Avalanche Armageddon: How 6 Survived the Storm

Six skiers lived through California’s deadliest avalanche by doing the unglamorous basics—beacons, shelter, and discipline—while a level-4 danger warning proved brutally unforgiving for everyone else.

Story Snapshot

A guided group of 15 backcountry skiers near Castle Peak was hit by a major avalanche during a powerful Sierra storm on Feb. 17, 2026.
Six people survived and were rescued roughly six hours later after sheltering in extreme cold and wind; two required hospitalization.
Eight people were found dead and one skier remained missing as of Feb. 18, with recovery slowed by continued avalanche danger.
Authorities are examining why the tour proceeded with avalanche danger rated 4 out of 5, a level where travel is not recommended.

A guided tour turns catastrophic near Castle Peak

Nevada County authorities said a massive avalanche struck a guided backcountry ski group near Castle Peak, close to Donner Summit and Lake Tahoe, around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17. The party included 11 clients and four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides on the final day of a three-day hut-based trek near Frog Lake. A “monster” winter storm had piled 3 to 6 feet of new snow with subfreezing temperatures and high winds.

Officials reported the avalanche moved fast, leaving little reaction time. Emergency beacons alerted rescuers, but conditions forced a cautious response. Search teams staged from areas including Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, then pushed toward the scene by snowcat, skis, and snowmobiles. Responders had to stop within a couple miles and ski in, balancing speed against a highly unstable snowpack and continuing storm impacts.

How six survived: shelter, gear, and waiting out the danger

Authorities said the six survivors endured hours in the backcountry after the slide, using equipment to shelter from wind and extreme cold while waiting for help. During that period, survivors also located three deceased members of their party, underscoring how quickly the situation moved from rescue to recovery. Rescuers reached the group late Tuesday night—about six to eleven hours after the avalanche—bringing the survivors out in punishing conditions.

That survival window matters because avalanche medicine is unforgiving. Data cited by avalanche experts shows survival rates are highest when a buried victim is dug out within minutes, then drop steeply as time passes, with most fatalities occurring after two hours. In this case, the people who lived were not described as being dug out quickly; instead, their survival hinged on staying alive above the snow line—protected from exposure—until rescuers could safely reach them.

Recovery effort slowed by ongoing level-4 avalanche risk

By Wednesday, Feb. 18, authorities said eight victims had been recovered at the site but could not immediately be removed because the area remained dangerous. The avalanche danger stayed high—reported as 4 out of 5—meaning natural avalanches were likely and human-triggered avalanches were very likely. Roughly 46 to 50 responders were involved as the mission shifted from search-and-rescue to recovery, with at least one survivor hospitalized.

Hard questions about judgment when “travel not recommended”

Officials said they are examining why the group was traveling in severe conditions despite avalanche forecasts warning against backcountry travel. That focus is not political; it is operational accountability after a high-fatality event on a paid, guided trip. For many Americans who value personal responsibility, this tragedy is a stark reminder that nature does not bend to credentialing, social media bravado, or wishful thinking—especially when official hazard ratings signal extreme risk.

The investigation also matters because the Sierra backcountry has become more accessible, drawing more skiers into steep terrain during big storm cycles. Experts have warned that the Castle Peak/Donner Summit area is rugged and can become highly unstable when heavy snow loads stack up on wind-slabbed slopes. With one skier still missing and families “reeling,” officials face the difficult work of explaining how a modern, well-equipped group still suffered the deadliest avalanche outcome California has seen in decades.