Massive Avalanche Buries 15 in California; 9 Missing as Search Continues

February 18, 2026

After a massive storm deposited feet of snow across the Sierras, 15 backcountry travelers were caught in an avalanche near Truckee, Calif., on Tuesday. Six of them were successfully evacuated by search and rescue (SAR). According to reports on Wednesday, nine members of the party remain missing. Based on available records, this is the most significant avalanche burial incident in the U.S. in the last decade.

The group included 11 skiers traveling with four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides. They were returning from a hut trip near Frog Lake and were navigating avalanche terrain as they exited. The avalanche occurred around 11:30 a.m., according to reports. Rescuers from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center worked with the Nevada County Sheriff’s office to extract the six survivors. GEARJUNKIE