Blackbird Mountain Guides faces a total of $151,000 in penalties after a fatal backcountry avalanche near Truckee, California, that claimed nine lives.
State agency cites multiple safety violations
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, issued seven citations to the guiding firm for breaches that include inadequate hazard assessment and insufficient employee training.
The largest penalty, $81,000, stems from a “willful‑serious” finding that the company entered high‑risk terrain despite a high avalanche warning from the Sierra Avalanche Center.
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- Correct the imminent hazard posed by traveling in avalanche terrain when the avalanche danger was rated high – $81,000
- Adequately identify and assess avalanche hazards – $16,200
- Provide effective employee training – $16,200
- Assess the need for protective equipment – $16,200
- Establish and maintain an effective injury and illness prevention program – $16,200
- Report the three employee fatalities to the agency within the required timeframe – $5,000
- Deficiencies in the employer’s Heat Illness Prevention Plan – $500
The agency notes that on the morning of the slide, the local avalanche center had issued a high‑danger rating, the second‑highest level available, and law enforcement advised against travel in the area.
Company disputes findings and prepares an appeal
In a statement posted on its website, the firm said it would contest all seven citations, arguing that it had complied with industry safety standards and that “the citations do not reflect the reality of our profession or the safety program we have built.”
John Roach, a San Francisco‑based personal‑injury attorney familiar with the case, described the citations as among the most serious that investigators can issue, adding that a “willful citation is Cal/OSHA’s most serious classification.”
According to the agency’s report, guides from the firm entered the avalanche zone to provide assistance, even though officials had recommended staying out.
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The report characterizes that decision as a willful‑serious violation because the hazard was known and the risk of death or severe injury was high.
The company released its own avalanche analysis on August 9, commissioned from an independent professional, which claims the group’s movements were “consistent with an effort to reach terrain even farther from the avalanche runout zone.” It said it continues to cooperate with all investigations.
The agency’s enforcement action follows a similar fine levied against Mammoth Mountain ski resort earlier this year for a fatal 2025 avalanche, indicating a broader regulatory focus on avalanche safety in the state.
