Report criticizes guides’ decision in deadly Tahoe avalanche

Key Points:

• Investigators concluded that guides leading a group of 15 backcountry skiers traveled below avalanche terrain during dangerous conditions and chose a more avalanche-prone route despite safer alternatives, contributing to California's deadliest modern avalanche on Feb. 17 near Castle Peak.
• The group traveled tightly packed, contrary to best practices that recommend exposing one person at a time to avalanche terrain; larger groups increase the risk of triggering avalanches due to greater slope impact and communication challenges.
• Several members wore avalanche airbag backpacks, but none deployed, likely because these devices require manual activation and may be difficult to use during sudden avalanches; it remains unclear if those wearing them survived.
• Extreme weather conditions included 111 inches of snowfall and winds up to 125 mph, which redistributed snow into deep drifts, creating highly unstable avalanche conditions; the avalanche buried nine people and left five guests and one guide alive.
• The investigation highlighted heroic rescue efforts by a guide and client who saved two buried women and noted that the client’s broken equipment caused him to fall behind, likely preventing him and the guide from being caught in the slide, underscoring the importance of spacing in avalanche travel.