit: AP) Source Full size

Avalanche Strikes 15‑Person Group Near Castle Peak On February 17 at ≈ 11:30 a.m. local time a football‑field‑sized slide (rated D2.5/2.5) hit a backcountry party of 15 skiers and guides near Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe, during the final day of a three‑day trek [1][3][10][12][15]. The group comprised 11 clients and four Blackbird Mountain Guides, all equipped with beacons and avalanche gear, and was attempting to ski out of the Frog Lake huts when the avalanche overwhelmed them [2][7][17]. An avalanche watch issued at 6:49 a.m. was upgraded to a warning hours before departure, prompting later investigations into why the party proceeded [10][12][14][15].

Six Identified Women and Two Men Among the Dead Families confirmed that six women—Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt—were among the eight fatalities, with Sekar and Clabaugh identified as sisters [1][2][3][7][8]. Two male skiers also died, bringing the death toll to eight, while a ninth skier remains missing and is presumed dead [1][5][6][10][15]. Six survivors (four men and two women) were rescued after hours in a blizzard, two of them sustaining non‑life‑threatening injuries [1][4][5][13][17].

Rescue Operations Hampered by Ongoing Storm and Terrain monster winter storm dumped three to six feet of new snow, produced gale‑force winds up to 60 mph, and closed Highway 80, forcing rescuers to use a snowcat to reach the site two miles away [4][5][6][10][13][18]. Roughly 50 responders, including ski teams from Boreal Mountain and Alder Creek, worked through whiteout conditions, locating the six survivors after 6–11 hours and postponing further body recoveries until weather improves [1][7][11][17][18]. The Sierra Avalanche Center kept a high‑danger warning in effect through at least February 22, warning the public to avoid backcountry terrain [8][11][18].

Investigations and Regulatory Response California OSHA opened a probe into Blackbird Mountain Guides, whose four guides hold American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education certifications, while the company launched an internal investigation and paused field operations [1][5][12][14][15]. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon and Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene announced reviews of the decision to proceed despite the avalanche watch, and Tahoe National Forest closed the Castle Peak area through March 15 [1][5][14][15].

Discrepancies in Victim Counts and Missing Persons Early reports varied, with some outlets listing nine or ten missing skiers, later revised to a single missing person after eight bodies were recovered [11][18][19]. Newsweek and the BBC initially cited ten missing, while later AP and CNN updates clarified the count as one missing, eight dead, and six rescued [8][10][15]. These differences reflect the evolving nature of the search and the challenges of confirming identities in severe weather [13][19].

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Timeline

Dec 27, 2025 – Four hikers are found dead after an avalanche sweeps them from a steep slope near Korakas peak in Greece’s Vardousia Mountains, with rescue teams battling extreme cold, low visibility and rugged terrain to recover the bodies [6].

Dec 29, 2025 – Mammoth Mountain ski patroller Cole Murphy dies from injuries sustained during an avalanche mitigation run on Lincoln Mountain, prompting the resort to close for the day; his family says “the mountain was where Cole felt most alive” [15].

Jan 11, 2026 – A backcountry slide near Longs Pass, southwest of Leavenworth, Washington, carries four skiers; two men die and two survivors are rescued by Kittitas County responders [29].

Jan 13, 2026 – Two men are identified as victims of a Longs Pass avalanche (Paul Markoff, 38, and Erik Henne, 43) while two other skiers survive using a Garmin satellite device; the Northwest Avalanche Center notes this brings the regional death toll to 12 since 2020 [28].

Jan 17, 2026 – Two avalanches in Austria’s Salzburg region kill five skiers: a Bad Hofgastein slide buries a female skier, and a Gastein Valley slide sweeps seven people, leaving four dead and two injured [9].

Jan 18, 2026 – A series of avalanches across Austria’s Pongau and Pusterwald regions claim eight lives, including four ski tourers near Finsterkopf and three Czech skiers in Pusterwald; rescue chief Gerhard Kremser warns the danger remains high [5].

Jan 18, 2026 – Three avalanches in rapid succession across Salzburg and Styria kill eight skiers, with the first in Bad Hofgastein at 12:30 p.m., a second near Finsterkopf 90 minutes later, and a third in Pusterwald burying three Czech tourists; officials stress ongoing risk despite heavy snowfall [14].

Jan 31, 2026 – Seven skiers are rescued after a sub‑zero storm forces them onto an exposed ridge near Aspen; Jon Hodge stays with a hypothermic teammate, later reporting “the patient’s condition is improving” [27].

Feb 17, 2026 – The Sierra Avalanche Center issues an avalanche watch at 6:49 a.m. and upgrades it to a warning at 5 a.m.; at 11:30 a.m. a D2.5‑size slide strikes a 15‑person backcountry group near Castle Peak, killing eight, leaving one missing and rescuing six [13][19].

Feb 17, 2026 – Sheriff Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene says a witness shouted “Avalanche!” as the slide overtook the party, prompting an investigation into why the group proceeded despite the warning [13].

Feb 17, 2026 – Governor Gavin Newsom calls the disaster a “horrible tragedy” on X, underscoring the event’s impact on the state [8].

Feb 18, 2026 – Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announces the operation shifts from rescue to recovery as heavy snowfall and gale‑force winds stall body retrieval; the Sierra Avalanche Center extends a high‑danger alert through Thursday [12][11].

Feb 18, 2026 – Tahoe National Forest closes the Castle Peak area through Mar 15, barring public access while the unstable snowpack stabilizes [7].

Feb 19, 2026 – Cal/OSHA opens a probe into Blackbird Mountain Guides, whose four guides led the fatal tour; the company confirms all guides hold American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education certifications [7].

Feb 19, 2026 – Mayor Max Perrey notes “mothers from Mill Valley were among the victims,” while Sheriff Wayne Woo warns rescuers of emotional strain as the search continues amid forecasts of 6‑12 inches of additional snow and ridge winds up to 45 mph [1].

Feb 20, 2026 – The Sierra Avalanche Center’s high‑avalanche‑danger alert remains in effect until at least Thu Feb 22, urging backcountry travelers to stay out of avalanche terrain [11].

Feb 20, 2026 – Six mothers are identified among the eight deceased (Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt), with Sekar and Clabaugh confirmed as sisters; families share heartfelt tributes describing the victims as “authentic and unabashedly unfiltered” and “shattered” [10].

1981 – The Lake Tahoe slide becomes the deadliest U.S. avalanche since the 1981 Mount Rainier disaster that killed 11 climbers, placing the event in historical context of major American avalanches [20].

Future (Feb 2026 onward) – The Sierra Avalanche Center warns that a forthcoming heavy‑snow system could raise avalanche danger in the Cascades next week, prompting Northwest Avalanche Center forecaster Dallas Glass to advise the public to stay informed and carry essential rescue gear [25].

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