Authorities in California are examining whether a guided backcountry ski tour near Lake Tahoe was so poorly managed that it amounts to criminal negligence after an avalanche killed at least eight skiers and left one still missing.
The avalanche struck a group led by Blackbird Mountain Guides on Tuesday, February 17, in the Castle Peak area of Tahoe National Forest, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe.
The party included four guides and 11 skiers on the final day of a three‑day hut trip at Frog Lake, when a large slide overtook them around 11:30 a.m. on a north‑facing slope near 8,200 feet, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center, according to The Guardian.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office later confirmed that eight bodies have been recovered and one skier remains unaccounted for but is presumed dead. Six people survived the slide, including one guide and five clients, with two transported to the hospital for non‑life‑threatening injuries.
The avalanche has become the deadliest in the United States since 1981, reigniting debates about risk, safety protocols, and decision‑making in guided backcountry tours. Sheriff Shannan Moon said rescue teams faced near‑whiteout conditions and had to stage additional search‑and‑rescue crews in case of secondary slides.
Survivors used avalanche beacons and an iPhone SOS feature to help locate the group, but the rescue was delayed by heavy snow and steep terrain in remote, unpatrolled backcountry. Officials said all members of the party were carrying avalanche safety gear, including beacons, shovels, and probes.
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Investigators are now looking into whether the tour operator and guides ignored clear warnings by proceeding with the trip.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch several days before the slide and upgraded to a "HIGH" avalanche warning on the morning of the event, warning of "large" avalanches across all aspects and elevations. Authorities are asking why the company did not cancel or reroute the trip, given the worsening storm and elevated risk, the New York Times reported.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office has launched a criminal investigation to determine if any laws were violated, and California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health has also opened a workplace‑safety probe into Blackbird Mountain Guides. No charges have been filed yet, and officials cautioned that the process will take time.
Families of the victims, many of whom were described as experienced backcountry skiers and close friends, say they trust their guides but are seeking answers about how the group ended up on a slope where a large storm‑slab avalanche occurred.
Local officials and rescue teams say the case will likely influence how avalanche risk, guide training, and client communication are reviewed in future backcountry operations around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada, as per the Associated Press.
