{"id":1791047,"date":"2026-02-24T21:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1791047"},"modified":"2026-02-24T21:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:38:00","slug":"sierra-avalanche-center-releases-initial-avalanche-report-on-tragedy-at-castle-peak-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1791047","title":{"rendered":"Sierra Avalanche Center Releases Initial Avalanche Report on Tragedy at Castle Peak, CA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_392703\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-392703\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392703 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAEmAQMAAADIrrMOAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAC5JREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20JT6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAJ4GXQYAAQcjWlMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Castle Peak\" width=\"640\" height=\"294\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avalanche-Area-1.jpg?resize=640%2C294&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avalanche-Area-1.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avalanche-Area-1.jpg?resize=300%2C138&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avalanche-Area-1.jpg?resize=768%2C353&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avalanche-Area-1.jpg?resize=600%2C276&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"294\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392703\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avalanche-Area-1.jpg?resize=640%2C294&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Castle Peak\" width=\"640\" height=\"294\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-392703\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The specific area where the avalanche occurred on Castle Peak is circled. Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-57549886\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-57549886\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-76313543\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-76313543\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p><b>On February 17, 2026, an avalanche, now considered California\u2019s deadliest avalanche disaster, occurred near Castle Peak, claiming the lives of nine individuals.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The incident involved a guided backcountry group of 15 people with Blackbird Mountain Guides consisting of 12 clients and 3 professional guides.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>This avalanche occurred near a north-facing slope below Castle Peak.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sierraavalanchecenter.org\/observations\/#\/view\/avalanches\/83ba330a-5eb4-446e-95b0-495c26faf06b\">Sierra Avalanche Center<\/a>, the slide was classified as a soft slab\/storm slab avalanche that was triggered due to unknown reasons as it was not clear whether the slide occurred naturally or was remotely triggered. The following technical observations were made:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Aspect:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> North<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Elevation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 8,260 feet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Destructive Size:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The avalanche was classified as a D2.5, which makes its typical length the size of a football field and roughly 6 \u00bd feet deep according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/avalanche.org\/avalanche-encyclopedia\/avalanche\/avalanche-problems\/avalanche-size\/destructive-force-d-scale\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avalanche.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Vertical Fall:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The debris traveled approximately 400 vertical feet, funneling towards the bottom of path.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Impacts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 12 caught\/carried; 12 completely buried; 9 killed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_392704\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-392704\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392704 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAANVAQMAAADSh91IAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFlJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwZQ30AAG1ytrpAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=600%2C800&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"853\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392704\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-3-1.jpg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Castle\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-392704\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of the slope where the avalanche occurred, taken 3 days after the avalanche. Photo: Logan Talbot \u2013 TNSAR\/Alpenglow Expeditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>The group was navigating through a high-intensity winter storm with extreme winds and heavy snowfall.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> While the group was going through a lower-angle section below a steeper pitch, the slope above them released. Out of the 15 members in the party, 12 were caught and fully buried by the debris. Three members of the group remained on the surface and immediately performed a companion search and were able to rescue 3 buried individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Search and rescue arrived on the scene in the late afternoon, but operations were severely hindered by ongoing \u201cextreme\u201d avalanche danger and blizzard conditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. However, 8 of the 9 remaining deceased victims were excavated, and the teams were able to evacuate the 6 survivors from the scene under their own power to the Frog Lake Huts.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_392701\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-392701\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392701 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHgAQMAAAAPH06nAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4M8Al+AAAUvMG0oAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"Castle Peak\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"480\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-392701\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/avalanche-4.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Castle Peak\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-392701\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Search and Rescue PG&amp;E helicopters with ~5,500 lb, 660-gallon water buckets performing avalanche mitigation. Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-10949569\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-10949569\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-3-70542165\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-70542165\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"3\"><\/div>\n<p><b>The search and rescue teams were not able to return to the scene until after the storm ended and avalanche mitigation was performed on February 20.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Following the avalanche mitigation, the teams were able to remove 5 of the deceased and found the 9th buried victim before nightfall. On Saturday, Feb 21, rescue operations concluded with the retrieval of the last 4 deceased.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The conclusion of this terrible event leaves behind a legacy of the deadliest avalanche in California\u2019s history.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> While the analysis of this avalanche provides critical data for future safety of backcountry athletes, the loss of life and the families of the nine individuals is still immense. So if you have plans to head into the backcountry anytime soon, now would be the best time to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/psa-now-is-the-time-to-sign-up-for-an-avalanche-course1\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sign up for an avalanche safety course<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to keep yourself and your group safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The specific area where the avalanche occurred on Castle Peak is circled. Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center On February 17, 2026, an avalanche, now considered California\u2019s deadliest avalanche disaster, occurred near Castle Peak, claiming the lives of nine individuals. The incident involved a guided backcountry group of 15 people with Blackbird Mountain Guides consisting of 12 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1791047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1791047"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791047\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1791047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1791047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1791047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}