Deadly California Avalanche Claims Eight, Search Continues for One Missing Skier
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Eight skiers are confirmed dead and one remains missing after a devastating avalanche struck near Lake Tahoe in the Castle Peak area on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The tragedy, which unfolded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is the deadliest avalanche in the United States in 45 years.
Authorities have revealed that a significant number of those caught in the avalanche were parents of students at Sugar Bowl Academy, a private boarding and day school for competitive skiers in Placer County. According to a source involved in the search and rescue effort, most of the deceased and surviving victims have connections to the school.
Sugar Bowl Academy confirmed the loss within its community, stating, “Multiple members of the Sugar Bowl Academy community and others with strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit, and the backcountry community died in an avalanche on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.” The school added that the students were on winter break at the time of the incident.
The group of parents had reportedly planned a three-day outing, and the avalanche occurred as they were attempting to leave the mountain, sources familiar with the situation said. Four of the individuals involved were guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides, a company specializing in mountaineering and backcountry ski trips, with one of the guides among the survivors.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported that 15 people were initially part of the group caught in the avalanche. Six skiers were rescued after sheltering under a tarp for hours in “highly dangerous” conditions. Of the eight confirmed fatalities, seven are women and two are men.
Emergency responders are continuing to work to recover the final missing skier. Both the school and law enforcement officials are withholding the names of the victims and survivors out of respect for the families affected. “Sugar Bowl Academy is focused on supporting its athletes, students, staff, and families through this tragedy,” the school’s statement read. “Most importantly, the Sugar Bowl Academy community will continue to be there in the months and years ahead for the families that have lost loved ones.”
The avalanche surpasses the 1982 Alpine Meadows disaster, where seven people died, as the deadliest in the U.S. In nearly half a century. The tragedy occurred at the end of a three-day guided tour intended for intermediate to expert skiers. Blackbird Mountain Guides has launched an investigation and paused all field operations while supporting the families of those impacted.
