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Ninth Missing Skier Recovered, Completing Fatal Lake Tahoe Avalanche Count

Updated (34 articles)
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  • Solitude, Utah, USA- May 19, 2023: Skiers and snowboarders enjoying a warm late spring day at Solitude ski resort. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
    Solitude, Utah, USA- May 19, 2023: Skiers and snowboarders enjoying a warm late spring day at Solitude ski resort. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
    Image: Newsweek
    Solitude, Utah, USA- May 19, 2023: Skiers and snowboarders enjoying a warm late spring day at Solitude ski resort. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Source Full size
  • A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flies toward the Castle Peak area as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flies toward the Castle Peak area as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    Image: Newsweek
    A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flies toward the Castle Peak area as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) 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
  • 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
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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 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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  • 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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    Image: BBC
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  • A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flies toward the Castle Peak area as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flies toward the Castle Peak area as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
    Image: Newsweek
    A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flies toward the Castle Peak area as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Source Full size
  • Solitude, Utah, USA- May 19, 2023: Skiers and snowboarders enjoying a warm late spring day at Solitude ski resort. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
    Solitude, Utah, USA- May 19, 2023: Skiers and snowboarders enjoying a warm late spring day at Solitude ski resort. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.
    Image: Newsweek
    Solitude, Utah, USA- May 19, 2023: Skiers and snowboarders enjoying a warm late spring day at Solitude ski resort. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. 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
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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 struck on Feb 17 near Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe

A massive D2.5 avalanche hit the backcountry ski party around 11:30 a.m. on Feb 17, covering a football‑field‑sized area on a steep slope in the Sierra Nevada. The group of 15, led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, included four certified guides and eleven clients, most of whom were experienced women skiers. An avalanche watch issued at 6:49 a.m. was upgraded to a high‑danger warning at 5 a.m., yet the party proceeded down the mountain[6][17].

Initial death toll: eight dead, six rescued, one missing

Rescue crews recovered eight bodies—six female skiers (Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt) and three guides (Andrew Alissandratos, Nicole Choo, Michael Henry)—while six survivors were air‑lifted after a six‑hour search in blizzard conditions[12][15]. A ninth participant remained unaccounted for, presumed dead, as heavy snowfall and white‑out weather stalled further recovery[8][10].

Feb 22 recovery completes the count: ninth victim found

On Feb 22, helicopter crews finally located the ninth skier’s body in the Castle Peak slide zone, ending the five‑day search and confirming nine fatalities[1]. Authorities identified all victims, releasing the full list of six women and three guides, and announced a criminal‑negligence probe into the expedition’s decisions[1][6]. The forest service closed the area through March 15, restricting public access while bodies remain on the slope due to unsafe conditions[6].

Widespread storm, ongoing alerts, and regional avalanche risk

The avalanche occurred amid a “monster” winter storm that dumped three to six feet of new snow, creating an unstable snowpack that continued to threaten the region[15][20]. The Sierra Avalanche Center kept a high‑danger alert active through at least Thursday, and nearby Utah experienced a separate slide in Big Cottonwood Canyon, underscoring heightened backcountry risk across the West[3]. Investigations by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Cal/OSHA, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s criminal‑negligence inquiry remain ongoing[6][10].

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Timeline

Dec 29, 2025 – Cole Murphy, a 30‑year‑old ski patroller, dies after an avalanche hits Lincoln Mountain during pre‑opening mitigation work at Mammoth Mountain, a tragedy highlighted by the National Avalanche Center’s estimate of 25‑30 winter deaths in the U.S. [24]

Dec 27, 2025 – Four hikers (three men, one woman) are found dead on a steep slope near Korakas peak in Greece’s Vardousia Mountains after an avalanche sweeps them away, with recovery hampered by low visibility and extreme cold. [25]

Jan 11, 2026 – An avalanche near Longs Pass, southwest of Leavenworth, carries four skiers, killing two and rescuing two survivors; the Northwest Avalanche Center notes the incident adds to 12 backcountry fatalities recorded since 2020. [30]

Jan 13, 2026 – Victims of the Longs Pass slide are identified as Paul Markoff (38) and Erik Henne (43); the two surviving skiers summon help with a Garmin satellite device, while NWAC warns that high avalanche risk persists. [29]

Jan 17, 2026 – Five skiers die in two avalanches across Austria’s Salzburg Pongau region; authorities cite repeated high‑risk warnings and deploy helicopters and rescue teams. [23]

Jan 18, 2026 – Three separate avalanches in Austria (Bad Hofgastein, Finsterkopf, Pusterwald) kill eight skiers, prompting officials to stress ongoing danger despite prior warnings. [22]

Jan 31, 2026 – Seven skiers are rescued after a subzero storm near Aspen forces them onto an exposed ridge; all suffer frostbite, one requires piggyback evacuation, and Mountain Rescue Aspen provides free rescue while patients cover helicopter transport costs. [28]

Feb 17, 2026 – A D2.5 avalanche strikes a 15‑person guided backcountry group near Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe, burying eight skiers and leaving one missing, despite a high‑danger warning issued at 5 a.m. [16][14]

Feb 17, 2026 – The Sierra Avalanche Center issues a high‑avalanche‑danger alert for Greater Lake Tahoe lasting through Thursday, warning of large slides. [12]

Feb 18, 2026 – Search teams recover eight bodies and continue looking for the ninth skier; officials note the slide is the deadliest U.S. avalanche since the 1981 Mount Rainier tragedy. [13][15][17]

Feb 18, 2026 – Sheriff Capt. Russell “Rusty” Greene describes the operation as “slow, tedious” and reports survivors sheltering under tarps while exposure remains a risk. [5]

Feb 19, 2026 – Six survivors are located after a six‑hour ordeal; rescuers use a snowcat, beacons and satellite SOS, and Sheriff Shannan Moon announces a shift to a recovery mission for the eight victims. [18][4]

Feb 19, 2026 – Nevada County Sheriff’s Office opens a criminal‑negligence investigation and Cal/OSHA launches a six‑month probe into Blackbird Mountain Guides over possible safety violations. [9]

Feb 20, 2026 – Families identify six mothers among the dead, including sisters Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh; a family spokesperson says, “We are devastated beyond words.” [10][2]

Feb 20, 2026 – The U.S. Forest Service closes the Castle Peak area through March 15, barring public entry while several bodies remain on the slope. [9][14]

Feb 21, 2026 – An avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, triggers a rescue and highlights a week with two avalanche deaths and over 50 events, underscoring regional risk. [7]

Feb 21, 2026 – Washington father Jasper Boas says the California disaster “reinforces my safety focus for my kids,” noting “avalanches happen, and even the most seasoned veterans… can get caught up in that.” [26]

Feb 22, 2026 – The ninth skier’s body is recovered, completing the recovery of all nine victims; Nevada County Sheriff’s Office confirms the investigation continues and the slide area remains restricted. [1][6]

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