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"slug": "blackbird-mountain-guides-was-built-on-avalanche-safety-then-one-struck",
"title": "Blackbird Mountain Guides Was Built on Avalanche Safety, Then One Struck",
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"headTitle": "Blackbird Mountain Guides Was Built on Avalanche Safety, Then One Struck | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Zebulon “Zeb” Blais has skied six of the seven continents, summited Mount Everest twice, and built what would become a leading provider of avalanche education in North America. He holds the highest professional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/avalanche\">avalanche\u003c/a> certifications available.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also knows, firsthand, what it feels like to be buried by one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the morning of Feb. 17, an avalanche swept through a 15-person group near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada — four of them guides from Blais’ company, Blackbird Mountain Guides — as they returned from a three-day backcountry ski trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074292/all-9-tahoe-avalanche-victims-identified-and-bodies-recovered\">Nine people are dead\u003c/a>, including three of Blackbird’s own guides. It’s the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, and it struck a company that built its identity around the idea that preparation, training and sound judgment could keep people alive in exactly this kind of terrain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve had some close calls with avalanches,” Blais said in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.theuiaa.org/mountainvoices/\">2024 episode\u003c/a> of Mountain Voices, a podcast series from the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, where he described being buried in the snow. “And what it comes down to is really it’s all about human factors and decision making. We typically have a good idea of when the snowpack is unstable. We can read the forecast, we can see that a storm just came in, and we ignore it because of pressure from our group, pressure we put on ourselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tragedy has thrust Blackbird into the center of a painful and still-unresolved question that even its founder had already tried to answer out loud: How does something like this happen to people who seemed to know better than almost anyone what the mountains can do?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is Blackbird\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Founded by Blais in 2020, Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides offers mountaineering courses, backcountry ski trips, and guided expeditions in California, Washington and internationally. It is not a casual operation. By one key industry measure, it was the most significant avalanche education provider in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In October 2024, the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education named Blackbird the most prolific AIARE provider in North America for the 2023-2024 season. They trained more students and ran more avalanche courses than any other provider in the US.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074295\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074295\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People observe a moment of silence during a vigil for the 9 people who died in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“For years, founder Zeb Blais and the Blackbird team have worked tirelessly to gain the trust of thousands of students, one small group at a time,” the company said in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/blackbird-guides_aiare-avalancheeducation-moststudentstrained-activity-7249501211681251328-1pxS/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABMr-DsB5AD_QyGOwGqwFicqPX-yXqy-wRE\">LinkedIn post\u003c/a> at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The credentials of Blackbird’s guide team reflect that identity. Of the 39 guides listed on the company’s website before February’s avalanche, 35 carry Wilderness First Responder \u003ca href=\"https://nasar.org/page/WFR\">certifications\u003c/a>. Thirty-five are listed as AIARE Course Leaders — \u003ca href=\"https://avtraining.org/course-leader-training/\">certified\u003c/a> to teach avalanche safety courses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seven hold AIARE’s highest level of avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://avtraining.org/pro/\">certification\u003c/a>. Eight hold the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations/American Mountain Guide \u003ca href=\"https://www.amga.com/programs/mountain-guide-programs\">designation\u003c/a>, regarded as the gold standard in international mountain guiding. Twelve are AMGA \u003ca href=\"https://www.amga.com/programs/mountain-guide-programs/ski-guide-program\">Certified\u003c/a> Ski Guides.[aside postID=news_12074158 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg']The AIARE designations require multi-day, field-based training and formal assessment in avalanche terrain, including rescue scenarios and hazard evaluation. Course Leaders are authorized not just to take classes, but to teach them and mentor other instructors. The highest avalanche certifications in AIARE’s professional track are typically earned only after years of field experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similarly, AMGA certifications require a multi-year progression of documented guiding days, technical exams and in-person assessments in alpine, rock and ski terrain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law does not require those credentials to guide paying clients in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/avalanche\">avalanche\u003c/a> terrain, but within the industry, they function as markers of advanced professional competence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All four guides on the Castle Peak trip reportedly carried those kinds of credentials. In a statement released Wednesday, Blais said they were all AMGA-trained or certified and AIARE instructors, certified to teach avalanche education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three of those four guides were killed: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs; and Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Skilled professionals, colleagues, and friends whose passion for the mountains shaped who we are,” Blackbird said of them in a \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/pages/live-incident-updates\">statement\u003c/a> released Saturday, after all nine victims had been identified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird Mountain Guides did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Blais did not respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A trusted name in the backcountry community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Blackbird had more than 270 Google reviews at the time of the accident; all of them five-star. \u003cem>CapRadio\u003c/em> reached out to more than a dozen former Blackbird customers in the wake of the avalanche. Most declined to comment. Those who did speak described guides as meticulous, knowledgeable and genuinely invested in safety education rather than pushing clients toward risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brian Stenerson, a Tahoe-area snowboarder who took an AIARE Level 2 avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/collections/avalanche-courses/products/aiare-2-avalanche-course-in-tahoe?variant=50504992260395\">course\u003c/a> with Blackbird, said the experience was thorough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“From the beginning, they were very knowledgeable, very smart, very professional and very friendly,” Stenerson said. “There’s no question in my mind that they were doing their best job. I would 100% have recommended them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074191\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074191\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Castle Peak area is shown in an aerial view on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, near Soda Springs, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Reno-based physical therapist and experienced backcountry skier Matthew Oravitz joined a Blackbird-coordinated trip in Japan. He said the guide’s approach was defined by careful communication and clear authority, without any pressure to push beyond comfort.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My experience with them is that they’re very open, but they’re not very persuadable,” Oravitz said. “The guide was clearly in charge. He was comfortable making the final decision with some input from us, but it was never like we could overrule him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oravitz said he still trusts the company enough that, despite the accident, he is moving forward with a summer rock climbing trip to Chamonix, France — and plans to request Blais as his guide. “When I worked with Blackbird, I felt like they were experts and they did the work to get there,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The trip\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The group was on a three-day excursion to the Frog Lake Huts, a backcountry cabin complex northwest of Truckee owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust. The huts are \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwFKSiLlO2o\">well-appointed\u003c/a> for a backcountry setting with a commercial kitchen, communal dining hall and heated sleeping quarters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/collections/ski-splitboard/products/frog-lake-huts?variant=51070530552107\">lists\u003c/a> the trip for as much as $1,165 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The terrain surrounding the huts, per Blackbird’s own listing, ranges from intermediate to expert level and requires participants to have a minimum of 20 days of prior backcountry experience. Clients were required to bring their own avalanche safety gear: beacon, shovel, and probe; group safety equipment was provided by the guides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074382\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074382\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022326_frog-lake-huts.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"524\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022326_frog-lake-huts.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022326_frog-lake-huts-160x70.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A screenshot of the Frog Lake Huts trip advertised on the Blackbird Mountain Guides website.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The group departed Sunday, Feb 15. On Tuesday morning, as conditions deteriorated, the group decided to leave early, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said Saturday, trying to get off the mountain ahead of the weather. The route they were on when the avalanche struck was described by officials as “a normally traveled route.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 911 call came in at approximately 11:30 a.m. The avalanche was \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/observations/avalanches/83ba330a-5eb4-446e-95b0-495c26faf06b#/avalanche/83ba330a-5eb4-446e-95b0-495c26faf06b\">classified\u003c/a> as a D2.5, on a \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/avalanche/avalanche-problems/avalanche-size/destructive-force-d-scale/\">scale\u003c/a> where a D2 is powerful enough to bury a person and a D3 can destroy a house. Its path was roughly the size of a football field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the 15 people in the group, two individuals near the rear were not swept away, according to early reports from the sheriff’s office. Twelve were buried. Nine of them did not survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Nevada County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Haack, the survivors had already located three of the buried victims by the time the first rescue teams made contact at 5:30 p.m., working through what officials described as white-out conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A warning the company helped spread\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Blackbird Mountain Guides did not shy away from the fact that it operates trips in inclement weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Do not expect a trip to be cancelled due to weather. Unless we specifically cancel the trip, please assume the trip will run regardless of weather,” the company’s \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/pages/policies\">policies page\u003c/a> reads, adding that both California and Washington State “have severe weather that can make travel extremely difficult.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The page also specifies that refunds cannot be given due to weather, environmental conditions “or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control that causes a trip to be cancelled.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073999\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073999\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow covers the roof of the Nevada County Sheriff’s office on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The victims’ families said the friend group had organized their trip to the Frog Lake Huts “well in advance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Publicly, Blackbird often posted about \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/blogs/backcountry-ski-splitboard\">backcountry skiing\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/blogs/avalanche-education\">avalanche education\u003c/a>. A backcountry skiing post authored by Blais in \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/blogs/backcountry-ski-splitboard/tips-for-safe-early-season-backcountry-skiing\">November 2025\u003c/a> outlined a recommended gear checklist, including an avalanche beacon, helmet and first aid kit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The post tells skiers to track snow and weather patterns, check regional avalanche centers — including the Sierra, East Sierra and Mt. Shasta avalanche centers — for advisories, and to practice avalanche rescue with travel partners.