Questions over why ski group stayed on trip after avalanche watch issued
#Lake Tahoe avalanche #Sierra Avalanche Center #Backcountry skiing #Avalanche watch #California ski accident #Sierra Nevada avalanche #Winter storm safety
📌 Key Takeaways
- Avalanche killed 8 skiers, 9th still missing near Lake Tahoe
- Group continued trip despite avalanche watch issued two days prior
- 6 skiers survived by seeking refuge in trees
- Authorities investigating why guides decided to proceed with trip
- Recovery efforts hampered by continued avalanche danger
📖 Full Retelling
Authorities in California are investigating why a group of skiers and their guides continued their trip after an avalanche watch was issued, which preceded a deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday that killed eight people and left a ninth missing. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon confirmed that rescue teams recovered six survivors who reportedly sought refuge in trees after the massive snow slide, while search efforts for the remaining victim remain on hold due to dangerous conditions. The catastrophic event occurred as the group of 11 skiers and four guides was returning from a three-day backcountry ski excursion during a winter storm that dumped up to 7 feet of snow and lashed the mountains with 60 mph winds. 'Someone saw the avalanche, yelled 'avalanche!' and it overtook them rather quickly,' Capt. Russel Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office described the terrifying moment when a football field-sized slab of snow slid off a mountain in the Castle Peak area, approximately 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe. Despite the clear danger signals, the guide company proceeded with their itinerary, prompting authorities to question their decision-making process as they continue to recover victims from the treacherous terrain.
🏷️ Themes
Avalanche Safety, Winter Sports, Disaster Investigation, Search and Rescue
📚 Related People & Topics
Backcountry skiing
Skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas
Backcountry skiing (US), also called off-piste (Europe), alpine touring, freeriding or out-of-area, is skiing in the backcountry on unmarked or unpatrolled areas either inside or outside a ski resort's boundaries. This contrasts with alpine skiing, which is typically done on groomed trails benefitin...
Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for Backcountry skiing:
View full profileMentioned Entities
Original Source
U.S. Questions over why ski group stayed on trip 2 days after avalanche watch issued near California's Lake Tahoe By Matt Gutman , Matt Gutman Chief Correspondent Award-winning journalist Matt Gutman joined CBS News as chief correspondent in 2026. He is based in Los Angeles. Read Full Bio Matt Gutman , Kelsie Hoffman February 19, 2026 / 11:49 AM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Authorities say they're working to find out why a group of skiers and their guides continued with their trip after a first avalanche watch was issued on Sunday , two days before an avalanche killed some of them near Lake Tahoe, California. "Lots of forecasts on this storm. Those are the decisions that the guide company had clearly made. We're still in conversations with them on the decision factors," Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said. Eight skiers were found dead in the Sierra Nevada and a ninth was still missing, officials on Wednesday. Search teams rescued six skiers who reportedly sought refuge in trees following the avalanche that happened on Tuesday. The group of 11 skiers and four guides was returning from a three-day backcountry ski trip during a winter storm that dumped up to 7 feet of snow and lashed the mountains with 60 mph winds. On Sunday, the Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche watch saying "very dangerous avalanche conditions could occur in the backcountry" in a region including the greater Lake Tahoe area. "HIGH avalanche danger is anticipated in the backcountry Monday evening, lasting through Tuesday night, and possibly into Wednesday," it said. An avalanche warning was then issued on the morning of Feb. 17, the day of the incident, extending to Friday. The advisory stated that "HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry" and said "large" avalanches were expected across backcountry terrain. Moon said a football field-sized slab of snow slid off a mountain in the Castle Peak area, which is about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe – swallowing the skiers. "Som...
Read full article at source