An avalanche tore down a steep face near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe, killing nine people during a powerful winter storm. Authorities say the victims were six clients and three guides on a commercial trip organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides.
What happened
The group was wrapping up a three-day hut trip when the slide swept them away. Rescue teams reached the scene quickly but faced brutal weather, unstable snow and limited windows of safe work. Crews recovered multiple victims and began an on-site investigation amid continuing storms. At times operations were paused when wind and new snowfall made the slope too dangerous; teams used deliberate mitigation measures before resuming recovery efforts. Early field assessments indicate responders relied mainly on water to break up slab layers rather than the controlled explosives some initial reports mentioned.
Terrain and conditions
Sources on the scene described the slope as brutally steep — roughly 60 degrees — and near the highest local avalanche danger rating. A recent, powerful winter storm had dumped heavy snow and loaded exposed aspects with wind drift, sharply increasing the risk of large slab avalanches. Witnesses told investigators the party had the option of a longer, lower-angle descent but instead chose a more exposed, direct line down the face. Snowpack tests and interviews are under way to reconstruct precisely what the group encountered and whether different precautions were feasible.
Investigations and accountability
Several formal inquiries have been launched. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office opened a criminal probe to examine possible negligence, while a state workplace-safety agency started a parallel review into labor and safety compliance. State avalanche specialists and local authorities are cooperating on the technical work.
Investigators are documenting terrain features, weather observations, radio logs, GPS tracks, photographs and other contemporaneous records. They’ve requested company documents — booking logs, weather advisories, guide reports and internal safety briefings — to establish a timeline of decisions leading up to the slide. Officials emphasize that no conclusions about cause or responsibility have been reached; more detailed analysis awaits safe access to the most hazardous zones.
Who was involved
The trip was run by Blackbird Mountain Guides, a Truckee-based outfit founded by Zeb Blais. Blais, a noted high-altitude climber who has taught avalanche courses and guided internationally, has been identified as a central figure in the inquiries. The victims included six friends traveling together and three guides employed by Blackbird. Family members say the clients carried standard backcountry safety gear and relied on the guides’ judgment.
Company policies and past messaging
Investigators are scrutinizing Blackbird’s policies, training records and how field decisions were communicated. One focus is the company’s trip policy, which historically allowed tours to proceed in adverse weather unless explicitly canceled — phrasing now under close examination. Officials are looking for evidence about what guides were told about the forecast, how routing choices were made on the ground, and whether customers were fully informed about the risks they faced.
Community reaction
The deaths have rippled through the region’s climbing and guiding community. Families, fellow guides and local businesses are grieving and searching for answers. Many in the outdoor world are calling for a thorough, transparent inquiry that could help prevent similar tragedies. Investigators say verifiable, contemporaneous communications — radio transcripts, GPS data, dispatch logs and witness statements — will be critical to the final assessment.
Company response
Blackbird’s founder described the event as an “enormous tragedy,” confirmed the loss of three experienced guides and asked for privacy for grieving families while investigators work. The company suspended field operations after the slide and is cooperating with requests for records.
What comes next
Officials will examine route selection, group management, weather and snowpack data, and adherence to company protocols. The probes could lead to criminal charges, regulatory sanctions or industry-wide recommendations for guided backcountry travel. For now, investigators caution that full answers will take time; stormy conditions have delayed access to parts of the scene and the detailed technical work that follows.