[aside postID=science_2000137 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/GettyImages-1482972333-1020x678.jpg']The Sierra Avalanche Center had posted an avalanche watch on Sunday, Feb. 15, the same day the 15-person group set out for Frog Lake. That was upgraded to an avalanche warning on Tuesday, hours before the deadly slide swept the skiers away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company’s social media accounts also include multiple posts about snow conditions in the region, with guides performing compression tests out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/reel/896103729865191\">video posted Feb. 15\u003c/a> from the Mt. Rose area of Nevada warns of a “big storm incoming” and noted a weak layer of snow, which “could lead to some unpredictable avalanches.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/reel/33745716301742707\">video from Feb. 13\u003c/a>, filmed in the North Lake Tahoe area, showed a guide executing a compression test on the snow and said to “watch out for that weak layer!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chris Feutrier, forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest, confirmed the avalanche had occurred when “a persistent weak layer had a large load of snow over the top of it.” The precise scenario Blackbird’s own post had flagged days earlier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether and how the guides weighed those conditions against the decision to proceed remains under investigation. Moon said the company had been cooperative. “Those are the decisions the guide company clearly had made,” she said Wednesday. “We’re still in conversation with them on the decision factors that they made.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird required participants to carry trip insurance on its international excursions, including $250,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage and $50,000 in medical coverage. But this insurance was only recommended for clients on domestic trips.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The victims\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The six clients who died were Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae. They were part of a group of eight friends who had organized the trip together, all of them experienced backcountry skiers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a joint statement, their families described them as “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains” who “trusted their professional guides on this trip” and “were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074001\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074001\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Avalanche victims (clockwise from top left) Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley and Caroline Sekar. \u003ccite>(Family Handout)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said some of the victims were family friends, called the event “the most devastating avalanche, in terms of loss of life, we’ve ever experienced” in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These were some experienced guides that were out there,” he said. “And that’s what’s even more concerning and disturbing about this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Questions remain\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health confirmed it has opened a workplace safety investigation into Blackbird. State law requires Cal/OSHA to complete its investigation within six months and issue citations if it finds violations. The agency has not provided additional details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to how companies like Blackbird are regulated, the picture is murky. California has no dedicated professional license for backcountry ski guides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There is no state board that certifies them, no mandatory credential required to legally lead paying clients into avalanche terrain. The AMGA certifications and AIARE instructor designations that Blackbird’s guides carried are industry standards, widely expected by clients and insurers, but they are not legally required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What regulation does exist comes primarily through other channels. Guide companies operating on federal public lands, which include most of the Sierra Nevada backcountry, must \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/contracts-commercial-permits/special-use-permit-application\">obtain\u003c/a> special use permits or outfitter authorizations from land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service. Those permits impose insurance and safety requirements, but they are not professional licenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A search of OSHA’s complaint \u003ca href=\"https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.search?p_logger=1&establishment=blackbird&State=all&officetype=all&Office=all&sitezip=&p_case=all&p_violations_exist=all&startmonth=02&startday=22&startyear=2021&endmonth=02&endday=22&endyear=2026\">database\u003c/a> found no prior complaints against Blackbird. California Secretary of State records show the company’s LLC paperwork is current.[aside postID=news_12074177 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p.jpg']Both Stenerson and Oravitz pushed back on the rush to blame that emerged online in the days after the slide. Neither had been on this trip, but both had traveled with Blackbird, and they kept returning to the same point: the mountains don’t yield, even to expertise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When people are casting judgment, they really have no idea what they’re talking about,” Stenerson said. “You can’t predict everything with 100% certainty. You use a handful of tools and your own risk tolerance to make the best decision you can. Unfortunately, this time it was a very sad outcome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oravitz put it another way, on what it means to trust someone else’s expertise in a domain where certainty isn’t possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Nobody goes out there for this outcome, and if you weren’t part of that group, everything that you’re doing is speculative and based on unvalidated assumptions,” he said. “That is the worst way to understand what is ultimately a tragedy for individuals, family and a community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was a question Blais himself had tried to answer publicly, two years before the mountain answered it for him. In that 2024 podcast interview, he described the transceiver not as a symbol of danger, but of commitment. The one tool a guide straps on at the trailhead and doesn’t remove until the day is done, the thing that remains when everything else fails.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We like to say, on at the car, off at the bar,” he said. “Number one is just choosing the right terrain for the conditions and avoiding avalanches in the first place. There’s a lot of uncertainty. So that’s why we rely on the transceiver.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All nine victims were wearing theirs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sarit Laschinsky contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Blackbird Mountain Guides was the most prolific avalanche education provider in North America. Then one of its own trips became California’s deadliest avalanche. A closer look at the company at the center of the tragedy.",
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"title": "Blackbird Mountain Guides Was Built on Avalanche Safety, Then One Struck | KQED",
"description": "Blackbird Mountain Guides was the most prolific avalanche education provider in North America. Then one of its own trips became California’s deadliest avalanche. A closer look at the company at the center of the tragedy.",
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"headline": "Blackbird Mountain Guides Was Built on Avalanche Safety, Then One Struck",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Zebulon “Zeb” Blais has skied six of the seven continents, summited Mount Everest twice, and built what would become a leading provider of avalanche education in North America. He holds the highest professional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/avalanche\">avalanche\u003c/a> certifications available.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also knows, firsthand, what it feels like to be buried by one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the morning of Feb. 17, an avalanche swept through a 15-person group near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada — four of them guides from Blais’ company, Blackbird Mountain Guides — as they returned from a three-day backcountry ski trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074292/all-9-tahoe-avalanche-victims-identified-and-bodies-recovered\">Nine people are dead\u003c/a>, including three of Blackbird’s own guides. It’s the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, and it struck a company that built its identity around the idea that preparation, training and sound judgment could keep people alive in exactly this kind of terrain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve had some close calls with avalanches,” Blais said in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.theuiaa.org/mountainvoices/\">2024 episode\u003c/a> of Mountain Voices, a podcast series from the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, where he described being buried in the snow. “And what it comes down to is really it’s all about human factors and decision making. We typically have a good idea of when the snowpack is unstable. We can read the forecast, we can see that a storm just came in, and we ignore it because of pressure from our group, pressure we put on ourselves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tragedy has thrust Blackbird into the center of a painful and still-unresolved question that even its founder had already tried to answer out loud: How does something like this happen to people who seemed to know better than almost anyone what the mountains can do?\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is Blackbird\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Founded by Blais in 2020, Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides offers mountaineering courses, backcountry ski trips, and guided expeditions in California, Washington and internationally. It is not a casual operation. By one key industry measure, it was the most significant avalanche education provider in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In October 2024, the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education named Blackbird the most prolific AIARE provider in North America for the 2023-2024 season. They trained more students and ran more avalanche courses than any other provider in the US.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074295\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074295\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalanche1AP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People observe a moment of silence during a vigil for the 9 people who died in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“For years, founder Zeb Blais and the Blackbird team have worked tirelessly to gain the trust of thousands of students, one small group at a time,” the company said in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/blackbird-guides_aiare-avalancheeducation-moststudentstrained-activity-7249501211681251328-1pxS/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABMr-DsB5AD_QyGOwGqwFicqPX-yXqy-wRE\">LinkedIn post\u003c/a> at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The credentials of Blackbird’s guide team reflect that identity. Of the 39 guides listed on the company’s website before February’s avalanche, 35 carry Wilderness First Responder \u003ca href=\"https://nasar.org/page/WFR\">certifications\u003c/a>. Thirty-five are listed as AIARE Course Leaders — \u003ca href=\"https://avtraining.org/course-leader-training/\">certified\u003c/a> to teach avalanche safety courses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Seven hold AIARE’s highest level of avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://avtraining.org/pro/\">certification\u003c/a>. Eight hold the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations/American Mountain Guide \u003ca href=\"https://www.amga.com/programs/mountain-guide-programs\">designation\u003c/a>, regarded as the gold standard in international mountain guiding. Twelve are AMGA \u003ca href=\"https://www.amga.com/programs/mountain-guide-programs/ski-guide-program\">Certified\u003c/a> Ski Guides.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The AIARE designations require multi-day, field-based training and formal assessment in avalanche terrain, including rescue scenarios and hazard evaluation. Course Leaders are authorized not just to take classes, but to teach them and mentor other instructors. The highest avalanche certifications in AIARE’s professional track are typically earned only after years of field experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similarly, AMGA certifications require a multi-year progression of documented guiding days, technical exams and in-person assessments in alpine, rock and ski terrain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law does not require those credentials to guide paying clients in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/avalanche\">avalanche\u003c/a> terrain, but within the industry, they function as markers of advanced professional competence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All four guides on the Castle Peak trip reportedly carried those kinds of credentials. In a statement released Wednesday, Blais said they were all AMGA-trained or certified and AIARE instructors, certified to teach avalanche education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three of those four guides were killed: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs; and Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Skilled professionals, colleagues, and friends whose passion for the mountains shaped who we are,” Blackbird said of them in a \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/pages/live-incident-updates\">statement\u003c/a> released Saturday, after all nine victims had been identified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird Mountain Guides did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Blais did not respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A trusted name in the backcountry community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Blackbird had more than 270 Google reviews at the time of the accident; all of them five-star. \u003cem>CapRadio\u003c/em> reached out to more than a dozen former Blackbird customers in the wake of the avalanche. Most declined to comment. Those who did speak described guides as meticulous, knowledgeable and genuinely invested in safety education rather than pushing clients toward risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brian Stenerson, a Tahoe-area snowboarder who took an AIARE Level 2 avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/collections/avalanche-courses/products/aiare-2-avalanche-course-in-tahoe?variant=50504992260395\">course\u003c/a> with Blackbird, said the experience was thorough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“From the beginning, they were very knowledgeable, very smart, very professional and very friendly,” Stenerson said. “There’s no question in my mind that they were doing their best job. I would 100% have recommended them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074191\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074191\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Castle Peak area is shown in an aerial view on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, near Soda Springs, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Reno-based physical therapist and experienced backcountry skier Matthew Oravitz joined a Blackbird-coordinated trip in Japan. He said the guide’s approach was defined by careful communication and clear authority, without any pressure to push beyond comfort.