A large avalanche struck the backcountry near Castle Peak on Feb. 17, 2026, swamping a guided party and triggering an urgent, ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
Six members of the group have been located alive and are sheltering where they were found; 10 others remain unaccounted for as crews work cautiously in dangerous conditions.
The party of 16, four guides and 12 clients on a multi-day trip organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, was returning from the Frog Lake huts when the slide hit around 11:30 a.m., officials said.
Rescuers located the six survivors sheltering under tarps; three of them appeared to have injuries that prevented them from skiing out and required stabilization before extraction.
Local authorities have urged patience: crews are advancing only as conditions permit because high winds, deep snow, and unstable slopes make the scene prone to secondary avalanches.
“They are doing the best they can. They have taken refuge in an area, they have made up a makeshift shelter with a tarp and are doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue,” Nevada County Sheriff Capt. Russell Greene told reporters.
Rescuers are using snowcats, snowmobiles, and ski teams to approach, but officials warned the effort would be slow and methodical.
A Tahoe National Forest forecaster with the Sierra Avalanche Center said the group had been traveling in rugged terrain for several miles and that avalanche danger was rated high across the Central Sierra.
“It’s particularly dangerous in the backcountry right now just because we’re at the height of the storm,” said lead forecaster Brandon Schwartz.
Heavy loading from wind and rapidly accumulating snow set the stage for large slides.
Officials identified the location of the slide near Perry Peak at roughly 8,200 feet and classified the avalanche as large enough to bury or destroy a vehicle.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said first responders received the initial call around 11:30 a.m. and that emergency beacons carried by members of the group helped teams establish contact with those sheltering.
Weather and access issues are complicating the response. The National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning for the northern Sierra, with forecasts calling for feet of additional snow and damaging gusts, and Interstate 80 was closed in spots because of whiteout conditions.
Volunteer groups and local search-and-rescue units are on scene, but organizers stressed that safety, for both survivors and rescuers, must guide every move.
The guiding company confirmed the group had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since Sunday and was returning to the trailhead when the avalanche occurred.
Blackbird Mountain Guides is cooperating with authorities while families of the missing are being notified and supported by local agencies. Officials have withheld the names of those involved pending next-of-kin notifications.
Leave a Comment