On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, a monstrous "Everest-style" avalanche thundered down Castle Peak near Donner Summit, engulfing a guided group of 15 backcountry skiers. As a ferocious "thunder-snow" blizzard hammers Northern California with up to 40 inches of fresh snow and 80 mph winds, search crews are racing against a freezing clock to find 9 skiers still buried alive.