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My experience with them is that they’re very open, but they’re not very persuadable,” Oravitz said. “The guide was clearly in charge. He was comfortable making the final decision with some input from us, but it was never like we could overrule him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oravitz said he still trusts the company enough that, despite the accident, he is moving forward with a summer rock climbing trip to Chamonix, France — and plans to request Blais as his guide. “When I worked with Blackbird, I felt like they were experts and they did the work to get there,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The trip\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The group was on a three-day excursion to the Frog Lake Huts, a backcountry cabin complex northwest of Truckee owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust. The huts are \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwFKSiLlO2o\">well-appointed\u003c/a> for a backcountry setting with a commercial kitchen, communal dining hall and heated sleeping quarters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/collections/ski-splitboard/products/frog-lake-huts?variant=51070530552107\">lists\u003c/a> the trip for as much as $1,165 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The terrain surrounding the huts, per Blackbird’s own listing, ranges from intermediate to expert level and requires participants to have a minimum of 20 days of prior backcountry experience. Clients were required to bring their own avalanche safety gear: beacon, shovel, and probe; group safety equipment was provided by the guides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074382\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074382\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022326_frog-lake-huts.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"524\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022326_frog-lake-huts.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/022326_frog-lake-huts-160x70.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A screenshot of the Frog Lake Huts trip advertised on the Blackbird Mountain Guides website.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The group departed Sunday, Feb 15. On Tuesday morning, as conditions deteriorated, the group decided to leave early, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said Saturday, trying to get off the mountain ahead of the weather. The route they were on when the avalanche struck was described by officials as “a normally traveled route.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A 911 call came in at approximately 11:30 a.m. The avalanche was \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/observations/avalanches/83ba330a-5eb4-446e-95b0-495c26faf06b#/avalanche/83ba330a-5eb4-446e-95b0-495c26faf06b\">classified\u003c/a> as a D2.5, on a \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/avalanche/avalanche-problems/avalanche-size/destructive-force-d-scale/\">scale\u003c/a> where a D2 is powerful enough to bury a person and a D3 can destroy a house. Its path was roughly the size of a football field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the 15 people in the group, two individuals near the rear were not swept away, according to early reports from the sheriff’s office. Twelve were buried. Nine of them did not survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Nevada County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Haack, the survivors had already located three of the buried victims by the time the first rescue teams made contact at 5:30 p.m., working through what officials described as white-out conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A warning the company helped spread\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Blackbird Mountain Guides did not shy away from the fact that it operates trips in inclement weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Do not expect a trip to be cancelled due to weather. Unless we specifically cancel the trip, please assume the trip will run regardless of weather,” the company’s \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/pages/policies\">policies page\u003c/a> reads, adding that both California and Washington State “have severe weather that can make travel extremely difficult.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The page also specifies that refunds cannot be given due to weather, environmental conditions “or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control that causes a trip to be cancelled.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073999\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073999\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow covers the roof of the Nevada County Sheriff’s office on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The victims’ families said the friend group had organized their trip to the Frog Lake Huts “well in advance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Publicly, Blackbird often posted about \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/blogs/backcountry-ski-splitboard\">backcountry skiing\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/blogs/avalanche-education\">avalanche education\u003c/a>. A backcountry skiing post authored by Blais in \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/blogs/backcountry-ski-splitboard/tips-for-safe-early-season-backcountry-skiing\">November 2025\u003c/a> outlined a recommended gear checklist, including an avalanche beacon, helmet and first aid kit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The post tells skiers to track snow and weather patterns, check regional avalanche centers — including the Sierra, East Sierra and Mt. Shasta avalanche centers — for advisories, and to practice avalanche rescue with travel partners.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The Sierra Avalanche Center had posted an avalanche watch on Sunday, Feb. 15, the same day the 15-person group set out for Frog Lake. That was upgraded to an avalanche warning on Tuesday, hours before the deadly slide swept the skiers away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company’s social media accounts also include multiple posts about snow conditions in the region, with guides performing compression tests out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/reel/896103729865191\">video posted Feb. 15\u003c/a> from the Mt. Rose area of Nevada warns of a “big storm incoming” and noted a weak layer of snow, which “could lead to some unpredictable avalanches.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/reel/33745716301742707\">video from Feb. 13\u003c/a>, filmed in the North Lake Tahoe area, showed a guide executing a compression test on the snow and said to “watch out for that weak layer!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chris Feutrier, forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest, confirmed the avalanche had occurred when “a persistent weak layer had a large load of snow over the top of it.” The precise scenario Blackbird’s own post had flagged days earlier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether and how the guides weighed those conditions against the decision to proceed remains under investigation. Moon said the company had been cooperative. “Those are the decisions the guide company clearly had made,” she said Wednesday. “We’re still in conversation with them on the decision factors that they made.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird required participants to carry trip insurance on its international excursions, including $250,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage and $50,000 in medical coverage. But this insurance was only recommended for clients on domestic trips.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The victims\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The six clients who died were Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae. They were part of a group of eight friends who had organized the trip together, all of them experienced backcountry skiers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a joint statement, their families described them as “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains” who “trusted their professional guides on this trip” and “were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074001\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074001\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Avalanche victims (clockwise from top left) Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley and Caroline Sekar. \u003ccite>(Family Handout)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said some of the victims were family friends, called the event “the most devastating avalanche, in terms of loss of life, we’ve ever experienced” in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These were some experienced guides that were out there,” he said. “And that’s what’s even more concerning and disturbing about this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Questions remain\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health confirmed it has opened a workplace safety investigation into Blackbird. State law requires Cal/OSHA to complete its investigation within six months and issue citations if it finds violations. The agency has not provided additional details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to how companies like Blackbird are regulated, the picture is murky. California has no dedicated professional license for backcountry ski guides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There is no state board that certifies them, no mandatory credential required to legally lead paying clients into avalanche terrain. The AMGA certifications and AIARE instructor designations that Blackbird’s guides carried are industry standards, widely expected by clients and insurers, but they are not legally required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What regulation does exist comes primarily through other channels. Guide companies operating on federal public lands, which include most of the Sierra Nevada backcountry, must \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/contracts-commercial-permits/special-use-permit-application\">obtain\u003c/a> special use permits or outfitter authorizations from land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service. Those permits impose insurance and safety requirements, but they are not professional licenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A search of OSHA’s complaint \u003ca href=\"https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.search?p_logger=1&establishment=blackbird&State=all&officetype=all&Office=all&sitezip=&p_case=all&p_violations_exist=all&startmonth=02&startday=22&startyear=2021&endmonth=02&endday=22&endyear=2026\">database\u003c/a> found no prior complaints against Blackbird. California Secretary of State records show the company’s LLC paperwork is current.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Both Stenerson and Oravitz pushed back on the rush to blame that emerged online in the days after the slide. Neither had been on this trip, but both had traveled with Blackbird, and they kept returning to the same point: the mountains don’t yield, even to expertise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When people are casting judgment, they really have no idea what they’re talking about,” Stenerson said. “You can’t predict everything with 100% certainty. You use a handful of tools and your own risk tolerance to make the best decision you can. Unfortunately, this time it was a very sad outcome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oravitz put it another way, on what it means to trust someone else’s expertise in a domain where certainty isn’t possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Nobody goes out there for this outcome, and if you weren’t part of that group, everything that you’re doing is speculative and based on unvalidated assumptions,” he said. “That is the worst way to understand what is ultimately a tragedy for individuals, family and a community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was a question Blais himself had tried to answer publicly, two years before the mountain answered it for him. In that 2024 podcast interview, he described the transceiver not as a symbol of danger, but of commitment. The one tool a guide straps on at the trailhead and doesn’t remove until the day is done, the thing that remains when everything else fails.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We like to say, on at the car, off at the bar,” he said. “Number one is just choosing the right terrain for the conditions and avoiding avalanches in the first place. There’s a lot of uncertainty. So that’s why we rely on the transceiver.