Additional Coverage:
Deadliest Avalanche in California History Claims Eight Lives Near Lake Tahoe, One Still Missing
LAKE TAHOE, CA – A devastating avalanche near Lake Tahoe this week has resulted in the deaths of eight skiers, marking it as the deadliest avalanche in California’s recorded history. With avalanche warnings persisting through early Thursday, recovery efforts for the victims of Tuesday’s tragedy near Frog Lake in the Castle Peak area, northwest of Lake Tahoe, are on hold as officials await a powerful storm to clear.
The avalanche, which struck a group of 15 backcountry skiers, saw six individuals survive, while one remains unaccounted for. Zeb Blais, founder of Blackbird Mountain Guides, confirmed in a statement that the group included four guides from his company and eleven participants.
They were on the final day of a three-day “Hut Trip” backcountry skiing excursion when the disaster occurred. “Five participants and one Blackbird guide survived the avalanche,” Blais stated.
Blais urged the public to refrain from speculation during this difficult time. “We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do,” he added, asking for thoughts and prayers for those impacted.
The ski group had strong connections to the local alpine recreation community, particularly the Sugar Bowl Academy ski school. The academy issued a statement Wednesday night expressing sorrow for the loss of victims with “strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community.” While the statement did not elaborate on the specific ties of the skiers, who ranged in age from 30 to 55, their names have not yet been released by authorities.
This incident is the deadliest in the U.S. since 1981, when eleven climbers perished on Mount Rainier in Washington state. It also marks the second fatal avalanche near Castle Peak this year, following the death of a snowmobiler in January. California’s history includes other significant avalanche tragedies, such as the 1982 Alpine Meadows Ski Resort avalanche near Lake Tahoe, which killed seven, and a 2008 incident in the San Gabriel Mountains that claimed three lives near the Mountain High resort.
Blackbird Mountain Guides announced Wednesday night that it has launched an investigation and has paused all field operations through the weekend to prioritize supporting the victims’ families. The company emphasized that its guides are trained or certified in backcountry skiing and are also instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. Blais noted that guides in the field maintain communication with senior guides at their base to discuss conditions and routing.
The Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche watch on Sunday morning, which was elevated to a warning by 5 a.m. Tuesday, indicating expected avalanches. It remains unclear whether the guides were aware of this change before commencing their return journey.