A devastating avalanche in Tahoe National Forest has become one of the deadliest in California’s history. Authorities received a 911 call around 11:30 a.m. on February 17 reporting a major slide near Castle Peak, a popular backcountry skiing area close to Lake Tahoe. A group of 15 skiers—11 clients and four professional guides—had been nearing the end of a three-day guided trip when the avalanche struck. Emergency crews launched an extensive search and rescue operation, battling difficult terrain and conditions to locate those buried beneath the snow.

Officials later confirmed that eight skiers were found dead, with a ninth presumed deceased. Seven of the victims were women, and reports indicate several were mothers connected to the Sugar Bowl Resort community. Although the excursion was organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides and not by the resort itself, members of the local skiing community were among those lost. Authorities have withheld additional details to respect the families’ privacy as the region mourns this tragic loss.