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All nine victims were wearing theirs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sarit Laschinsky contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The names of three backcountry ski guides who died in last week’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000137/could-climate-change-reshape-avalanche-danger-in-the-sierra-nevada-scientists-say-its-complicated\">Tahoe avalanche\u003c/a> — now the deadliest in modern California history — have been released by the guiding company they worked for, and the bodies of all nine victims have been recovered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Blackbird Mountain Guides employees who were killed are Andrew Alissandratos of Verdi, Nevada; Nicole Choo of South Lake Tahoe; and Michael Henry of Soda Springs, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird’s news release said they were each “skilled professionals, colleagues, and friends whose passion for the mountains shaped who we are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their bodies and those of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">six clients\u003c/a> who died — all women and many of them from the Bay Area — were recovered Friday and Saturday from the site of the avalanche near Tahoe’s Donner Summit, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The recovery was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">initially delayed\u003c/a> by bad weather, but on Friday, the Sheriff’s Office and PG&E conducted avalanche mitigation work, Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Hack said at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/KCRA3/videos/1572869143932784\">press conference\u003c/a> on Saturday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074191\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074191\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Castle Peak area is shown in an aerial view on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, near Soda Springs, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Search-and-rescue personnel from the California Highway Patrol recovered five of the bodies and found the remains of a final missing skier who had been presumed dead. They and the California National Guard recovered the remaining bodies on Saturday, Hack said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Sunday, the Tahoe-area city of Truckee held a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kunr.org/live-updates/lake-tahoe-avalanche\">vigil in honor of the avalanche victims\u003c/a>. KUNR reported more than 100 people attended, leaving flowers, origami peace cranes and written messages.[aside postID=news_12074158 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235259.jpg']After a brief closure to support search-and-rescue operations, the area of the Tahoe National Forest where the slide occurred was \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1389731249862819&set=a.308275298008425&locale=mt_MT\">reopened on Monday\u003c/a> by the U.S. Forest Service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We extend our deepest sympathies to the individuals and families impacted by this tragic backcountry incident, and we grieve with our community,” Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Chris Feutrier wrote in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Sheriff’s Office confirmed to KQED on Friday that it has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074177/california-authorities-launch-investigation-of-criminal-negligence-in-deadly-tahoe-avalanche\">launched an investigation\u003c/a> into Blackbird Mountain Guides “to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence.” The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has opened a separate investigation, the department confirmed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird has not responded to KQED’s request for comment on the investigations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The names of three backcountry ski guides who died in last week’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000137/could-climate-change-reshape-avalanche-danger-in-the-sierra-nevada-scientists-say-its-complicated\">Tahoe avalanche\u003c/a> — now the deadliest in modern California history — have been released by the guiding company they worked for, and the bodies of all nine victims have been recovered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Blackbird Mountain Guides employees who were killed are Andrew Alissandratos of Verdi, Nevada; Nicole Choo of South Lake Tahoe; and Michael Henry of Soda Springs, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird’s news release said they were each “skilled professionals, colleagues, and friends whose passion for the mountains shaped who we are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their bodies and those of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">six clients\u003c/a> who died — all women and many of them from the Bay Area — were recovered Friday and Saturday from the site of the avalanche near Tahoe’s Donner Summit, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The recovery was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">initially delayed\u003c/a> by bad weather, but on Friday, the Sheriff’s Office and PG&E conducted avalanche mitigation work, Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Hack said at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/KCRA3/videos/1572869143932784\">press conference\u003c/a> on Saturday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074191\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074191\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP4-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Castle Peak area is shown in an aerial view on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, near Soda Springs, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Search-and-rescue personnel from the California Highway Patrol recovered five of the bodies and found the remains of a final missing skier who had been presumed dead. They and the California National Guard recovered the remaining bodies on Saturday, Hack said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Sunday, the Tahoe-area city of Truckee held a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kunr.org/live-updates/lake-tahoe-avalanche\">vigil in honor of the avalanche victims\u003c/a>. KUNR reported more than 100 people attended, leaving flowers, origami peace cranes and written messages.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>After a brief closure to support search-and-rescue operations, the area of the Tahoe National Forest where the slide occurred was \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1389731249862819&set=a.308275298008425&locale=mt_MT\">reopened on Monday\u003c/a> by the U.S. Forest Service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We extend our deepest sympathies to the individuals and families impacted by this tragic backcountry incident, and we grieve with our community,” Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Chris Feutrier wrote in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Sheriff’s Office confirmed to KQED on Friday that it has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074177/california-authorities-launch-investigation-of-criminal-negligence-in-deadly-tahoe-avalanche\">launched an investigation\u003c/a> into Blackbird Mountain Guides “to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence.” The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has opened a separate investigation, the department confirmed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blackbird has not responded to KQED’s request for comment on the investigations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "After Major Blackouts, San Francisco Lawmakers Power Up Efforts to Break With PG&E",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> lawmakers escalated efforts to break up with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pge\">PG&E\u003c/a> on Monday — and replace it with a publicly owned utility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068177/pge-outage-leaves-130000-across-san-francisco-without-power\">massive power outages\u003c/a> this winter that affected some residents for multiple days, state Sen. Scott Wiener and others gathered at City Hall to announce a state bill, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB875\">SB 875\u003c/a>, that would clear some of the legal hurdles cities face when exploring a public acquisition of their utility service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just unacceptable,” Wiener said, flanked by several city supervisors. “For decades, San Francisco has been trying to get out of this toxic relationship. The city has repeatedly offered to purchase PG&E’s infrastructure here in San Francisco, and PG&E keeps refusing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 130,000 San Franciscans lost power in December 2025 after a circuit breaker sparked a fire at a PG&E substation and cut off power for up to three days for some residents. During the blackout, the company issued several incorrect updates on when power might be restored.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City officials have responded by reigniting their attempts to buy out PG&E in San Francisco and instead operate a publicly-owned utility, similar to what Sacramento and Palo Alto have done in recent years. Supporters point to utility rates up to 50% lower for consumers in those cities compared to San Francisco, where residents have faced cost hikes — despite inadequate PG&E infrastructure maintenance and service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Residents in my district were without power. Food was spoiling, heat wasn’t working. And PG&E left people waiting for minutes, then hours, and then days,” Supervisor Bilal Mahmood said on Monday, recalling the blackout in December.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12051931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12051931\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supervisor Bilal Mahmood speaks at an event celebrating the creation of a union by the workers at the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation at Boeddeker Park in San Francisco on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Mahmood, who represents the Tenderloin and Nob Hill, recently participated in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073229/san-francisco-supervisors-probe-pge-after-widespread-winter-power-outages\">public hearing\u003c/a> where city officials grilled PG&E over the causes and responses during the outages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Their answers bordered on comedy,” Mahmood said at Monday’s press conference about the responses PG&E officials shared at the hearing. “It was clear after the hearing that PG&E has neither the ability nor the interest of San Franciscans in mind. It’s time to chart our own destiny and make progress towards public power.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E officials have claimed responsibility for the outages and said they are working to upgrade their communication systems. Repairs at the substation where the December fire broke out are complete. PG&E has hired the engineering firm Exponent to conduct the ongoing third-party investigation into the overall incident.[aside postID=news_12073229 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-24-BL_qed.jpg']“We are bringing in another third party that’s focused specifically on how we can improve our restoration time estimates during large localized events, particularly when operating conditions are otherwise normal,” said Sumeet Singh, PG&E CEO, at the Feb. 12 hearing. “But in the meantime, we have already implemented a rapid escalation process for large-impact localized events.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City leaders have called for a public utility option for years, but have struggled to push through the utility giant’s lobbying efforts and legal challenges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener’s bill aims to allow cities to break with companies like PG&E through a variety of reforms, including creating enforceable timelines to block excessive delays and limiting the California Public Utility Commission’s review process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In existing law, there is a 180-day deadline for the CPUC, which it has missed, and that is unacceptable,” Wiener said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill, which will head to the state energy and utility committee sometime this spring, could face an uphill battle in the Legislature. Wiener previously put forward \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068307/scott-wiener-revives-push-for-san-francisco-to-break-with-pge-after-massive-outage\">legislation that aimed\u003c/a> to make all of PG&E a publicly-owned utility, but it failed to gather enough support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068290\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12068290 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E employees work to repair a substation on Mission and Eighth streets in San Francisco on Dec. 22, 2025, after a fire at the site over the weekend contributed to a major citywide power outage. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>PG&E, which serves 16 million people across Northern and Central California, has long caused \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11802477/judge-rips-pge-for-poor-safety-record-leading-to-wildfires\">controversy in the state\u003c/a> over its safety record. Some state lawmakers, particularly after PG&E equipment sparked devastating wildfires in 2018 and other years, have expressed interest in a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2020/02/what-happens-if-california-takes-over-pge/\">statewide takeover\u003c/a> of power utilities like PG&E, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Officials in San Francisco on Monday said, despite the setbacks in earlier attempts to reform the legal system around municipal power, they plan to push ahead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supervisor Rafael Mandelman plans to introduce a resolution at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday in support of Wiener’s bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The board is also likely to pass two additional resolutions related to PG&E, one reaffirming the city’s support to acquire the power company’s infrastructure and another holding PG&E accountable for the recent outages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“All across the Board of Supervisors, I think this is something that we are all in agreement on,” Supervisor Matt Dorsey said. “It’s time to municipalize these assets and have a public power system that delivers for rate payers rather than shareholders.