‘High avalanche danger’ in backcountry Lake Tahoe area as watch goes into effect
The National Weather Service issued an avalanche watch for the backcountry areas of the Tahoe Basin, less than a week after nine people were killed in a slide near Castle Peak.
Significant, high elevation rain is expected, which, on top of existing snow, could cause avalanche activity, the weather service in Reno, Nevada said. Winds also cause unstable slabs and weak layers in the snowpack, the Sierra Avalanche Center, a not-for-profit organization that partners with the U.S. Forest Service, said.
“High avalanche danger is anticipated” in the area, according to the National Weather Service. “This applies only to backcountry areas, not to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist.”
The watch is in effect until 5 a.m. Tuesday, including areas of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass and Ebbetts Pass. Traveling in, near or below backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Fifteen backcountry skiers were caught in the avalanche reported in the Castle Peak area near Donner Pass Tuesday morning — a group of tight-knit mothers along with four experienced guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides.
Six of those skiers — one of the guides and five of the clients — survived the avalanche and were rescued. Nine skiers, including three guides, were killed.
The skiers killed in what is the deadliest avalanche in California history were Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco; Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae; and guides Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Nicole “Niki” Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe; and Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs.
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 11:09 AM with the headline "‘High avalanche danger’ in backcountry Lake Tahoe area as watch goes into effect."
