# Lake Tahoe avalanche investigation and penalties

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/lake-tahoe-avalanche-investigation-and-penalties
> Updated: 2026-08-21T17:36:08.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

In February 2024, an avalanche near Castle Peak in the Lake Tahoe region struck a 15-person backcountry skiing group affiliated with Blackbird Mountain Guides. The incident buried the group under five to six feet of snow, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals—three guides and six clients—all of whom died from suffocation, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.

Following the incident, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued $151,300 in fines against Blackbird Mountain Guides for seven violations. The largest penalty, $81,000, was attributed to the company’s failure to correct an imminent hazard by traveling in avalanche terrain despite high danger ratings. Other cited failures included inadequate employee training, poor hazard assessment, and issues with injury prevention programs and fatality reporting.

Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal, maintaining that they operated in full compliance with regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, the Cal/OSHA Bureau of Investigations is reviewing the deaths for potential criminal charges, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department has forwarded its findings to the district attorney’s office.

## Claims

- Cal/OSHA issued $151,300 in fines against Blackbird Mountain Guides. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The company failed to correct an imminent hazard by traveling in avalanche terrain when danger was rated high. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The February 17 avalanche near Castle Peak killed nine people, including six clients and three guides. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal against the fines. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The company failed to provide effective employee training. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Nevada County Sheriff’s Department forwarded its criminal investigation results to the district attorney’s office. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- An investigation by Cal/OSHA’s Bureau of Investigations into possible criminal charges is ongoing. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The company failed to report three employee fatalities within the required timeframe. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Blackbird Mountain Guides fined $151,000 after deadly Tahoe avalanche

Blackbird Mountain Guides faces $151,300 in Cal/OSHA fines following a February avalanche near Castle Peak that killed nine people. The company is appealing the citations.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/blackbird-mountain-guides-fined-151000-after-deadly-tahoe-avalanche

### 2026-08-08: Lake Tahoe Avalanche Deaths Confirmed as Suffocation for All Nine Skiers

A Feb. 17 avalanche near Lake Tahoe’s Castle Peak killed nine skiers from Blackbird Mountain Guides; all died of suffocation, investigation closed, five survived.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lake-tahoe-avalanche-deaths-confirmed-as-suffocation-for-all-nine-skiers

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Cite as: Lake Tahoe avalanche investigation and penalties. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/lake-tahoe-avalanche-investigation-and-penalties