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "After Major Blackouts, San Francisco Lawmakers Power Up Efforts to Break With PG&E | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> lawmakers escalated efforts to break up with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/pge\">PG&E\u003c/a> on Monday — and replace it with a publicly owned utility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068177/pge-outage-leaves-130000-across-san-francisco-without-power\">massive power outages\u003c/a> this winter that affected some residents for multiple days, state Sen. Scott Wiener and others gathered at City Hall to announce a state bill, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB875\">SB 875\u003c/a>, that would clear some of the legal hurdles cities face when exploring a public acquisition of their utility service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just unacceptable,” Wiener said, flanked by several city supervisors. “For decades, San Francisco has been trying to get out of this toxic relationship. The city has repeatedly offered to purchase PG&E’s infrastructure here in San Francisco, and PG&E keeps refusing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 130,000 San Franciscans lost power in December 2025 after a circuit breaker sparked a fire at a PG&E substation and cut off power for up to three days for some residents. During the blackout, the company issued several incorrect updates on when power might be restored.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City officials have responded by reigniting their attempts to buy out PG&E in San Francisco and instead operate a publicly-owned utility, similar to what Sacramento and Palo Alto have done in recent years. Supporters point to utility rates up to 50% lower for consumers in those cities compared to San Francisco, where residents have faced cost hikes — despite inadequate PG&E infrastructure maintenance and service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Residents in my district were without power. Food was spoiling, heat wasn’t working. And PG&E left people waiting for minutes, then hours, and then days,” Supervisor Bilal Mahmood said on Monday, recalling the blackout in December.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12051931\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12051931\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/250812-TNDC-UNION-MD-07-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Supervisor Bilal Mahmood speaks at an event celebrating the creation of a union by the workers at the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation at Boeddeker Park in San Francisco on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Mahmood, who represents the Tenderloin and Nob Hill, recently participated in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073229/san-francisco-supervisors-probe-pge-after-widespread-winter-power-outages\">public hearing\u003c/a> where city officials grilled PG&E over the causes and responses during the outages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Their answers bordered on comedy,” Mahmood said at Monday’s press conference about the responses PG&E officials shared at the hearing. “It was clear after the hearing that PG&E has neither the ability nor the interest of San Franciscans in mind. It’s time to chart our own destiny and make progress towards public power.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E officials have claimed responsibility for the outages and said they are working to upgrade their communication systems. Repairs at the substation where the December fire broke out are complete. PG&E has hired the engineering firm Exponent to conduct the ongoing third-party investigation into the overall incident.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“We are bringing in another third party that’s focused specifically on how we can improve our restoration time estimates during large localized events, particularly when operating conditions are otherwise normal,” said Sumeet Singh, PG&E CEO, at the Feb. 12 hearing. “But in the meantime, we have already implemented a rapid escalation process for large-impact localized events.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>City leaders have called for a public utility option for years, but have struggled to push through the utility giant’s lobbying efforts and legal challenges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener’s bill aims to allow cities to break with companies like PG&E through a variety of reforms, including creating enforceable timelines to block excessive delays and limiting the California Public Utility Commission’s review process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In existing law, there is a 180-day deadline for the CPUC, which it has missed, and that is unacceptable,” Wiener said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bill, which will head to the state energy and utility committee sometime this spring, could face an uphill battle in the Legislature. Wiener previously put forward \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068307/scott-wiener-revives-push-for-san-francisco-to-break-with-pge-after-massive-outage\">legislation that aimed\u003c/a> to make all of PG&E a publicly-owned utility, but it failed to gather enough support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068290\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12068290 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E employees work to repair a substation on Mission and Eighth streets in San Francisco on Dec. 22, 2025, after a fire at the site over the weekend contributed to a major citywide power outage. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>PG&E, which serves 16 million people across Northern and Central California, has long caused \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11802477/judge-rips-pge-for-poor-safety-record-leading-to-wildfires\">controversy in the state\u003c/a> over its safety record. Some state lawmakers, particularly after PG&E equipment sparked devastating wildfires in 2018 and other years, have expressed interest in a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2020/02/what-happens-if-california-takes-over-pge/\">statewide takeover\u003c/a> of power utilities like PG&E, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Officials in San Francisco on Monday said, despite the setbacks in earlier attempts to reform the legal system around municipal power, they plan to push ahead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supervisor Rafael Mandelman plans to introduce a resolution at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday in support of Wiener’s bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The board is also likely to pass two additional resolutions related to PG&E, one reaffirming the city’s support to acquire the power company’s infrastructure and another holding PG&E accountable for the recent outages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“All across the Board of Supervisors, I think this is something that we are all in agreement on,” Supervisor Matt Dorsey said. “It’s time to municipalize these assets and have a public power system that delivers for rate payers rather than shareholders.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\u003cstrong>Here are the headline stories for the morning of Monday, February 23rd, 2026:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\u003cli>The string of storms that have swept through California has brought much-needed water and snow throughout the state, but climate scientists say, levels may still fall short of what’s needed in the coming warm weather months.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The town of Truckee held a memorial for the victims of last week’s avalanche in the Sierra. This comes after search and rescue crews finished recovering all nine of their bodies over the weekend.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>State Senator, Scott Wiener, is proposing legislation to force a split between San Francisco and Pacific Gas & Electric.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073190/big-storms-boost-california-water-supply-but-snowpack-lags\">\u003cstrong>Low Overall Snow Levels Leave Experts Worried About California’s Long Term Water Supplies \u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ever since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> was pummeled by a series of storms in fall and early winter, experts have said the state’s water supply is looking strong for this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those storms — with a potential bump from the ones hitting much of the state this week — have \u003ca href=\"https://cww.water.ca.gov/\">helped refill reservoirs and eased immediate drought worries in many parts of the state.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But experts also say that a few wet storms don’t mean we’re out of the woods. That’s because this winter is a “classically climate-change-flavored one,” according to Daniel Swain, a weather and climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that’s not because it’s been a particularly dry winter, he explained. It’s because it’s the warmest winter the West has ever seen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the Western U.S., the snowpack is, on average, terrible,” Swain said. “It’s about as bad as it’s ever been in observed history.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This warm winter creates a wrinkle: While the season’s rain has turned hillsides green, temperatures haven’t been cold enough at low enough elevations to bring as much snow as usual.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Truckee Holds Candlelight Vigil Amid a Tragic February \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The town of Truckee in the Sierra held a candlelight vigil last night, amid a string of tragedies in the last few weeks has thrust the small mountain community into the national spotlight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last night’s vigil was organized by Truckee’s Vice Mayor, Courtney Henderson, and was held at the Eagle Statue in downtown. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kunr.org/live-updates/lake-tahoe-avalanche#truckee-community-members-plan-vigil-provide-grief-support\">The event\u003c/a> comes on the heels of the deadliest avalanche in California history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The avalanche blanketed the region near Castle Peak at Donner Summit on Tuesday. A group of 15 back-country skiers were caught in the disaster. A total of nine people died in the avalanche. Search and rescue crews\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\"> were slowed by strong gusts and heavy snow\u003c/a> throughout the week–before avalanche mitigation efforts and calmer weather conditions allowed them to \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/nx-s1-5722357/skiers-recovered-identified-california-avalanche-tahoe\">recover the bodies of the nine victims on Friday and Saturday.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">Four of the victims had connections to the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Henderson told KQED that the avalanche came at a time when Truckee was already grappling with the aftermath of two incidents that took place earlier in the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On February 7th, a man was arrested after \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/truckee-safeway-vehicle-pedestrian-crash-arrest/\">he drove his car into a little league baseball team as they were fundraising outside a Safeway grocery store\u003c/a> on Donner Pass Road. The man injured four children and four adults.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About a week later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcra.com/article/gunshots-truckee-crossroads-save-mart-arrest/70385094\">a 15-year-old opened fire on a group of people during an altercation\u003c/a> in the parking lot of a different grocery store. Nobody was injured in the shooting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">As attendees left flowers and written messages at the site of the vigil to honor those lost, Henderson shared a message of togetherness during these dark times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">The Vice Mayor said, “Grief has a way of making us feel very small and very isolated. My deepest hope for tonight is that you feel the opposite. Held by the hundreds of neighbors who showed up tonight because that is simply what we do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\u003cstrong>Here are the headline stories for the morning of Monday, February 23rd, 2026:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\u003cli>The string of storms that have swept through California has brought much-needed water and snow throughout the state, but climate scientists say, levels may still fall short of what’s needed in the coming warm weather months.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The town of Truckee held a memorial for the victims of last week’s avalanche in the Sierra. This comes after search and rescue crews finished recovering all nine of their bodies over the weekend.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>State Senator, Scott Wiener, is proposing legislation to force a split between San Francisco and Pacific Gas & Electric.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073190/big-storms-boost-california-water-supply-but-snowpack-lags\">\u003cstrong>Low Overall Snow Levels Leave Experts Worried About California’s Long Term Water Supplies \u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ever since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> was pummeled by a series of storms in fall and early winter, experts have said the state’s water supply is looking strong for this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those storms — with a potential bump from the ones hitting much of the state this week — have \u003ca href=\"https://cww.water.ca.gov/\">helped refill reservoirs and eased immediate drought worries in many parts of the state.