Blackbird Mountain Guides Appeals $151,300 Cal/OSHA Citations After Castle Peak Avalanche
Updated September 7, 2026.
Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal after the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued seven citations carrying $151,300 in proposed penalties following the February 17, 2026 Castle Peak avalanche that killed nine people.
Three Blackbird guides and six clients died in the avalanche near the Frog Lake huts north of Lake Tahoe. Six members of the guided group survived.
The citations are allegations under appeal, not final findings. Blackbird says it operated within professional guiding standards and disputes Cal/OSHA’s conclusions.
What Cal/OSHA Alleged
According to reporting on the completed workplace-safety investigation, Cal/OSHA issued seven citations. The largest proposed penalty is an $81,000 willful-serious, accident-related citation alleging that the company failed to correct an imminent avalanche hazard while the regional danger rating was high.
Other cited issues reportedly involve avalanche-hazard assessment, employee training, protective equipment, fatality reporting and written workplace-safety procedures.
The total proposed penalties are $151,300. Because Blackbird appealed the citations, the amounts and findings remain subject to the administrative appeal process.
Read the Associated Press report on the Cal/OSHA citations
Blackbird Filed a Formal Appeal
Blackbird announced on August 21, 2026 that it had formally appealed the citations. The company said it continues to cooperate with agencies reviewing the tragedy and maintains that the allegations do not accurately represent its practices.
An appeal does not erase the citations, but it means the alleged violations and proposed penalties are being contested rather than accepted as final.
Read Blackbird Mountain Guides’ incident updates and appeal statement
Company-Released Preliminary Report
On August 9, Blackbird released a preliminary report prepared by avalanche professional Don Sharaf. The company says the report reviewed weather data, guide records, GPS tracks and firsthand accounts.
Blackbird’s summary says the group was crossing a broad, flat-bottomed drainage in low-angle, treed terrain when it was struck. That company-released analysis is part of the disputed record and should not be confused with a final government adjudication.
Nine People Died and Six Survived
Nevada County has confirmed that the avalanche resulted in nine deaths and six rescues. The response involved hundreds of personnel, ski teams, snowmobiles, SnoCats, aerial operations and avalanche mitigation over several days.
Read Nevada County’s response summary
Our complete incident report is available here: Castle Peak Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe: 9 Killed, 6 Survived.
Separate Criminal Review
The workplace-safety case is separate from any criminal review. Public reporting indicates that Nevada County investigators have examined possible criminal negligence. No criminal conviction or final criminal finding should be inferred from the Cal/OSHA citations.
This article will be updated when an agency announces a formal charging decision, appeal ruling or other verifiable outcome.
Why the Appeal Matters
The appeal process will determine whether the citations and proposed penalties are upheld, modified or dismissed. It may also produce a more complete public record about route selection, decision-making, training, emergency planning and how professional guides should respond when avalanche danger rises during a multi-day trip.
Until that process is complete, the regulator’s allegations and Blackbird’s defenses should both be clearly attributed.
Current Avalanche Information
This is a historical news and legal update, not a current avalanche forecast. Anyone entering Tahoe backcountry terrain should use the Sierra Avalanche Center for current forecasts and observations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Cal/OSHA propose in penalties?
The seven citations carry $151,300 in proposed penalties.
Did Blackbird Mountain Guides appeal?
Yes. The company announced a formal appeal on August 21, 2026.
Are the citations final?
No. The citations and proposed penalties are being contested through the Cal/OSHA appeal process.
How many people died in the Castle Peak avalanche?
Nine people died, including three guides and six clients. Six members of the group survived.
Has anyone been convicted of a crime?
No criminal conviction is reported in the sources reviewed for this update. Workplace citations and a criminal case are separate processes.