Last season, there were 23 avalanche fatalities in the U.S. and 13 in Canada. In particular, the nine avalanche deaths on the north side of Perry Peak near California’s Donner Summit became national news for several reasons. First, the raw total of lives lost was heavy. Second, the avalanche involved a guided group.
Last week, Blackbird Mountain Guides released a press release and report titled “Supplemental Key Findings and Clarifications from Independent Preliminary Report regarding the February 17, 2026 Avalanche on Perry’s Peak,” and an accompanying “Independent Preliminary Report,” prepared by Don Sharaf. Sharaf is a longtime avalanche educator and former owner of the American Avalanche Institute.
