The Nevada County Sheriff's Office in California announced on Saturday, February 21, 2026, the recovery of the ninth and final victim from a deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe. This avalanche, which occurred Tuesday morning near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada, is considered one of the most lethal in U.S. history. The group consisted of eleven skiers and four professional guides on a three-day backcountry ski trip. Six individuals survived and managed to call for help, but challenging weather conditions, including zero visibility and the risk of further slides, hampered rescue efforts for hours. The sheriff's office confirmed all nine deceased individuals have been safely recovered, expressing condolences to the families.