Lead
A deadly avalanche struck backcountry terrain near Donner Pass on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, killing at least eight people and leaving one person missing and presumed dead. The slide hit a party of 15 skiers at about 11:30 a.m. as a severe winter storm swept the Sierra Nevada. Local officials and rescue teams evacuated six survivors and continue recovery operations amid ongoing blizzard conditions. A Kentfield School District email identified a Marin mother of two among the victims, deepening the impact on nearby Bay Area communities.
Key Takeaways
- The avalanche occurred near Castle Peak, close to Donner Pass, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2026.
- The party numbered 15 people; six survived and were evacuated Tuesday night, while eight bodies have been recovered and one person remains missing and presumed dead.
- The group was affiliated with Blackbird Mountain Guides; several victims had ties to Sugar Bowl Resort and Sugar Bowl Academy.
- Kentfield School District confirmed via an internal email that a mother of two students from Marin County was among the deceased.
- Nevada County law enforcement identified the slide as the deadliest avalanche in California since modern records began.
- Sugar Bowl and local officials said recovery and family-support efforts are ongoing amid difficult weather and terrain conditions.
Background
The Sierra Nevada saw heavy snow and high winds in mid-February 2026, creating unstable avalanche conditions across several backcountry zones. Sugar Bowl Resort, near the crest of the range on Donner Pass, is one of the region’s snowiest and most accessed areas for Bay Area skiers; its academy trains competitive athletes and has close ties to the local skiing community. Backcountry travel in the region often includes guided parties; organizers and guides must weigh avalanche forecasts, terrain, and weather windows when planning outings.
A history of large slides in the Sierra has prompted expanded search-and-rescue capabilities and public safety messaging, but powerful storms can still overwhelm precautions. The group involved in this accident reportedly consisted of longtime friends who took regular ski trips together, which can complicate risk assessment when personal familiarity reduces perceived danger. Local governments, resorts, and guide services routinely coordinate on safety, but rapid storms limit access and recovery speed.
Main Event
On Feb. 17, an avalanche approximately the size of a football field struck a backcountry party near Castle Peak on Donner Pass at about 11:30 a.m. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Department said rescuers and search teams responded through worsening conditions. Six survivors were located and evacuated Tuesday night; rescue personnel continued combing the area for additional victims as blizzard conditions hampered progress.
By official counts, eight bodies had been recovered and one person remained unaccounted for and presumed dead; investigators characterized the scene as one of the most lethal avalanches in California’s modern record-keeping era. Law enforcement identified the outing as a guided trip led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, and Sugar Bowl Resort confirmed multiple victims had connections to its resort and the Sugar Bowl Academy community.
The Kentfield School District in Marin County sent an email to families naming a mother of two students as among the dead; the message said the family is a cherished part of the community and that the children are with their father as they navigate the loss. Local officials in Mill Valley told national outlets that several mothers on the trip were from that area, underscoring the regional reach of the tragedy.
Analysis & Implications
This avalanche highlights the persistent hazards of backcountry travel even for experienced parties. When storms bring heavy snowfall and high winds, layers of new snow can rapidly form weak layers that propagate fractures and large slides. Guided trips lower some risks through expertise and rescue planning, but no measure fully eliminates danger in extreme weather.
The human toll will ripple through multiple communities: mountain-resort staff and academy athletes, Bay Area families with school-age children, and the network of guides and friends who travel together. Sugar Bowl Academy’s involvement raises questions about how elite training programs and community networks manage exposure to backcountry hazards during peak winter storms.
For emergency services, the incident underscores the challenge of mounting large-scale recoveries during active storms. Resource allocation—air support, search dogs, trained personnel—can be delayed or limited by weather, extending both rescue timelines and the uncertainty families face. Agencies may revise advisories, guided-trip protocols, and communication strategies in response.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Party size | 15 |
| Survivors evacuated | 6 |
| Bodies recovered | 8 |
| Missing / presumed dead | 1 |
| Date & time | Feb. 17, 2026, ~11:30 a.m. |
The table summarizes official counts released by Nevada County authorities. Compared with prior California avalanche incidents, officials describe this event as the deadliest since modern record keeping began; that characterization reflects both the absolute death toll and the concentrated impact on a single outing. Data collection is ongoing and subject to update as investigators finalize identifications and circumstances.
Reactions & Quotes
Resort and community leaders expressed sorrow and said support systems are being activated for students, athletes, and families connected to the victims.
“With the heaviest of hearts, we can confirm the loss of multiple lives from within the Sugar Bowl community,”
Rachel Soeharto, Sugar Bowl Resort spokesperson
Law enforcement emphasized the scale of the incident and the constraints facing recovery teams operating in severe weather.
“This was a large-scale avalanche event; rescue and recovery operations are ongoing under challenging conditions,”
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon
Local civic leaders framed the tragedy as a profound communal loss and noted that families are receiving crisis support.
“This is a huge tragedy and a huge loss for our community,”
Max Perrey, Mill Valley mayor (interviewed)
Unconfirmed
- The full list of identities and the final victim count are pending as investigators complete recoveries and family notifications.
- The precise trigger mechanism and detailed snowpack analysis are not yet public and remain under technical investigation.
- Reports that the group included specific alumni or staff affiliations beyond early confirmations are still being verified.
Bottom Line
The Feb. 17 avalanche near Donner Pass is a catastrophic event with immediate human costs and wider implications for backcountry safety, guided-trip protocols, and community support systems. At least eight people have been confirmed dead, one is missing and presumed dead, and six survivors were evacuated; official updates may change as recovery and identification work proceeds.
Regional authorities, resort operators, and guide services will likely review decision-making frameworks and communications in the wake of this slide. For families and communities affected — including children in Marin County whose mother was identified by their school district — long-term emotional and logistical support will be essential as investigations conclude and memorial and recovery efforts continue.