TL;DR
A group of 16 skiers was caught in a large avalanche near Castle Peak in Northern California on Tuesday morning, leaving 10 people unaccounted for as emergency crews mounted a major rescue operation. The incident occurred amid an active avalanche warning and severe storm conditions across the Sierra Nevada.
10 Skiers Unaccounted For After Avalanche Buries Group Near Castle Peak
A group of 16 skiers — four guides and 12 clients — was buried or caught in a large avalanche near Castle Peak, just off Interstate 80 near Donner Summit and Truckee, California, at around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday 17 February. Six survivors remained at the scene and were instructed to shelter in place while rescue teams worked to reach them. The other 10 were unaccounted for as of Tuesday afternoon.
Rescue Operation Underway
Forty-six emergency responders were involved in the rescue effort. Teams from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner's Alder Creek Adventure Center were dispatched to the site, along with a SnoCat from the Alder Creek centre. Assisting agencies included Nevada County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, Placer County Sheriff's Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Truckee Fire. The incident was still active as of Tuesday afternoon.
Dangerous Conditions Across the Region
The Sierra Avalanche Center had an avalanche warning in place from 5 a.m. Tuesday through 5 a.m. Wednesday, with the advisory noting that large avalanches were expected and that dangerous conditions could persist into Wednesday. The centre's guidance was direct — travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain was not recommended. It also flagged that large avalanches could run through treed areas, and urged anyone moving through non-avalanche terrain to make sure no steeper connected slopes sat above or to the side of their route.
Nearby Resorts Shut Down
Palisades Tahoe closed during the day due to extreme storm conditions, with the resort noting that teams were working through avalanche mitigation, lift dig-outs, and terrain assessment before reopening. It's not an unusual call in these conditions — when the Sierra cycles up like this, the mountain ops teams earn their keep.
A Reminder About Backcountry Risk
This incident happened in the backcountry, not at a resort. Castle Peak sits in a high-consequence zone that demands proper training, equipment, and — critically — awareness of current conditions. When a regional avalanche centre issues a warning this strong, the message is clear: the backcountry is not the place to be that day, regardless of experience level. That applies whether you're visiting from interstate or flying in from Australia.
Our thoughts are with the missing skiers, their families, and the rescue teams working in extremely difficult conditions.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
