Avalanche/Crews continue search for 10 missing skiers

2026-02-18 08:12:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

An avalanche in California's Lake Tahoe region has left 10 backcountry skiers missing, authorities say, while six other people are trapped awaiting rescue.

The avalanche was reported around 11:30 a.m. PST (7:30 p.m. GMT) in the Castle Peak area near the city of Truckee, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

The group of 16 consisted of four guides and 12 clients. Weather conditions remain dangerous, with a high chance of more avalanches.

"Highly skilled ski rescue teams" have been deployed from two nearby ski resorts, the sheriff said. The six known survivors have been "instructed to shelter in place as best they can under the conditions. At least six of the skiers survived the avalanche and remain at the avalanche site, awaiting rescue, while the remaining ten are unaccounted for at the time of this report," the sheriff wrote on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.

"A SnoCat team was also dispatched," the sheriff said, referring to vehicles that use ladders to move through snow and are most often found clearing snow at ski resorts.

Experts from nearby Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center are also trying to reach the site.

"Rescue efforts are now continuing with 46 emergency responders. Weather conditions remain very hazardous," the statement continued.

The statement also cited a forecast from the Sierra Avalanche Center, which said: "Large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and at least through early Wednesday morning in the desert terrain."

The avalanche center ranked the risk rating as high, four out of five on the rating scale.

"Traveling into, near or under avalanche terrain is not recommended today. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours. Large avalanches may pass through tree-covered areas," the center said.

In an interview with local media station KCRA-TV, sheriff's office spokesman Captain Russell Greene said it would be a slow and tedious process due to the high risk of avalanches posing a risk to rescue teams./CNA