Six others were rescued after hours in blizzard conditions, officials said.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Search crews fanned out in harsh winter weather after an avalanche swept through the Castle Peak backcountry near Lake Tahoe, leaving nine skiers missing and triggering a large rescue response that brought six others out alive, officials said Tuesday.
The slide hit as a powerful storm pushed heavy snow and wind across the Sierra Nevada, complicating efforts to reach the area safely. Authorities said the skiers were part of a guided backcountry tour, and rescuers used beacon signals and emergency messages to narrow the search. The operation quickly became a race against time as avalanche danger stayed high and conditions on the mountain shifted through the day and night.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report of an avalanche in the Castle Peak area at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Early information suggested 16 people were involved, but officials later revised that figure to 15. The group included four guides and 11 clients on a trip organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, according to authorities and the outfitter. The avalanche occurred in steep, high-elevation terrain north of Lake Tahoe, not far from the Donner Pass corridor, where winter storms can rapidly change visibility and snow stability.
Six members of the group were located alive after the slide and were later rescued, officials said. Two of the rescued skiers were taken to a hospital for treatment, while others were evaluated for injuries and exposure. Rescuers reached the survivors using a mix of over-snow travel, including skis, snowmobiles and snowcats, as the storm made roads and trail access unreliable. Authorities said rescuers moved cautiously because the slope remained dangerous and additional avalanches were possible.
Officials said the missing skiers could be trapped beneath deep, wind-driven snow in a broad debris field. Search teams worked with avalanche professionals to assess the site and reduce risk to rescuers before pushing farther into the area. The sheriff’s office said emergency responders were also challenged by intermittent communications and fast-changing conditions, including strong gusts that can load snow onto leeward slopes and increase the chance of more slides.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had warned of a high avalanche danger in the region as the storm intensified. Forecasters pointed to heavy snowfall stacking quickly on top of weaker layers in the snowpack, a combination that can lead to large, destructive slides. Nearby ski areas reported partial closures and difficult travel as snow totals built through the storm cycle, with mountain forecasts calling for continued accumulation in the higher elevations of the northern Sierra.
Authorities said the survivors were able to signal for help and remain together while rescuers organized a response. Some of the group’s equipment, including beacon technology used to locate people in avalanche terrain, helped rescuers establish initial positions, officials said. One sheriff’s official said the operation had to balance urgency with the reality that sending crews into unstable terrain could create more victims. The rescue effort also required coordination among local agencies and trained mountain teams familiar with winter operations in steep terrain.
Blackbird Mountain Guides said it was coordinating with authorities as the search continued. Officials said they notified the governor’s office, and state resources were available as local agencies handled the initial response. The sheriff’s office said it would provide additional updates as teams re-evaluated conditions and expanded the search, including the use of specialized equipment designed for avalanche probing and signal detection.
The Castle Peak area is a popular destination for experienced backcountry skiers because it offers access to open bowls and ridgelines close to highways and towns. That proximity can be deceptive, local rescuers have said in past incidents, because storms can create whiteout conditions and unstable snow even when travel corridors appear nearby. In winter, the region’s history is closely tied to severe weather and survival stories, and modern rescues often hinge on minutes of clear weather and the ability to move safely across loaded slopes.
As night fell, officials said they were preparing for continued operations into Wednesday if conditions allowed. The sheriff’s office said search plans would be adjusted based on avalanche forecasts, wind loading and visibility, with rescuers returning to the site in force when it was safe to do so. Officials did not release the names of those involved while families were being contacted and accountability checks continued.
By early Wednesday, the six rescued skiers had been brought out of the backcountry and the search for the missing nine was continuing. Authorities said the next update would depend on whether crews could safely enter the debris field after daybreak and updated avalanche assessments.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 18, 2026.