Nine Skiers Killed in Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe, Recovery Complete

An avalanche in the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Lake Tahoe resulted in nine fatalities among a group of backcountry skiers. The event prompted a multi-agency recovery operation and led to the closure of the affected area for safety assessments.

The avalanche occurred near Castle Peak on February 17, 2026, during a period of heavy snowfall. The incident was one of the deadliest avalanches recorded in the United States, taking place while a multi-day snowstorm impacted the region.

Search-and-rescue teams worked over five days to locate and recover the bodies of the nine victims. Four bodies were recovered on February 20, and the remaining five were found the following day, according to official reports.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon confirmed at a news conference that all nine individuals had been identified. The victims included three professional guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and six experienced backcountry skiers.

What the numbers show

• Nine skiers died in the February 17, 2026 avalanche
• Recovery operations lasted five days, concluding on February 21
• Six survivors were rescued after enduring freezing conditions

The deceased guides were named as Andrew Alissandratos (34), Nicole Choo (42), and Michael Henry (30). The other victims were identified as Carrie Atkin (46), Lizabeth Clabaugh (52), Danielle Keatley (44), Kate Morse (45), Caroline Sekar (45), and Katherine Vitt (43.

Six other members of the group survived the avalanche. These individuals spent several hours in cold temperatures before being reached by rescuers.

Recovery efforts faced delays due to ongoing severe weather, unstable snow conditions, and limited visibility. Crews used water to help stabilize the snow and deployed helicopters and snowcats to assist in the operation.

Multiple organizations participated in the recovery, including the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, California National Guard, Pacific Gas & Electric, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, and volunteer teams. The avalanche was classified between D2 and D3 on the danger scale, indicating a size capable of burying a person or destroying a house, with a path about the length of a football field. The area around Castle Peak was closed to the public for several weeks while investigations and safety checks were conducted.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.