On Tuesday near Castle Peak on Donner Summit, a guided backcountry ski party was struck by a large avalanche; by Feb. 19, 2026 Nevada County authorities reported nine people dead and six survivors rescued after teams reached the scene amid continuing storms. The group—four guides and 11 clients on a Blackbird Mountain Guides trip—was descending from remote Frog Lake huts when the slide occurred around 11:30 a.m. Recovery and identification work has been slowed by hazardous weather, heavy snowfall and ongoing avalanche risk. Local officials and community leaders in Marin County and Truckee said the losses have hit tightly knit social and ski communities especially hard.
- Nine people died and six survived after the Feb. 17 avalanche near Castle Peak; recovery operations were hampered by fresh storms and unstable slopes.
- The party comprised 15 people—four guides and 11 clients—on a multi-day trip run by Blackbird Mountain Guides of Truckee.
- Officials said six survivors sheltered under a tarp and were reached around 5:30 p.m.; two required medical evacuation and were treated for injuries.
- Multiple reports link several victims to Marin County communities, including a Bay Area woman identified by other outlets as Kate Vitt, 43; Nevada County had not released official identifications as of Feb. 19.
- Sugar Bowl Academy and the Donner Summit youth ski community reported several members among the dead and have called for space and support for grieving families.
- The U.S. Forest Service Sierra Avalanche Center and the National Weather Service warned of renewed high avalanche danger, forecasting an additional 6–18 inches of snow and ridgetop gusts up to 45 mph.
- Search-and-rescue leaders cautioned that prolonged recovery efforts raise risks for rescuers as unstable snowpack and gale-force winds persist.
Background
The avalanche struck on Feb. 17 near Castle Peak, an area above Donner Summit popular for guided backcountry tours and hut-to-hut travel. The party had spent two nights at the remote Frog Lake huts and were skiing out when the slide occurred around 11:30 a.m., according to Nevada County officials. Blackbird Mountain Guides operated the trip; the company said it had suspended field operations at least through Feb. 22 while cooperating with authorities and supporting families.
Donner Summit and the broader Lake Tahoe region have seen repeated heavy snow and wind events this winter that left buried weak layers in the snowpack. Avalanche centers and forecasters had issued warnings before and after the event, noting rapidly accumulating snow and strong winds that increase slab formation and the likelihood of large, natural avalanches. Rescue teams from county, local volunteer and regional organizations responded amid near-whiteout conditions that complicated access and extraction.
Main Event
Nevada County and Placer County responders described a difficult, weather-challenged rescue and recovery. Crews used snowcats to push into the area and then skied the final miles to reach the scene; six survivors were found after sheltering under a tarp during intense snowfall. Two of the survivors were injured and evacuated for treatment; both were expected to survive.
By Feb. 19 authorities reported that eight of the nine people initially listed as missing were confirmed dead, with the remaining person presumed dead. Nevada County officials emphasized that official identifications, ages and hometowns would not be released until recovery and family notifications were complete. Heavy snowfall, steep terrain and ongoing avalanche danger prevented removal of bodies from the mountain at times during operations.
Local leaders in Truckee and Marin described a community-wide response. Truckee Mayor Anna Klovstad said the loss had reverberated across the small Sierra town and that faith-based and mental-health services would be mobilized. In Marin, officials and neighbors said the news was especially painful during “ski week,” when many families from the Bay Area are in the mountains.
Analysis & Implications
The incident highlights the tension between backcountry recreation demand and rapidly evolving mountain conditions. This winter’s pattern—storms that load wind-transported snow onto weak layers—creates unstable slabs that can be triggered by human parties. Forecasters from the Sierra Avalanche Center warned that both wind-exposed and wind-protected slopes contain reactive weak layers beneath heavy new snow, raising the odds of destructive avalanches.
Guided trips are intended to manage risk, but complex decision points remain for guides and clients when forecasts indicate high danger. Officials said Nevada County’s sheriff had been in contact with the guide service about its decision to proceed despite warnings; investigators and agencies will review pre-trip planning, route choice and forecasting communications as part of after-action and potential regulatory scrutiny.
The human toll also has policy and community implications: youth ski programs, regional guide companies and emergency-response organizations are likely to reassess training, client-screening and weather-go/no-go protocols. Sugar Bowl Academy’s statement underlines how school-affiliated ski clubs and their families are embedded in broader recreational networks spanning the Bay Area and Tahoe, meaning local tragedies can have wide social ripple effects.
| Metric | Count / Forecast |
|---|---|
| People in party | 15 (4 guides, 11 clients) |
| Confirmed dead | 9 |
| Survivors found | 6 (2 injured) |
| Additional snowfall forecast | 6–12 in (up to 18 in above 7,000 ft) |
| Ridgetop wind gusts | Up to 45 mph |
The table above aggregates numbers announced by Nevada County officials, statements from Blackbird Mountain Guides, and public forecasts from the National Weather Service and Sierra Avalanche Center. These figures will be refined as authorities complete formal identifications and release final reports.
Reactions & Quotes
Local officials, rescue leaders and community members offered short statements as families and towns began to grieve. Below are representative quotes with surrounding context.
Marin Mayor Max Perrey described the heartbreak felt in Mill Valley after reports that several clients were local mothers traveling together on the trip. Perrey said city officials were gathering facts before issuing a formal statement.
“It’s a huge tragedy and a huge loss.”
Max Perrey, Mayor of Mill Valley
Blackbird Mountain Guides acknowledged the magnitude of the loss and said it had paused field operations while supporting affected families and staff. The company emphasized that many on the trip were long-time friends and community members.
“This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced.”
Zeb Blais, Founder, Blackbird Mountain Guides
Search-and-rescue and sheriff’s office leaders underscored the risks to responders working in unstable terrain; one official noted that extended exposure increases danger to recovery teams and influences operational timing.
“The longer that we continue to have people out there and exposed, the higher chance we put our rescuers in danger.”
Capt. Rusty Greene, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
Unconfirmed
- Official victim identifications and hometowns: Nevada County had not released formal IDs as of Feb. 19; names circulated by other outlets remain unconfirmed by county authorities.
- Precise sequence of decisions that led the party to travel on Feb. 17: investigators have not released a definitive timeline of pre-trip communications and on-hill choices.
- Whether any single factor (equipment failure, guide error, or specific slope trigger) initiated the avalanche: cause and contributing factors remain under investigation.
Bottom Line
The Castle Peak avalanche that killed nine people and injured or stranded others is a stark reminder that even guided backcountry travel carries acute, sometimes fatal, risk when storm cycles load unstable snow onto weak layers. Forecasts issued before and after the slide described conditions favorable to large natural avalanches; rescue teams confronted those dangers while attempting to reach and recover victims.
Beyond immediate recovery and identification, expect formal investigations and internal reviews by guide services, avalanche centers and local authorities that will aim to document what happened and recommend changes. For communities in Truckee, Marin and across the Bay Area, the human consequences—families grieving, youth programs mourning members, and first-responder trauma—will shape responses and safety conversations for months to come.
Sources
- San Francisco Chronicle (regional news outlet)
- The New York Times (national newspaper; reported identifications)
- Sierra Avalanche Center (regional avalanche center / official bulletin)
- National Weather Service – Reno (federal forecast office)
- Blackbird Mountain Guides (operator statement)
- Sugar Bowl Academy (school statement)