Overview
Law enforcement in Nevada County has opened a preliminary criminal investigation to determine whether criminal negligence may have played a role in an avalanche that killed at least eight people and is believed to have claimed a ninth life on a guided backcountry ski outing in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Officials emphasized that it is too early to conclude whether any charges would be appropriate.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a written statement that, "in addition to the coroner’s death investigations, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting a parallel investigation into whether criminal negligence was involved." The office cautioned the probe is at an early stage and that it is premature to identify a specific target for possible charges. The Nevada County District Attorney’s Office, which would make any charging decisions, declined to comment.
What happened
Eight people were killed and a ninth was presumed dead after a football-field-sized avalanche swept over a group of skiers on Tuesday during a three-day backcountry expedition organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides. The incident occurred in the rugged Castle Peak area near Truckee, California, approximately 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Lake Tahoe. The event has been described as the deadliest U.S. avalanche in 45 years.
The party consisted of 15 skiers, including four guides from Blackbird. Three of those guides were among the fatalities. The group had been returning to a trailhead in heavy snowfall when the avalanche occurred. Rescuers recovered six survivors from the area.
Operator and response
Blackbird Mountain Guides, founded in 2020, offers guided ski trips, alpine climbing trips and avalanche education. The company did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. In a written statement posted late Wednesday, Zeb Blais, founder of Blackbird, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and noted the ongoing nature of investigations.
"There is still a lot we’re learning about what happened," Blais wrote. "It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway."
"We ask that people following this tragedy refrain from speculating. We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do."
Blais said all guides on the trip were highly trained in backcountry skiing and that each guide served as an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
Conditions and warnings
Avalanche centers had warned of especially hazardous conditions leading up to the accident, following a massive winter storm that deposited large volumes of new snow on mountains that previously had a sparse snowpack. Experts cautioned that a weak bed of older snow was unlikely to support the pressure exerted by a heavy, dense new layer, creating a heightened risk of avalanches.
Expert perspective
Frank Carus, director of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center in Wyoming and a former backcountry ski guide, called for patience while investigators work. He stressed the complexity of avalanche probes and warned against premature judgments.
"The main thing here is not to rush to judgment," Carus said, noting that such investigations are immensely complicated and can take several weeks to complete. "The worst thing to do is to blame or shame before the facts are known."
Carus also affirmed the quality of the guides' training, describing it as the gold standard in the industry and noting the guides involved had been tested on their ability to manage clients and exposure to risky terrain.
"These were people tested on their ability to manage clients in the terrain and manage exposure risk," Carus said.
Survivors and rescue
Survivors made use of emergency beacons and text messaging to communicate their location to rescuers after the avalanche struck. Those who survived took shelter in an improvised refuge constructed in part from tarpaulin sheets. Rescuers recovered six survivors from the scene in the Castle Peak area.
The group had been staying at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts near Donner Summit, northwest of Truckee, at an elevation of about 7,500 feet (2,300 meters). Blackbird operates backcountry tours in other locations, including Washington state and British Columbia, in addition to California.
Ongoing investigation
Authorities said the criminal inquiry will proceed alongside coroner’s investigations into the deaths. At this stage, investigators have not named targets of potential charges and prosecutors have not indicated whether they will pursue any criminal case. Officials and experts reiterated that it may take time for factual findings to emerge and for any determinations about responsibility to be made.