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But experts also say that a few wet storms don’t mean we’re out of the woods. That’s because this winter is a “classically climate-change-flavored one,” according to Daniel Swain, a weather and climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that’s not because it’s been a particularly dry winter, he explained. It’s because it’s the warmest winter the West has ever seen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the Western U.S., the snowpack is, on average, terrible,” Swain said. “It’s about as bad as it’s ever been in observed history.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This warm winter creates a wrinkle: While the season’s rain has turned hillsides green, temperatures haven’t been cold enough at low enough elevations to bring as much snow as usual.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Truckee Holds Candlelight Vigil Amid a Tragic February \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The town of Truckee in the Sierra held a candlelight vigil last night, amid a string of tragedies in the last few weeks has thrust the small mountain community into the national spotlight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last night’s vigil was organized by Truckee’s Vice Mayor, Courtney Henderson, and was held at the Eagle Statue in downtown. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kunr.org/live-updates/lake-tahoe-avalanche#truckee-community-members-plan-vigil-provide-grief-support\">The event\u003c/a> comes on the heels of the deadliest avalanche in California history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The avalanche blanketed the region near Castle Peak at Donner Summit on Tuesday. A group of 15 back-country skiers were caught in the disaster. A total of nine people died in the avalanche. Search and rescue crews\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\"> were slowed by strong gusts and heavy snow\u003c/a> throughout the week–before avalanche mitigation efforts and calmer weather conditions allowed them to \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/nx-s1-5722357/skiers-recovered-identified-california-avalanche-tahoe\">recover the bodies of the nine victims on Friday and Saturday.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">Four of the victims had connections to the Bay Area.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Henderson told KQED that the avalanche came at a time when Truckee was already grappling with the aftermath of two incidents that took place earlier in the month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On February 7th, a man was arrested after \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/truckee-safeway-vehicle-pedestrian-crash-arrest/\">he drove his car into a little league baseball team as they were fundraising outside a Safeway grocery store\u003c/a> on Donner Pass Road. The man injured four children and four adults.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About a week later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kcra.com/article/gunshots-truckee-crossroads-save-mart-arrest/70385094\">a 15-year-old opened fire on a group of people during an altercation\u003c/a> in the parking lot of a different grocery store. Nobody was injured in the shooting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">As attendees left flowers and written messages at the site of the vigil to honor those lost, Henderson shared a message of togetherness during these dark times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">The Vice Mayor said, “Grief has a way of making us feel very small and very isolated. My deepest hope for tonight is that you feel the opposite. Held by the hundreds of neighbors who showed up tonight because that is simply what we do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "ciao-bella-do-italians-still-live-in-san-franciscos-north-beach",
"title": "Ciao Bella: Do Italians Still Live in San Francisco’s North Beach?",
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"headTitle": "Ciao Bella: Do Italians Still Live in San Francisco’s North Beach? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grant Strother loves a good caprese sandwich from North Beach. On weekdays, he walks to Molinari Delicatessen on Columbus Avenue from his job in San Francisco’sFinancial District during his lunch break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s such an easy walk,” he said. “Not too many hills to climb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One day, on a particularly meandering walk, Strother passed by Saints Peter and Paul Church on Washington Square. It still offers bilingual mass in Italian, he noticed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He was intrigued. Are there still Italian speakers in the neighborhood?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Immigration patterns have undoubtedly changed,” Strother said. Twenty years ago, he’d hear Italian spoken outside restaurants like Mario’s Bohemian Cafe and Caffe Trieste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But nowadays, aside from all the restaurants, he wondered: “How Italian is it?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The history of Italians in North Beach\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Since the Gold Rush, Italian immigrants have come to San Francisco in waves. The\u003ca href=\"https://search.worldcat.org/title/The-Italian-American-community-of-San-Francisco-:-a-descriptive-study/oclc/1393057217\"> height\u003c/a> of the Italian population was in 1930, when the ethnic community numbered just under 60,000 and made up nine percent of the overall population of San Francisco\u003ca href=\"https://search.worldcat.org/title/The-Italian-American-community-of-San-Francisco-:-a-descriptive-study/oclc/1393057217\">.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Northern Italians, from Liguria and Tuscany, first arrived in San Francisco, making up more than half of the ethnic enclave. Later, folks from southern regions like Sicily and Calabria started emigrating. Many Italians settled in North Beach, although the Excelsior District was also a cluster.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Saints Peter and Paul Church, a Catholic church in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, on Nov. 18, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Steve Leveroni, board president of \u003ca href=\"https://www.italiancs.org/\">Italian Community Services\u003c/a> in North Beach, vice president of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and an insurance businessman, has deep roots in North Beach. His great-great-grandfather, Luigi, emigrated from Genoa in Northern Italy in the 1860s. When Steve was growing up in North Beach in the 1960s, descendants of the Genovese lived on Green Street, from Mason Street to Grant Avenue, and Sts. Peter and Paul Church was their centerpoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We all got baptized there, we all got married there, and unfortunately, our funerals are gonna be there,” Leveroni said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The church still towers above Washington Square Park, where residents bask in the sun, play with dogs and practice tai chi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remnants of Italian culture are still all around the neighborhood. Liguria Bakery, on one corner of the park, has been going strong since 1911. Bay Area residents still flock there for mushroom or raisin focaccia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“After every mass, we were given a few dollars, and our duty was to pick up the focaccia to bring back to the house for lunch,” Leveroni remembered.[aside postID=news_12063643 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251008-GirlintheFishbowl-01-BL.jpg']Now, as Steve walks down Columbus Avenue, the neighborhood is much more multicultural.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>Now I can walk a block or two and not know somebody that I grew up with,” he said. And today, there’s no clear line between Chinatown and North Beach anymore. “At one time, Broadway Street, down here, was kind of the line of demarcation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Leveroni moved to the Richmond District on San Francisco’s West Side when he got married. While North Beach may not be where the descendants of Italian immigrants live anymore, he said, it’s where people come to celebrate and be with family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The North Beach area is the gathering place for all the Italians to come back to,” he said. “Where do they go? To the restaurants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>A changed neighborhood\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A look at the latest census data shows that only 4% of residents who reported ancestry in North Beach’s main ZIP code have any Italian roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 1950s, Italian Americans joined many other San Franciscans in flight to the suburbs. Since then, North Beach morphed into a hangout for the Beat Generation, new residence for the Chinese community and a thriving tourist destination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071064\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071064\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michele Ferrante (center) sits with friends at Stella Pastry in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood on Nov. 18, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Nowadays, you have to look pretty hard to find old-time Italians in North Beach, but it’s not impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michele Ferrante and Frank Balistreri are two of a handful of Sicilians who gather at Stella Pastry & Cafe on Columbus Avenue every morning to drink espresso and talk sports and politics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[We] come out here and bullsh–t all day long,” said Balistreri, who used to own Portofino, a North Beach Italian restaurant. He speaks a Sicilian dialect with Ferrante, who also ran an Italian restaurant in North Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ferrante came to San Francisco as a young adult in the 1960s. He left Palermo for New York with his parents, but went further west by himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I heard about the Fisherman’s Wharf full of restaurants, full of Italians, mostly Sicilians, the Aliotos and others,” Ferrante said. Having learned how to cook in the Army and being Sicilian, he figured, “I can go there and get a job.”[aside postID=news_12059962 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/Jello-Biafra-of-the-Dead-Kennedys-performing-at-the-Mabuhay-Gardens-.jpg']By the late 1960s, North Beach was already transforming. Beatnik culture was well established.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those were the days of the hippie generation,” Ferrante said. “There were clubs all over Broadway. All kinds of shows, performances. You could not even walk on Broadway.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beat artists and Italians \u003ca href=\"https://www.foundsf.org/The_Emergence_of_the_North_Beach_Beat_Scene\">got along\u003c/a> perhaps better than expected. Italian property owners reportedly kept rents low and poets liked the cafes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1976, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founder of City Lights Bookstore, took note of waning Italian culture in North Beach in his famous \u003ca href=\"https://www.scalponefamilytree.info/OldItaliansDyingPoem.htm\">poem\u003c/a>\u003cem> Old Italians are Dying\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>“For years the old Italians in faded felt hats have been sunning themselves and dying.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>You have seen them on the benches in the park in Washington Square \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The old Italians in their high button shoes \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The old men in their felt fedoras with stained hatbands have been dying and dying day by day. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071071\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071071\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Clement Hudson plays the accordion on Columbus Avenue in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By the early 1980s, Ferrante said, North Beach didn’t feel like an Italian enclave anymore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They all moved to Burlingame, San Mateo, Napa, St. Helena, Sonoma,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The way I was raised here, you knew who was Italian and who wasn’t,” said Balistreri. “Now you don’t know who’s who.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Preserving history is good business\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the 1990s, the North Beach Chamber of Commerce kicked off a\u003ca href=\"https://www.proquest.com/docview/304187079?%20Theses&accountid=13802&parentSessionId=OAtwzKcX6YzQPUr6brPkGvuKr4%2FF9YEmAoAyrh9mrIo%3D&parentSessionId=PVrf0rGU7WE%2BjHgKUIi7mzkDXo%2B5u5jwDXRNQdxuNI0%3D&pq-origsite=primo&searchKeywords=North%20Beach%20San%20Francisco%20ethnic%20neighborhood&sourcetype=Dissertations%20\"> marketing\u003c/a> campaign called “Little Italy of the West.” Light poles were painted with Italian flag colors. People could buy t-shirts that read: “\u003ca href=\"https://www.proquest.com/docview/304187079?accountid=13802&parentSessionId=PVrf0rGU7WE%2BjHgKUIi7mzkDXo%2B5u5jwDXRNQdxuNI0%3D&pq-origsite=primo&searchKeywords=North%20Beach%20San%20Francisco%20ethnic%20neighborhood&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses\">I’m proud to be half- Italian\u003c/a>.” After all,\u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4287693/\"> research shows, \u003c/a>preserving a neighborhood’s ethnic identity is good for business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cultural groups, new and old, are coming up with new ways to keep Italian heritage alive in North Beach as well. