LOADING ERROR LOADINGThe victims of the devastating avalanche in Northern California include the spouse of a local search and rescue team member and a group of parents, mostly mothers, whose children reportedly attended a local ski academy. AdvertisementThe group consisted of four professional ski guides and 11 trip participants. AdvertisementMost of the ski trip’s participants were women and mothers of children on a ski team at the nearby Sugar Bowl ski resort, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, citing a person familiar with the tragedy. Lake Tahoe-area ski school Sugar Bowl Academy confirmed Wednesday that several of its members were among the avalanche victims, though it said it would not immediately name them out of respect for their families. All of the ski guides were certified in backcountry skiing and were instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, which sets “the industry standard for avalanche education,” according to Blackbird Mountain Guides.

Source: Huffington Post February 19, 2026 22:37 UTC