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The Tahoe-Truckee region is an adventurer-seeker’s paradise. We have an abundance of year-round opportunities to connect with nature, learn new skills and challenge our capabilities. Here we can pursue our wildest dreams while surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes on this planet.
We also are not strangers to natural disasters, including avalanches, fires and floods. Since the catastrophic 1982 avalanche in Alpine Meadows, our community has made headlines with numerous natural disasters, including the Angora Fire and Caldor Fire that burned hundreds of thousands of acres of our beloved lands.
Photo: Sunset on the shores of Hidden Beach. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
This year our community was struck again with back-to-back tragedies. The avalanche at Castle Peak took the lives of nine skiers with strong ties to our community. This, alongside the loss of a snowmobiler and five skiers, has made the winter of 2026 one of the deadliest in history, sparking debates about safety, weather and how to come together as a community.
If there is anything the Tahoe-Truckee community has shown me throughout the years, it's resilience, strength, hope, inclusion and compassion. That’s why I often use the catchphrase “Tahoe Strong.” It’s more than a slogan, it’s a way of life.
A bluebird day on the Tahoe Donner trails. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
On February 17, a group of experienced backcountry skiers was caught in an avalanche approximately the size of a football field near Castle Peak. Nine people lost their lives: six women on a mothers' ski trip and three of their guides. Six survived, including one guide. It is currently being called one of the deadliest avalanches in modern California history.
The avalanche occurred during a blizzard, under whiteout skies, extremely high winds and heavy snowfall dumping on an extremely unstable pack. Extreme weather conditions were forecasted for the day, with intensified avalanche risk. Online debates quickly ignited and heated topics regarding the safety of backcountry tours during severe weather conditions, risk assessment and proper mountain etiquette popped up in comments sections and forums before all the information could be gathered and processed.
Here in Tahoe-Truckee, where backcountry adventures are deeply woven into the fabric of our community, the response was different.
We looked beyond the headlines and jumped headfirst into the situation with care, compassion and rapid response. Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue (TNSAR), composed of volunteer medics, healthcare professionals and professional skiers, mobilized and embarked on a rescue mission in a race against time and worsening conditions. Alongside TNSAR, Nevada County Search and Rescue, Placer County Search and Rescue and California Highway Patrol Air Operations were among those in the rescue and recovery missions.
The mountains inspire us with the feeling of freedom. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
The victims were recovered on February 20 and 21.
On February 20 there were two separate skiing deaths at Heavenly, bringing the total local inbound skiing fatality number to five, adding more grief amongst community members and reminders of how fragile life truly is.
On February 22 the community held a candlelight vigil in Downtown Truckee to honor the lives lost in the recent tragedies. Following the service, Church of the Mountains opened its doors to everyone, offering space to grieve, heal, connect and support each other.
In mountain towns like ours, grief feels heavy. It reaches everyone. It affects friends, family, acquaintances and familiar faces from the ski lifts to local hangouts. Stories spread quickly. While it may feel like the whole world is watching and debating, here the focus has been on healing, support, remembrance and resilience.
Our mountains inspire adventure, freedom and exploration. They make us feel alive. They also humble us and demand respect. In the wake of our losses, we must accept these truths. We must also never forget our humanity and the core need to support each other through the triumphs and tragedies.
The world is heavy lately. And I hope we can always be a shining example to the world of how to be a light.
The golden glow reminds me to be grateful and dream of a better tomorrow. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
Many of the search and rescue team members present in the recent avalanche mission were from Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, a nonprofit volunteer organization made of EMTs, ER doctors and nurses, paramedics, firefighters, ski patrollers and highly skilled backcountry skiers. Please click here to support Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue.
In memory of:
Carrie Atkin
Liz Clabaugh
Danielle Keatley
Kate Morse
Caroline Sekar
Katherine Vitt
Andrew Alissandratos
Nicole Choo
Michael Henry
Brian Robert Fraud
Nicholas Jamil Haddad
Colin Kang
Nicholas Kenworthy
Stuart McLaughlin
Chris Scott Thomason
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
