As crews recover the bodies of the skiers killed in the catastrophic Lake Tahoe avalanche, officials have closed the surrounding area to the public for several weeks.
Police vehicle with flashing lights on a snowy road during a blizzard on Donner Summit on I-80. Michael Steinberg for CA Post
A highway patrol vehicle and a car are stuck in heavy snow, with a person shoveling snow from around the car. AP“In response to our ongoing avalanche victim recovery efforts and the safety of our teams and the general public, U.S. Forest Service-Tahoe National Forest has issued the closure of all National Forest lands and trails in the Castle Peak area near Truckee, Calif. from Feb. 20 – March 15, 2026,” a statement from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department said.
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“Due to the current instability of the snowpack and need to prioritize first responder access to the area, members of the public are prohibited from entering the closure area during search and rescue operations,” the U.S. Forest statement read.
A motorist scrapes ice off their vehicle on Interstate 80 during a snowstorm. AP
Interstate 80 East sign almost completely buried in snow. Michael Steinberg for CA Post
Illustration announcing the closure of Tahoe National Forest due to an avalanche near Castle Peak. Facebook/U.S. Forest Service-Tahoe National Forest
Traffic is backed up along Interstate 80 during a snowstorm, with several people standing outside their snow-covered vehicles. AP
Police vehicle with flashing lights on a snowy road during a blizzard on Donner Summit on I-80. Michael Steinberg for CA Post“Please respect the closure notice and remain out of the area.”
The order comes only a few hours after rescuers announced they were unable to reach the bodies of the eight dead skiers Thursday because of poor weather conditions. It is presumed a ninth skier who has not been located is also dead.
Six of the original 15 skiers were rescued following the tragic event — five women and one man ages 30-55.
