Lead
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, search-and-rescue teams responded to an avalanche at Frog Lake in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada, northwest of Lake Tahoe, after a 911 call at about 11:30 a.m. Six backcountry skiers were located alive and instructed to shelter in place while crews worked to reach them; 10 others remained missing. Nevada County sheriff’s personnel said roughly 46 first responders were involved and three rescue teams — two on skis and one in a snowcat — were en route through blizzard-like conditions. The incident occurred amid a potent winter storm that brought heavy snow, gale-force winds and elevated avalanche danger across the Sierra.
Key Takeaways
- Six of the party were found alive on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026; 10 skiers remained missing after an avalanche at Frog Lake, Castle Peak area.
- The 911 call came at about 11:30 a.m.; approximately 46 first responders were reported working the rescue.
- Rescue teams included two ski teams and one snowcat team traveling through storm conditions to reach the scene.
- The group was on the final day of a three-day backcountry trip, having skied up to four miles (6.4 km) between huts and carried all food and supplies.
- The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning for the Central Sierra Nevada beginning 5 a.m. Tuesday, with large slides expected through Wednesday.
- Soda Springs reported at least 30 inches (76 cm) of new snow in 24 hours; some Sierra locations were forecast to receive up to 8 feet (2.4 m) before the storm passed.
- Several developed resorts near Lake Tahoe were partially or fully closed; backcountry travel was strongly discouraged due to unstable snowpack and high winds.
Background
Castle Peak is a 9,110-foot (2,777-meter) summit in the Donner Summit corridor and is a well-known destination for backcountry skiing and hut-to-hut trips. Backcountry routes in the area demand prolonged travel on skis over rugged terrain; the group involved had spent two nights in huts and traversed up to four miles on the final day, according to local avalanche forecasters. The Sierra Avalanche Center and Tahoe National Forest issue seasonal avalanche forecasts and mitigation guidance, but they do not control travel in uncontrolled backcountry terrain where natural and human-triggered avalanches can occur.
The region was struck by a strong Pacific storm system in mid-February, producing heavy precipitation, rapid snow loading, and gale-force winds on exposed ridgelines. Rapid accumulation can overload weak layers within the snowpack, creating elevated probabilities for large, destructive slides. In developed ski areas, mitigation systems (explosives, ski patrol-controlled runs) reduce public exposure, but those measures do not cover remote backcountry zones where parties travel independently.
Main Event
First responders were dispatched after a report that multiple people were buried by an avalanche near Frog Lake in the Castle Peak area. Nevada County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Quadros said rescuers located six members of the party and instructed them to shelter in place “as best they can” while teams fought wind and whiteout conditions to reach them. Videos posted by the sheriff’s office showed rescuers carrying skis on foot through heavy snowfall as they advanced toward the group.
Three rescue teams — two on skis and one using a snowcat — were moving toward the scene, supported by additional ground personnel. Steve Reynaud of the Sierra Avalanche Center said the party had been on a three-day hut trip and that the group included four guides. Reynaud also said his forecasting group had maintained contact with people on the ground in the area during the response.
Local weather reports and resort operators noted widespread travel disruptions: several Lake Tahoe-area resorts closed or reduced operations, Interstate 80 saw temporary stoppages near the Nevada line due to spinouts and crashes, and Soda Springs registered 30 inches (76 cm) of snow in 24 hours. Authorities emphasized that backcountry travel was particularly hazardous while the storm peaked.
Analysis & Implications
The incident highlights the acute risk of backcountry travel during intense winter storms. Rapidly accumulating snowfall on top of fragile layers can produce large, persistent slabs that are prone to failing either naturally or with minimal additional loading. In this event, gale-force winds likely created wind slabs and cornices, further increasing the probability and potential size of slides along ridgelines and lee slopes.
Operationally, remote rescues are hampered by weather-driven reductions in visibility, access, and the safety margin for responders. Ski teams must travel slower and more cautiously in whiteout and avalanche-prone terrain; mechanized assets such as snowcats can extend reach but are limited by where they can safely operate. The deployment of roughly 46 responders indicates a substantial, multi-unit effort that requires coordination among local sheriff’s deputies, volunteer search-and-rescue teams, and specialized forecasters.
For public safety policy, these events typically renew calls for stronger messaging about when to cancel or postpone backcountry trips and for improved decision-making tools for groups and guides. While developed resorts can conduct avalanche mitigation, private parties remain exposed. The presence of four guides in the party underscores that even guided trips can encounter unmanageable conditions when the weather outpaces normal mitigation practices.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | This Storm (Feb 16–17, 2026) | Typical Winter Peak |
|---|---|---|
| New snowfall (Soda Springs, 24 hrs) | 30 in (76 cm) | Varies — often 6–18 in |
| Forecast max (selected Sierra locations) | Up to 8 ft (2.4 m) | Seasonal high varies; single storms rarely exceed 4–6 ft |
| Average annual U.S. avalanche deaths | N/A for storm | 25–30 fatalities per year (National Avalanche Center) |
The table places the local snowfall in context: 30 inches in 24 hours at Soda Springs is an extreme single-day accumulation for many local operations, and modeled or forecast totals reaching multiple feet create conditions where large slides are more likely. The National Avalanche Center’s estimate of 25–30 U.S. avalanche fatalities per winter provides a baseline for the national toll; episodic storms or concentrated incident clusters can drive spikes in impacts.
Reactions & Quotes
Officials and forecasters stressed the heightened hazard during the storm and the challenge for responders. Nevada County authorities described the ongoing search and the shelter-in-place instructions for those located.
“We located six people who were told to shelter in place until rescuers can safely reach them,”
Ashley Quadros, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (official statement)
Forecasters emphasized the storm’s role in creating unstable conditions across the Central Sierra.
“It’s particularly dangerous in the backcountry right now just because we’re at the height of the storm,”
Brandon Schwartz, Tahoe National Forest lead avalanche forecaster, Sierra Avalanche Center (expert observation)
On-the-ground accounts noted the difficulty of traveling to the scene because of the storm. A local forecaster who has been in contact with people in the area summarized the trip’s profile.
“The group had been on a multi-day hut trip and required navigating rugged terrain for up to four miles with all supplies,”
Steve Reynaud, Sierra Avalanche Center (forecaster)
Unconfirmed
- Exact identities and current medical conditions of the six found skiers have not been publicly released as of initial reports.
- Whether any members of the group were actually buried and then dug out versus remaining on the surface has not been fully clarified by authorities.
- Final status (found or recovered) of the 10 missing skiers had not been confirmed in the initial updates available to news outlets.
Bottom Line
The Castle Peak avalanche incident underscores how quickly backcountry conditions can become life-threatening during major winter storms. Rapid accumulation, wind loading, and weak layers in the snowpack can create large, dangerous slides that complicate both travel and rescue operations. Despite mitigation at developed resorts, remote routes remain inherently riskier and require conservative decision-making, especially when formal avalanche warnings are in effect.
For the public and for groups planning trips, this event illustrates the need to heed warnings, consider delaying travel during high-danger periods, and ensure every party member is trained and equipped for companion rescue. Authorities will likely provide further information as search-and-rescue operations continue; follow official channels for verified updates.
Sources
- ABC7 San Francisco — local news report summarizing incident and sheriff’s office statements (news)
- Sierra Avalanche Center — regional avalanche forecasts and forecaster comments (avalanche center/forecaster)
- Tahoe National Forest (USDA Forest Service) — public safety and recreation guidance in the national forest (federal agency)
- National Avalanche Center (avalanche.org) — national avalanche statistics and safety guidance (federal/technical)