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sflittleitaly.us/\">San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk\u003c/a> has installed five bronze plaques in the sidewalks around Washington Square that commemorate notable Italian immigrants in San Francisco, from Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini to former mayor George Moscone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071072\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071072\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Businesses line Green Street in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It is the first time that we have multigenerational Italian Americans here, part of one group,” said the organization’s president, Gina Von Esmarch, at a ceremony to unveil the plaques. She’s a relative of both former San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto and the owners of Alioto’s Restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Von Esmarch hopes the plaques will teach the next generation about the accomplishments of San Francisco’s early Italians. “Yes, it’s to pay homage or tribute,” she said, but the plaques will also be “a living classroom” to tourists and history buffs alike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, new Italian immigrants are coming to San Francisco to work in\u003ca href=\"https://innovitsf.com/about/\"> tech\u003c/a>, and specifically to North Beach to open \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Italian-Homemade-Co-makes-S-F-s-only-piadine-6101783.php\">new\u003c/a> or take over \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/the-city/reopened-north-beach-restaurant-thriving-under-new-ownership/article_dd5fdd67-94b5-4f01-86f0-1374ef5a9181.html\">old restaurants\u003c/a>. Von Esmarch said it’s part of a “re-gentrification” of North Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfiac.org/\"> San Francisco Italian Athletic Club\u003c/a> on Washington Square, open only to people with Italian heritage, said it has doubled membership in the past decade. The new crop is younger and is a mix of Italians from first to fourth generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While North Beach may not be home to as many Italians anymore, it’s still culturally at the heart of the community. Every year, people return for the Italian Heritage Parade on Columbus Avenue. But instead of living down the street, people commute here to enjoy pasta with friends and family — something everyone can enjoy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071067\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Corbelli works at Liguria Bakery in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, on Nov. 18, 2025. The long-standing bakery specializes in traditional focaccia. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Facts in this story were sourced from historian Rose Scherini, author of The Italian American Community of San Francisco: a Descriptive Study \u003c/em>\u003cem>and many other works, as well as historians Dino Cinel and Sebastian Fichera.\u003c/em>\u003cem> Special thanks to the library at San Francisco State University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Parade sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>San Francisco’s Italian Heritage parade creates a massive public party in North Beach every October. Streets are blocked off from Fisherman’s Wharf to Washington Square Park on Columbus Day weekend. Bystanders wave mini Italian flags and eat gelato as they watch the fancy floats and trolleys go by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Parade music\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>At Saints Peter and Paul church, people play a salami toss game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Salami toss sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Word is, this is the longest-running Italian parade in the country – started back in 1869. Our question asker this week, Grant Strother [STRUH-ther]], says, he’s not Italian, but he’s walked these streets since he was a teenager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Grant Strother:\u003c/strong> I do remember in high school in the early 2000s, you would still hear some Italian conversations on the street. I remember like hearing that at Mario’s and Trieste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now, as an adult, he works in the financial district and sometimes walks to North Beach for lunch, to grab a caprese sandwich at Molinari’s Deli. But during one of those walks, he wondered … Do Italian people still live in North Beach, or is it all just a tourist trap?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Grant Strother:\u003c/strong> Obviously, immigration patterns have undoubtedly changed since North Beach was populated. But I was just interested then in how Italian North Beach really is, aside from a lot of the restaurants that are still there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I’m Olivia Allen-Price, and today on Bay Curious, we’ll look at the Italian roots of North Beach, track how things have changed and learn about some of the efforts to keep this history alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Located on San Francisco’s northeast side, North Beach is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and has been home to immigrants from many backgrounds over the years. It sits right next to Chinatown and where Little Manilatown used to be. Now, it’s teeming with Italian cafes, restaurants and bakeries. KQED’s Pauline Bartolone went to find out whether any Italians still live in this neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of Columbus Avenue\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Remnants of Italian culture are still all around North Beach, but to spot them, it helps to have a guide. Someone like Steve Leveroni, who grew up in North Beach in the 50s and 60s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/strong>Way back when… home of the Genoveses lived on Green street from Green and Mason all the way up to Green and Grant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Steve gives me a tour of the neighborhood, his great-great-grandfather, Luigi, landed back in the 1860s. Like many Italian immigrants in North Beach, he came from Northern Italy, the Genoa region. In the decades that followed, other Italians came from Tuscany, Sicily and Calabria to escape poverty and seek new opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>(Sound of walking up steps)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>They settled around the Italian Cathedral, Sts. Peter and Paul Church…still a center point for later generations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/strong>So this is where you come for your baptism, you come for marriage, you also come for your funeral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The church towers above Washington Square Park, where residents bask in the sun, play with dogs, practice tai chi and blast music. Steve says when he was growing up, Italians used to hang out here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>You’d see groups sitting down of men and women and they would be speaking in Italian. So that is probably one thing that’s not as much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>You don’t hear Italian very much because not many Italians live here anymore. At its height in 1930, the Italian community numbered about 60,000 people, almost a tenth of the population of San Francisco. But as early as the 1950s, the Italians here joined many others in the flight to the suburbs. Now, only four percent of residents in North Beach’s main ZIP code have Italian heritage, that’s according to the latest census data of people who reported ancestry. But Steve says even if younger generations moved out of the city, they still come back to the neighborhood for celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>The North Beach area is the gathering place for all the Italians to come back to. But where do they go? They come, you know, to the restaurants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The restaurants of North Beach are now the most visible and lasting legacy of the Italian enclave here. Graffeo’s coffee on Columbus, since 1935. Molinari’s Deli, our question-asker’s spot, Italian-owned since 1896. Liguria Bakery known for its mushroom or raisin focaccia since 1911.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Restaurant sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Steve wraps up our tour by taking me inside one of the city’s best seafood spots: Sotto Mare, owned by his grammar school friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/strong>Their sauces are all, I can see all on the stovetop there, so we’re getting some aromas from that. And then probably one of those pots is their crab chipino, which is, which is excellent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Nowadays, you have to look pretty hard to find Italian old-timers in the neighborhood, but it’s not impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>People speaking Sicilian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>After weeks of looking around, I finally heard some chatter at Stella’s pastry shop on Columbus Avenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante:\u003c/strong> We come every morning, seven days a week. Just, you know, we just get a drink espresso and you know we talk Italian, Sicilian actually.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri:\u003c/strong> It’s a meeting spot. Come out here and bullshit all day long. That’s it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Michele Ferrante and Frank Balistreri both ran Italian restaurants in the neighborhood and still live here. They’re just two of the Sicilians who talk sports and politics here every morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante:\u003c/strong> We are known as the peccatore. We are all sinners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri:\u003c/strong> Give him the Academy Award, please. Make him happy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>In fact, San Francisco’s Italian restaurants are what drew Michele here as a young adult in the 1960s. His parents left Palermo for New York, but Michele wanted to come further west.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante: \u003c/strong>I told my father, my mother says, Arrivederci, I’m going to California. I heard about the Fisherman Wharf full of restaurants, full of Italians, mostly Sicilians, the Aliotos and others. And also because I was hearing so much about North Beach, and being Sicilian, and being a cook, so well, I can go there and get a job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>By the late 1960s, North Beach’s reputation was evolving beyond an Italian neighborhood. Beatnik culture was well established by then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante: \u003c/strong>Those were the days of the hippie generation, you know, ‘67 was the summer of love. Everything was going on. One of my favorite hangout was at La Rocca’s Corner, which is still here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The beat culture, artists and Italians got along perhaps better than expected… Italian property owners reportedly kept rents low, and poets liked the cafes. In 1976, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founder of City Lights Bookstore, took note of North Beach’s waning Italian culture in his famous poem “Old Italians are Dying.” Here’s a recording of him reading it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lawrence Ferlinghetti:\u003c/strong> For years the old Italians in faded felt hats have been sunning themselves and dying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You have seen them on the benches in the park in Washington Square\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The old Italians in their black high button shoes\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The old men in their felt fedoras with stained hatbands have been dying and dying day by day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>By the early 1980s, Michele says, North Beach didn’t feel like an Italian enclave anymore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante: \u003c/strong>They all move, Burlingame, San Mateo, Napa, San Helena, Sonoma. San Francisco, not too many living here anymore, very little.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri: \u003c/strong>Sure, we saw it change. There’s still some kind of flavor, but not originally what I grew up with. The way I was raised here, you knew who was Italian and who wasn’t. Now you don’t know who’s who. So, basically, you feel like nobody’s here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>That feeling of “no Italians” – didn’t sit well with the North Beach chamber of commerce. In the 1990s, they kicked off a marketing campaign for the neighborhood, “Little Italy of the West.” Light poles were painted with Italian flag colors. People could buy “I’m proud to be half Italian” t-shirts. Afterall, research shows, preserving a neighborhood’s ethnic identity is good for business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of kids singing in Italian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Now, new initiatives are popping up to keep Italian heritage alive, like the Little Italy Honor Walk, a series of bronze sidewalk squares that memorialize notable Italians in San Francisco history. Five have been installed around Washington Square Park, and there’s more on the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Singing fades out and sounds of Italian being spoken fade in\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Back at Stella’s pastry shop, Michele and Frank say remembering North Beach’s Italian history is important, but they don’t need monuments to remind them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri: \u003c/strong>Times change, things change, I don’t worry about it, as long as I’m here where I want to be. Italians are no Italians, I know who I am, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>North Beach’s original Italian enclave may be long gone, but the neighborhood’s history and food will keep bringing tourists…and locals with Italians heritage… back for years to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That story was brought to you by KQED reporter Pauline Bartolone. Special thanks to the San Francisco State University library where Pauline researched some of North Beach’s history. Thanks also to Jim McKee of EarWax Productions for the recording of Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading “Old Italians Are Dying.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today’s question came from Grant Strother, and you could be next! Submit your question about the Bay Area at BayCurious.org.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a wonderful week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood is known for its Italian restaurants, cafes and bakeries. But is it still an enclave for Northern California’s Italian immigrants?",
