TRUCKEE, Calif. August 21, 2026 - Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal of citations issued by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) following its investigation of the February 17, 2026 avalanche that tragically claimed the lives of three employees and six clients.

“The community lost friends, colleagues, and family and they are missed every single day. We are deeply grateful to the emergency responders and community members who responded with extraordinary courage and compassion in the aftermath,” Blackbird Mountain Guides said in a statement.

Blackbird continues to cooperate with all investigations and remains committed to working collaboratively with every agency reviewing this tragedy to further the understanding of what occurred.

"The citations do not reflect the reality of our profession or the safety program we have built," Blackbird Mountain Guides said. "We believe Blackbird operated in full compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and consistent with the established safety frameworks of the broader professional mountain guiding industry. Mountain guiding takes place in dynamic wilderness environments where conditions change minute to minute — it's not a controlled setting such as construction sites. We welcome the opportunity to work with Cal/OSHA to contextualize the unique realities of operating in backcountry environments."

Mountain guiding has its own robust professional framework through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) — the highest level of training, certification, and operational protocol in the industry. All guides on this trip had years of experience and AMGA and avalanche certifications and training.

"As an IFMGA guide, I’ve pursued the highest training and certification available to our industry because I take this responsibility seriously, as do all of my guides," said Blackbird Mountain Guides owner Zeb Blais. "Guides pursue knowledge and excellence as a lifelong responsibility and the guides on this trip approached their work with care and professionalism."

Blackbird is hopeful that through the appeal process, it will demonstrate its compliance with the professional and state regulatory standards that govern the mountain guiding industry.

Media Contact

info@blackbirdguides.com

TRUCKEE, Calif. August 9, 2026 - Blackbird Mountain Guides (BMG) today released the preliminary findings of an independent investigation into the February 17, 2026 avalanche near Castle Peak that killed six clients and three BMG guides.

The independent preliminary report was prepared by Don Sharaf, an avalanche professional with 35 years of field, education, and consulting experience across the avalanche and ski guiding industries. Sharaf accessed weather data, guide records, GPS tracks, and firsthand interviews and statements. The report is being released in full alongside a supplemental document prepared by BMG that provides additional context and technical clarification.

Among the report's findings:

When the avalanche struck, the group was in low-angle, treed terrain.

“When the group was caught by the avalanche, they were at an elevation of 7,850’ crossing a broad, flat-bottomed drainage in treed terrain that was 10°-11° in steepness.”  (Independent Preliminary Report, p25)

GPS data suggests the group repeatedly attempted to reach terrain farther from the avalanche runout zone before being turned back by an unusually open, uncrossable creek.

“Examining Choo’s Strava track from 2/17/2026 the group appeared to make 2 to 3 separate attempts to cross to the far side of the creek, but were most likely turned
back by open water and vertical creek sidewalls” (Independent Preliminary Report, p20)

In a statement, Blackbird Mountain Guides said: “There is nothing easy about any part of this. Nine deeply loved people are gone, three of them our own guides. There is still much that remains unknown, but this is the most complete information available so far and we hope the release of this information can help the community begin to heal together.”

The report was commissioned by BMG in April and completed by Don Sharaf at the end of July. Consistent with BMG's cooperation in the ongoing investigations, copies were provided to authorities on July 27th, followed by the families and survivors on August 4, before being made available publicly today.

The full report and supplemental document are available at:

2.17 Independent Preliminary Report & Supplemental Key Findings.

About Blackbird Mountain Guides
Blackbird Mountain Guides is an IFMGA-certified guide-owned mountain guiding company based in Truckee, California, that has provided guided ski, splitboard,
mountaineering, and rock climbing trips in California, Nevada, Oregon,
Washington, and internationally.

Media Contact

Mary Ann Pruitt

Spokesperson for Blackbird Mountain Guides

mpruitt@psstrats.com

TRUCKEE, CA (Feb. 21, 2026) – We continue to grieve the devastating loss of life from the February 17 avalanche near Castle Peak. Following the release of the names by Nevada County, we hold each individual and their loved ones in our hearts. Those who lost their lives were deeply loved family members, friends, partners, and valued members of the broader mountain community. Among them were members of our guiding team: Andrew Alissandratos, Niki Choo, and Mike Henry; skilled professionals, colleagues, and friends whose passion for the mountains shaped who we are. We also mourn the guests who lost their lives; individuals who shared a love of the outdoors and were part of this close-knit mountain community. We are heartbroken with everyone who is grieving during this profoundly difficult time.

TRUCKEE, CA (Feb. 18, 2026) – Zeb Blais, founder of Blackbird Mountain Guides, today released the following statement related to an avalanche that struck a Blackbird Mountain Guides group on Tuesday, February 17, 2026:

“This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced. In addition to mourning the loss of six clients, we also mourn the loss of three highly experienced members of our guide team. We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much, and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues.

“The group involved four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and 11 participants. They were returning to the trailhead on the last day of a three-day Hut Trip involving backcountry skiing. Five participants and one Blackbird guide survived the avalanche.

“All of the guides with the group were AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) trained or certified in backcountry skiing. Each guide was also an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), the industry standard for avalanche education, and was certified to teach.

“In addition, guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions. There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened. It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway.

“Our most important focus is on those directly impacted and supporting their needs. As such, we’ve suspended field operations at minimum through February 22, and may extend that into the next week or two.

“We ask that people following this tragedy refrain from speculating. We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do. In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.

“Please also join us in thanking the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, Truckee Fire Protection District, California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, Truckee Donner Land Trust, and other organizations that assisted.

"We have no further information to offer at this time."

TRUCKEE, CA — The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has informed Blackbird Mountain Guides they will be taking the lead on all direct communications and status updates from this point to ensure families rapidly receive the most current details.

The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides remains fully engaged in assisting the Search and Rescue efforts on the ground as we navigate this incredibly difficult situation alongside those involved. 

TRUCKEE, CA — Blackbird Mountain Guides is currently responding to a serious backcountry incident involving an avalanche that occurred this morning, February 17, near the Frog Lake huts in the Castle Peak area.

A total of 11 clients and four guides had been staying at the Frog Lake huts since February 15. The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred.

The leadership team at Blackbird Mountain Guides is working in full coordination with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue to support the ongoing rescue operation.

Blackbird Mountain Guides is in direct contact with the emergency contacts of the affected clients and guides and is providing them with regular updates as verified information becomes available.

Media Contact: All further inquiries regarding the status of the rescue operation should be directed to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue.