8 Skiers dead after accidental Avalanche in California!

[Anonymous]

Did you really have to title it that? Praying for their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that they were in the backcountry. Think rugged. Not at a resort where they shut it down when there’s a blizzard and don’t reopen until they’ve done avalanche control.

It’s terribly sad. My heart goes out to their families and friends.

Correct, this was a 3 day trek across raw mountain slopes. I wonder if they even do avalanche control for non-resort areas? I mean they can't do every mountain.

Only because Big Ski doesn't want to spend their corporate profits making the mountains safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there no warning?

Why don't they have some kind of helmet that creates a large balloon of oxygen around them and a beacon that starts emitting signal? Like an airtag or something?

Yes there was warning not to travel in the area from the Sierra Avalanche Center

WHAT
HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry. Large avalanches are expected across backcountry terrain. HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Thursday.

WHEN
In effect from Tue, Feb 17, 2026 - 5:00AM to Thu, Feb 19, 2026 - 5:00AM

WHERE
Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. This does not include ski areas or highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist.

IMPACTS
Rapidly accumulating snowfall, weak layers in the existing snowpack, and gale-force winds that blow and drift snow have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains. Natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
Traveling in, near, or below backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended during HIGH avalanche danger.

Sounds like Camp Mystic, but since it's skiing it will get a pass from DCUM.

[Anonymous]

I believe they had run out of food which is why they decided to leave the hut.

I know someone who died in an avalanche under 3 inches of snow (he along with 2 others and a guide for a total of 4) a few years ago. You don’t need several feet of snow to get buried and not be able to breath and get out. This is so tragic and sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that they were in the backcountry. Think rugged. Not at a resort where they shut it down when there’s a blizzard and don’t reopen until they’ve done avalanche control.

It’s terribly sad. My heart goes out to their families and friends.

Correct, this was a 3 day trek across raw mountain slopes. I wonder if they even do avalanche control for non-resort areas? I mean they can't do every mountain.

Im a backcountry skier, and we have a vacation home in Truckee. No, they dont do avalanche control in the wilderness. And most resorts were closed Tuesday anyway (we stayed home).

There are a lot of open questions whyb4 experienced guides and 11 people with backcountry experience decided to go out in a storm that was forecast from last week. And after a warm spell which makes avy danger higher due to layered snow conditions.

But right now 8 dead bodies are still out there and another unaccounted for. Truckee is a tiny community. People are reeling.

My thoughts are that people way, way underestimate the risks of outdoor adventures and boating, and way overestimate the capabilities of guides/boat drivers/etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From a friend of a victim- some of the women there were on a mom’s group getaway.

I am the op; thank you for sharing, although this detail makes it all the more heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But people keep insisting climate change isn’t real. Despite the avalanche of evidence. Pun intended.

All I know is we never had avalanches like this 20 years ago.

Absolutely not true. You're obviously not someone that skis out west much less does helicopter back country skiing.

Grew up skiing out west. Know people killed in their car from an avalanche 20+ years ago. Daily avalanche control is a thing that's been done for decades. Choosing not to ski during HIGH avalanche warnings is also a thing.

That last statement. There were warnings posted the day before that they chose to ignore.

[Anonymous]

California is a disaster they should be spendingbbetter avalanche control but the govt is wasting the money on other programs that are a waste

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there no warning?

Why don't they have some kind of helmet that creates a large balloon of oxygen around them and a beacon that starts emitting signal? Like an airtag or something?

Yes there was warning not to travel in the area from the Sierra Avalanche Center

WHAT
HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry. Large avalanches are expected across backcountry terrain. HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Thursday.

WHEN
In effect from Tue, Feb 17, 2026 - 5:00AM to Thu, Feb 19, 2026 - 5:00AM

WHERE
Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. This does not include ski areas or highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist.

IMPACTS
Rapidly accumulating snowfall, weak layers in the existing snowpack, and gale-force winds that blow and drift snow have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains. Natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure people are very likely.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
Traveling in, near, or below backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended during HIGH avalanche danger.

Sounds like Camp Mystic, but since it's skiing it will get a pass from DCUM.

What an absolutely dumb comment. What pass is being given ? Also these were adults who made the decision to go out when they should not have. The children at camp mystic didn’t have a say and suffered from the horrible decisions the inept adults made.

[Anonymous]

And how does this affect anyone in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:California is a disaster they should be spendingbbetter avalanche control but the govt is wasting the money on other programs that are a waste

You don’t get outside much do you?

Do you really think any state could afford to do avalanche mitigation on every single mountain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:California is a disaster they should be spendingbbetter avalanche control but the govt is wasting the money on other programs that are a waste

Its the wilderness...

[Anonymous]

What's an accidental avalanche? Are any intentional. I know someone whose sibling died in an avalanche 30 years ago out there. It happens, sadly. Everything has risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:California is a disaster they should be spendingbbetter avalanche control but the govt is wasting the money on other programs that are a waste

You don’t get outside much do you?

Do you really think any state could afford to do avalanche mitigation on every single mountain?

That you think that would even be possible…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that they were in the backcountry. Think rugged. Not at a resort where they shut it down when there’s a blizzard and don’t reopen until they’ve done avalanche control.

It’s terribly sad. My heart goes out to their families and friends.

Correct, this was a 3 day trek across raw mountain slopes. I wonder if they even do avalanche control for non-resort areas? I mean they can't do every mountain.

Only because Big Ski doesn't want to spend their corporate profits making the mountains safe.

Please explain “the mountains”.