Castle Peak

Castle Peak, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe, California, is a backcountry area popular for skiing. It's newsworthy due to a recent deadly avalanche that occurred there in February 2026. A group of 15 skiers were caught in the avalanche, triggered by a major winter storm that brought heavy snowfall to the region. Rescue efforts were hampered by whiteout conditions. Initially, six skiers were rescued with injuries, but ten were missing. Over several days, rescue teams recovered the bodies of nine skiers. The final missing skier was presumed dead. The incident is considered the deadliest avalanche in the Sierra Nevada in over 40 years, highlighting the inherent risks associated with backcountry skiing in areas prone to avalanches. The Sierra Avalanche Center had observed numerous avalanches in the Lake Tahoe area prior to this event.