SP
BravenNow
Deadly February for skiers in Lake Tahoe region continues with 2 more fatalities
| USA | general | ✓ Verified - cbsnews.com

Deadly February for skiers in Lake Tahoe region continues with 2 more fatalities

#Lake Tahoe #Skiing fatalities #Heavenly Mountain Resort #Avalanche #Northstar California #Douglas County Sheriff #Backcountry skiing #February 2026

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Two skiers died in separate incidents at Heavenly Mountain Resort on February 20, 2026
  • These deaths are part of a deadly February for Lake Tahoe skiers with multiple fatalities
  • An avalanche earlier this week claimed at least eight lives, becoming California's deadliest recorded avalanche
  • Northstar California Resort has also seen three fatalities this month
  • Investigations into all incidents remain active with authorities examining possible negligence

📖 Full Retelling

Two skiers died Friday in separate incidents at Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort, marking the latest in a series of ski-related deaths in the region this month that has already seen at least eight people killed in a historic avalanche. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported responding to two separate fatal ski incidents at the resort's Boulder Lodge around 11:55 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday. Authorities confirmed the incidents are unrelated and there is no known relationship between the victims. Both skiers were transported to the base area by Heavenly Ski Patrol, where rescue personnel attempted life-saving measures, but both individuals died at the scene. These fatalities add to a devastating month for Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts on both the California and Nevada sides. The deadliest incident occurred earlier this week when an avalanche near Castle Peak in California's Nevada County claimed at least eight lives during a backcountry touring trip, marking the deadliest avalanche in California's recorded history. Of the 15 skiers on the trip, six survived, while the bodies of eight others have been located, with a ninth person presumed dead. Additionally, Northstar California Resort has experienced three fatalities this month, including a 21-year-old off-duty employee found dead on an advanced trail and two separate collisions involving skiers from the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. While authorities have not indicated whether weather conditions played a role in Friday's incidents at Heavenly, investigations into all recent fatalities remain active, with California authorities also investigating the tour company for possible criminal negligence in connection with the avalanche.

🏷️ Themes

Ski Safety, Natural Disasters, Recreational Accidents

📚 Related People & Topics

Northstar California

Northstar California

Ski resort in California, United States

Northstar California (previously Northstar-at-Tahoe) is a mountain resort in the western United States, located in Placer County, California, near the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. Approximately 200 miles (320 km) from the San Francisco Bay Area, the 3,170-acre (12.8 km2) resort features 2,280 ft (...

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗
Avalanche

Avalanche

Rapid flow of a mass of snow down a slope

An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, other animals, and earthquakes. Primarily composed of flowing snow and air,...

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗
Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe

Lake in California and Nevada, United States

Lake Tahoe () is a freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at 6,225 ft (1,897 m) above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and at 122,160,280 acre⋅ft (150.7 km3) it trails only the fi...

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗
Heavenly Mountain Resort

Heavenly Mountain Resort

Ski resort in California, United States

Heavenly Mountain Resort is a ski resort in the western United States, located on the California–Nevada border in southeastern Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It opened as "Heavenly Valley" 71 years ago on December 15, 1955, and now has 97 runs and 30 lifts spread between four base f...

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗

Entity Intersection Graph

No entity connections available yet for this article.

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

The February 2026 ski season in Lake Tahoe has seen a surge in fatalities, highlighting safety risks for both recreational and professional skiers. Multiple deaths across resorts raise concerns about avalanche safety, trail conditions, and emergency response protocols.

What Happens Next

Investigations into the causes of the incidents are ongoing, and authorities will release the identities of the deceased after notifying next of kin. Resorts and state agencies are likely to review safety procedures and may implement additional precautions for the remainder of the season.

Original Source
Local News Deadly February for skiers in Lake Tahoe region continues with 2 fatalities at Heavenly Resort By Richard Ramos Richard Ramos Web Producer, CBS Sacramento Richard Ramos is a web producer for CBS Sacramento who was born and raised in Sacramento. He graduated with a BA in Journalism from CSUS. Read Full Bio Richard Ramos Updated on: February 20, 2026 / 7:55 PM EST / CBS Sacramento Add CBS News on Google Two skiers died Friday in separate incidents at Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort, marking the latest in a series of ski-related deaths this month in the region that stretches across Northern California and Nevada. This follows an avalanche earlier this week that claimed the lives of at least eight people. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office on the Nevada side of the lake said deputies responded around 11:55 a.m. Pacific Time to two separate fatal ski incidents at the resort's Boulder Lodge. Authorities said the incidents are not connected, and there is no known relationship between the two individuals. Both skiers were transported to the base area by Heavenly Ski Patrol, the sheriff's office said. Ski patrol members and paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but both skiers died at the scene. The sheriff's office did not clarify what type of skiing incidents occurred. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation. The identities of the two skiers will be released after their next of kin are notified. The deaths come amid a deadly stretch for Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts, both on the California and Nevada sides. On Tuesday, an avalanche near Castle Peak in California's Nevada County claimed the lives of several skiers on a backcountry touring trip in what has been confirmed as the deadliest avalanche in the state's recorded history . Of the 15 skiers on the trip, six survived. The bodies of eight others have since been located, and a ninth person is presumed dead. California authorities are investigating the company that led the trip for po...
Read full article at source

Source

cbsnews.com

More from USA

News from Other Countries

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

🇺🇦 Ukraine