All nine bodies of skiers killed in California avalanche recovered

February 22, 2026

TL;DR

All nine missing skiers killed in a California avalanche have been recovered.
The avalanche occurred in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe.
Six survivors were rescued earlier in the week.
The deceased include six women and three professional guides from Blackbird Mountain Company.
The recovery operation involved numerous agencies and volunteers.
The avalanche is the deadliest in the region since 1981.
The skiers were experienced backcountry enthusiasts on a guided tour.
An investigation is ongoing to determine if there was criminal negligence.
The area will be off-limits to visitors until mid-March.

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