Latest articles about Avalanche

Europe's 2025–26 Avalanche Season: 119 Deaths and Why the Mountains Are More Dangerous Than They Look

Michael Fulton

March 1, 2026

Europe's 2025–26 Avalanche Season: 119 Deaths and Why the Mountains Are More Dangerous Than They Look

Europe's 2025–26 avalanche season has become one of the deadliest in modern history, with 119 confirmed deaths before the end of February and the season still far from over. A buried weak layer formed in December, combined with successive storms dumping metres of snow on top of it, has created conditions that aren't visible from the surface. Here's a full breakdown of what happened, why, and what it means if you're planning a trip to the Alps.

France

Avalanche

Switzerland

Austria

Italy

Castle Peak Avalanche: California's Deadliest Slide Kills Nine Backcountry Skiers Near Lake Tahoe

Michael Fulton

February 24, 2026

Castle Peak Avalanche: California's Deadliest Slide Kills Nine Backcountry Skiers Near Lake Tahoe

On the morning of February 17, 2026, nine people lost their lives when an avalanche swept through a group of fifteen backcountry skiers near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada. It is the deadliest avalanche in California's recorded history — and the full picture of what happened that morning raises serious questions about decision-making, risk assessment, and the weight of avalanche warnings.

Lake Tahoe

Avalanche

California

Michael Fulton

February 18, 2026

10 Skiers Missing After Avalanche Near Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe

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.

Lake Tahoe

Avalanche

California