(Updated) Avalanche Near Castle Peak in the Central Sierra Leaves 9 Backcountry Skiers Missing

Correction: The headline and text below have been updated to reflect a new headcount: the group, in total, had 15 members, including four guides and 11 clients. The media releases below do not reflect that update and orignally described the gorup as having 16 members. On Tuesday, around 11:30 am, a large avalanche struck a group of 15 tourers in the vicinity of Castle Peak near Donner Summit, California. At the time of the initial distress call, it was reported that six tourers survived the slide, while the remaining 9 individuals were unaccounted for. This was a guided group with four guides and 11 clients. The group had been in the zone since February 15th, and was returning to the trailhead when the avalanche occurred.  To establish the facts, here is the full media release from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office with a time stamp of approximately 4 pm.    Castle Peak Avalanche Update: Rescue Efforts Remain Underway TRUCKEE, CA – A group of 16 skiers reportedly encountered an avalanche in the Castle Peak area of Truckee at approximately 11:30 a.m. today. At least six of the skiers have survived the avalanche and remain at the avalanche site, awaiting rescue, with the remaining ten unaccounted for at the time of this release. The group consisted of four ski guides with 12 clients. Highly skilled rescue ski teams have departed from both Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center to make their way to the six known survivors, who have been directed to shelter in place as best they can in the conditions. A SnoCat team was also launched from Alder Creek Adventure Center. Rescue efforts remain in progress now with 46 emergency first responders. Weather conditions remain highly dangerous. The Sierra Avalanche Center previously issued an avalanche warning for today, Feb. 17, which has been in effect since 5 a.m. today through Feb. 18 at 5 a.m., stating: “HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry. Large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning across backcountry terrain. HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Wednesday. The guiding outfit involved in the Castle Peak incident is Blackbird Mountain Guides (BMG), which has branches in Truckee, CA; Bellingham, WA; and Mt. Shasta, CA. As of 7:30 pm, BMG released the following information.  STATEMENT FROM BLACKBIRD MOUNTAIN GUIDES REGARDING INCIDENT NEAR CASTLE PEAK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FEBRUARY 17, 2026 – 7.30PM PT TRUCKEE, CA — Blackbird Mountain Guides is currently responding to a serious backcountry incident involving an avalanche that occurred this morning, February 17, near the Frog Lake huts in the Castle Peak area. A total of 12 clients and four guides had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since February 15. The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred. The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the […]