Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue Volunteers Respond to Reported Avalanche
February 18, 2026 – TRUCKEE, CA – The Nevada County Sheriff's Office along with our Nevada County Sheriff's Search & Rescue team and allied agencies, are responding to a report of an avalanche in the Castle Peak area that occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. It has been reported that a group of back country skiers was involved in the incident, with several members of the party missing at the time. This is a developing incident, and we will provide further details as they become available.
See updates below:
Castle Peak Avalanche Update: Rescue Efforts Remain Underway
Update: TRUCKEE, CA – A group of 16 skiers reportedly encountered an avalanche in the Castle Peak area of Truckee at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. At least six of the skiers have survived the avalanche and remain at the avalanche site, awaiting rescue, with the remaining ten unaccounted for at the time of this release. The group consisted of four ski guides with 12 clients.
Highly skilled rescue ski teams have departed from both Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center to make their way to the six known survivors, who have been directed to shelter in place as best they can in the conditions. A SnoCat team was also launched from Alder Creek Adventure Center.
Rescue efforts remain in progress now with 46 emergency first responders. Weather conditions remain highly dangerous. The Sierra Avalanche Center previously issued an avalanche warning for Tuesday, February 17, which was in effect since 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 17 through Wednesday, February 18 at 5:00 a.m., stating: “HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry. Large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning across backcountry terrain. HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Wednesday.”
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies for their direct assistance in these rescue efforts: 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.
This incident remains active and ongoing.
Nevada County Sheriff's Office officials issued a final evening update at 10:40 P.M. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
The six initially reported skiers who survived the avalanche have been successfully rescued this evening by search and rescue teams with varying injuries. Due to extreme weather conditions, it took several hours for rescue personnel to safely reach the skiers and transport them to safety where they were medically evaluated by Truckee Fire. Two of the six skiers have been transported to a hospital for treatment. The search is ongoing, pending weather conditions. It should be noted it was initially believed there were 16 total persons, but that number has been updated to reflect 15 people who actually went on the trip. No further updates are anticipated this evening.
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Source & photos: Nevada County Sheriff's Office
