The Lake Tahoe avalanche has taken a dramatic turn with the release of autopsy reports. Instead of concluding that the cause was a natural disaster, these findings are opening up an entirely new investigation

THE final missing skier in the deadly Lake Tahoe avalanche is presumed dead, authorities say.

Eight skiers have so far been confirmed dead, making the avalanche the deadliest in modern California history, and now – local authorities say they believe the ninth skier who remains missing is “presumed deceased.”

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Rescue ski teams making their way to the area of the avalanche in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, California, on February 17, 2026 to search for missing skiers.Credit: AFP
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The avalanche hit in Sierra Nevada, CaliforniaCredit: Getty
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A vehicle is buried in snow during a storm on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 in CaliforniaCredit: AP
The skiers were returning from the Frog Lake backcountry huts when they encountered the avalanche near Lake Tahoe, which was about a football field in length, on Tuesday.

Desperate search teams have since been trawling the snow covered skiing area, trying to find traces of survivors.

But authorities now say the lone person who remains missing is “presumed dead,” authorities said Wednesday.

A total of 15 people were on the three day ski excursion through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California – nine women and six men. Four of the party were guides from the company Blackbird Mountain Guides, while the other 11 were clients.