\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTen backcountry skiers are missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe and six more are awaiting rescue and being told to shelter in place the best they can, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. The group of 16 skiers was in the Castle Peak area when the sheriff’s office said it received a report of an avalanche around 11:30 a.m. The group was made up of four ski guides and 12 clients on a tour with Blackbird Mountain Guides. The tour group said the group had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since Sunday and was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the avalanche occurred. “The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the Nevada County Sheriff\u2019s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to support the ongoing rescue operation,” the company said. “Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with the emergency contacts of the affected clients and guides and is providing them with regular updates as verified information becomes available.”KCRA 3\u2019s Brian Hickey said he\u2019s done a lot of backcountry skiing on Castle Peak but has not been to Frog Lake. But he said there is steep terrain in the area that is prone to avalanches. Nevada County sheriff’s deputies and a search and rescue team, along with the Placer County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Truckee Fire were searching for the missing skiers. There are 46 first responders involved in the effort. Those who were attempting to rescue the six known survivors departed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner\u2019s Alder Creek Adventure Center. A snowcat team was also launched from Alder Creek Adventure Center, the sheriff’s office said. Capt. Russell Green with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said first responders were notified by tour company after the avalanche. \u201cPeople go out and use the backcountry at all times,” he said. “We advise against it honestly, but I wouldn\u2019t say that it\u2019s uncommon, not that it was a wise choice.\u201dGreen said that those who were awaiting rescue had made a makeshift shelter with a tarp.Earlier in the day, the Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning for parts of the area, which includes Castle Peak. The warning is in effect through 4 a.m. on Wednesday.The avalanche happened as a snowstorm continues to dump piles of snow in the area, leading to shutdown highways and multiple spinouts and crashes. Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn said that Soda Springs, near Castle Peak, has recorded up to 40 inches of snow so far since Monday.California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed an “all-hands search and rescue effort.” This is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 as we work to gather details on the avalanche and the search for the skiers.See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it\u2019s safe to do so at kcra.com\/upload.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tNEVADA COUNTY, Calif. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Ten backcountry skiers are missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe and six more are awaiting rescue and being told to shelter in place the best they can, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. <\/p>\n
The group of 16 skiers was in the Castle Peak area when the sheriff’s office said it received a report of an avalanche around 11:30 a.m. The group was made up of four ski guides and 12 clients on a tour with Blackbird Mountain Guides. <\/p>\n
The tour group said the group had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since Sunday and was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the avalanche occurred. <\/p>\n
“The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the Nevada County Sheriff\u2019s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to support the ongoing rescue operation,” the company said. “Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with the emergency contacts of the affected clients and guides and is providing them with regular updates as verified information becomes available.”<\/p>\n
KCRA 3\u2019s Brian Hickey said he\u2019s done a lot of backcountry skiing on Castle Peak but has not been to Frog Lake. But he said there is steep terrain in the area that is prone to avalanches. <\/p>\n
Nevada County sheriff’s deputies and a search and rescue team, along with the Placer County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Truckee Fire were searching for the missing skiers. There are 46 first responders involved in the effort. <\/p>\n
Those who were attempting to rescue the six known survivors departed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner\u2019s Alder Creek Adventure Center. A snowcat team was also launched from Alder Creek Adventure Center, the sheriff’s office said. <\/p>\n
Capt. Russell Green with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said first responders were notified by tour company after the avalanche. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople go out and use the backcountry at all times,” he said. “We advise against it honestly, but I wouldn\u2019t say that it\u2019s uncommon, not that it was a wise choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Green said that those who were awaiting rescue had made a makeshift shelter with a tarp.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, the Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning for parts of the area, which includes Castle Peak. The warning is in effect through 4 a.m. on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The avalanche happened as a snowstorm continues to dump piles of snow<\/a> in the area, leading to shutdown highways and multiple spinouts and crashes. Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn said that Soda Springs, near Castle Peak, has recorded up to 40 inches of snow so far since Monday.<\/p>\n California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed an “all-hands search and rescue effort.” <\/p>\n \n\tThis content is imported from Twitter. >>@CAGovernor<\/a> Gavin Newsom has been briefed on this developing incident. The state is coordinating an all-hands search and rescue effort with local partners and deploying resources to support the active response. <\/p>\n Please follow local emergency officials and first responders. https:\/\/t.co\/pQmpLw2lvY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n This is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 as we work to gather details on the avalanche and the search for the skiers.<\/p>\n See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it\u2019s safe to do so at kcra.com\/upload<\/a>.<\/p>\n See more coverage of top California stories here<\/a> | Download our app<\/a> | Subscribe to our morning newsletter<\/a> | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel<\/a> <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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