Overview
- A 100-foot-wide avalanche on Castle Peak swept down about 400 feet and buried a backcountry ski party, killing nine people who died of asphyxia after being covered by snow.
- The slide occurred on Feb. 17 and all nine bodies were recovered and identified by Feb. 21, with coroner reports released in early August confirming the cause of death.
- Post‑event reviews by the Sierra Avalanche Center and the National Avalanche Center found guides led travel below avalanche terrain in dangerous conditions and that large group travel likely increased the chance of triggering the slide.
- Several people in the party carried avalanche airbag backpacks, but investigators and researchers reported that none of those airbags deployed during the incident.
- The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has an active criminal investigation into the decisions that preceded the avalanche, and the findings could affect professional guiding practices and safety rules for backcountry group travel.