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"title": "Ciao Bella: Do Italians Still Live in San Francisco’s North Beach? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">\u003ci>View the full episode transcript.\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grant Strother loves a good caprese sandwich from North Beach. On weekdays, he walks to Molinari Delicatessen on Columbus Avenue from his job in San Francisco’sFinancial District during his lunch break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s such an easy walk,” he said. “Not too many hills to climb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One day, on a particularly meandering walk, Strother passed by Saints Peter and Paul Church on Washington Square. It still offers bilingual mass in Italian, he noticed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He was intrigued. Are there still Italian speakers in the neighborhood?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Immigration patterns have undoubtedly changed,” Strother said. Twenty years ago, he’d hear Italian spoken outside restaurants like Mario’s Bohemian Cafe and Caffe Trieste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But nowadays, aside from all the restaurants, he wondered: “How Italian is it?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>The history of Italians in North Beach\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Since the Gold Rush, Italian immigrants have come to San Francisco in waves. The\u003ca href=\"https://search.worldcat.org/title/The-Italian-American-community-of-San-Francisco-:-a-descriptive-study/oclc/1393057217\"> height\u003c/a> of the Italian population was in 1930, when the ethnic community numbered just under 60,000 and made up nine percent of the overall population of San Francisco\u003ca href=\"https://search.worldcat.org/title/The-Italian-American-community-of-San-Francisco-:-a-descriptive-study/oclc/1393057217\">.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Northern Italians, from Liguria and Tuscany, first arrived in San Francisco, making up more than half of the ethnic enclave. Later, folks from southern regions like Sicily and Calabria started emigrating. Many Italians settled in North Beach, although the Excelsior District was also a cluster.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Saints Peter and Paul Church, a Catholic church in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, on Nov. 18, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Steve Leveroni, board president of \u003ca href=\"https://www.italiancs.org/\">Italian Community Services\u003c/a> in North Beach, vice president of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and an insurance businessman, has deep roots in North Beach. His great-great-grandfather, Luigi, emigrated from Genoa in Northern Italy in the 1860s. When Steve was growing up in North Beach in the 1960s, descendants of the Genovese lived on Green Street, from Mason Street to Grant Avenue, and Sts. Peter and Paul Church was their centerpoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We all got baptized there, we all got married there, and unfortunately, our funerals are gonna be there,” Leveroni said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The church still towers above Washington Square Park, where residents bask in the sun, play with dogs and practice tai chi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remnants of Italian culture are still all around the neighborhood. Liguria Bakery, on one corner of the park, has been going strong since 1911. Bay Area residents still flock there for mushroom or raisin focaccia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“After every mass, we were given a few dollars, and our duty was to pick up the focaccia to bring back to the house for lunch,” Leveroni remembered.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Now, as Steve walks down Columbus Avenue, the neighborhood is much more multicultural.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>Now I can walk a block or two and not know somebody that I grew up with,” he said. And today, there’s no clear line between Chinatown and North Beach anymore. “At one time, Broadway Street, down here, was kind of the line of demarcation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Leveroni moved to the Richmond District on San Francisco’s West Side when he got married. While North Beach may not be where the descendants of Italian immigrants live anymore, he said, it’s where people come to celebrate and be with family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The North Beach area is the gathering place for all the Italians to come back to,” he said. “Where do they go? To the restaurants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>A changed neighborhood\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A look at the latest census data shows that only 4% of residents who reported ancestry in North Beach’s main ZIP code have any Italian roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the 1950s, Italian Americans joined many other San Franciscans in flight to the suburbs. Since then, North Beach morphed into a hangout for the Beat Generation, new residence for the Chinese community and a thriving tourist destination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071064\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071064\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michele Ferrante (center) sits with friends at Stella Pastry in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood on Nov. 18, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Nowadays, you have to look pretty hard to find old-time Italians in North Beach, but it’s not impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michele Ferrante and Frank Balistreri are two of a handful of Sicilians who gather at Stella Pastry & Cafe on Columbus Avenue every morning to drink espresso and talk sports and politics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[We] come out here and bullsh–t all day long,” said Balistreri, who used to own Portofino, a North Beach Italian restaurant. He speaks a Sicilian dialect with Ferrante, who also ran an Italian restaurant in North Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ferrante came to San Francisco as a young adult in the 1960s. He left Palermo for New York with his parents, but went further west by himself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I heard about the Fisherman’s Wharf full of restaurants, full of Italians, mostly Sicilians, the Aliotos and others,” Ferrante said. Having learned how to cook in the Army and being Sicilian, he figured, “I can go there and get a job.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>By the late 1960s, North Beach was already transforming. Beatnik culture was well established.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those were the days of the hippie generation,” Ferrante said. “There were clubs all over Broadway. All kinds of shows, performances. You could not even walk on Broadway.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beat artists and Italians \u003ca href=\"https://www.foundsf.org/The_Emergence_of_the_North_Beach_Beat_Scene\">got along\u003c/a> perhaps better than expected. Italian property owners reportedly kept rents low and poets liked the cafes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1976, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founder of City Lights Bookstore, took note of waning Italian culture in North Beach in his famous \u003ca href=\"https://www.scalponefamilytree.info/OldItaliansDyingPoem.htm\">poem\u003c/a>\u003cem> Old Italians are Dying\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>“For years the old Italians in faded felt hats have been sunning themselves and dying.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>You have seen them on the benches in the park in Washington Square \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The old Italians in their high button shoes \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The old men in their felt fedoras with stained hatbands have been dying and dying day by day. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071071\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071071\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-02-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Clement Hudson plays the accordion on Columbus Avenue in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>By the early 1980s, Ferrante said, North Beach didn’t feel like an Italian enclave anymore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They all moved to Burlingame, San Mateo, Napa, St. Helena, Sonoma,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The way I was raised here, you knew who was Italian and who wasn’t,” said Balistreri. “Now you don’t know who’s who.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Preserving history is good business\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the 1990s, the North Beach Chamber of Commerce kicked off a\u003ca href=\"https://www.proquest.com/docview/304187079?%20Theses&accountid=13802&parentSessionId=OAtwzKcX6YzQPUr6brPkGvuKr4%2FF9YEmAoAyrh9mrIo%3D&parentSessionId=PVrf0rGU7WE%2BjHgKUIi7mzkDXo%2B5u5jwDXRNQdxuNI0%3D&pq-origsite=primo&searchKeywords=North%20Beach%20San%20Francisco%20ethnic%20neighborhood&sourcetype=Dissertations%20\"> marketing\u003c/a> campaign called “Little Italy of the West.” Light poles were painted with Italian flag colors. People could buy t-shirts that read: “\u003ca href=\"https://www.proquest.com/docview/304187079?accountid=13802&parentSessionId=PVrf0rGU7WE%2BjHgKUIi7mzkDXo%2B5u5jwDXRNQdxuNI0%3D&pq-origsite=primo&searchKeywords=North%20Beach%20San%20Francisco%20ethnic%20neighborhood&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses\">I’m proud to be half- Italian\u003c/a>.” After all,\u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4287693/\"> research shows, \u003c/a>preserving a neighborhood’s ethnic identity is good for business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cultural groups, new and old, are coming up with new ways to keep Italian heritage alive in North Beach as well. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sflittleitaly.us/\">San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk\u003c/a> has installed five bronze plaques in the sidewalks around Washington Square that commemorate notable Italian immigrants in San Francisco, from Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini to former mayor George Moscone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071072\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071072\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-ITALIANNORTHBEACH-05-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Businesses line Green Street in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It is the first time that we have multigenerational Italian Americans here, part of one group,” said the organization’s president, Gina Von Esmarch, at a ceremony to unveil the plaques. She’s a relative of both former San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto and the owners of Alioto’s Restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Von Esmarch hopes the plaques will teach the next generation about the accomplishments of San Francisco’s early Italians. “Yes, it’s to pay homage or tribute,” she said, but the plaques will also be “a living classroom” to tourists and history buffs alike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, new Italian immigrants are coming to San Francisco to work in\u003ca href=\"https://innovitsf.com/about/\"> tech\u003c/a>, and specifically to North Beach to open \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Italian-Homemade-Co-makes-S-F-s-only-piadine-6101783.php\">new\u003c/a> or take over \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/the-city/reopened-north-beach-restaurant-thriving-under-new-ownership/article_dd5fdd67-94b5-4f01-86f0-1374ef5a9181.html\">old restaurants\u003c/a>. Von Esmarch said it’s part of a “re-gentrification” of North Beach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfiac.org/\"> San Francisco Italian Athletic Club\u003c/a> on Washington Square, open only to people with Italian heritage, said it has doubled membership in the past decade. The new crop is younger and is a mix of Italians from first to fourth generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While North Beach may not be home to as many Italians anymore, it’s still culturally at the heart of the community. Every year, people return for the Italian Heritage Parade on Columbus Avenue. But instead of living down the street, people commute here to enjoy pasta with friends and family — something everyone can enjoy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12071067\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12071067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251118-HOWITALIANISNORTHBEACH-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Corbelli works at Liguria Bakery in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, on Nov. 18, 2025. The long-standing bakery specializes in traditional focaccia. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Facts in this story were sourced from historian Rose Scherini, author of The Italian American Community of San Francisco: a Descriptive Study \u003c/em>\u003cem>and many other works, as well as historians Dino Cinel and Sebastian Fichera.\u003c/em>\u003cem> Special thanks to the library at San Francisco State University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Parade sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>San Francisco’s Italian Heritage parade creates a massive public party in North Beach every October. Streets are blocked off from Fisherman’s Wharf to Washington Square Park on Columbus Day weekend. Bystanders wave mini Italian flags and eat gelato as they watch the fancy floats and trolleys go by.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Parade music\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>At Saints Peter and Paul church, people play a salami toss game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Salami toss sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Word is, this is the longest-running Italian parade in the country – started back in 1869. Our question asker this week, Grant Strother [STRUH-ther]], says, he’s not Italian, but he’s walked these streets since he was a teenager.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Grant Strother:\u003c/strong> I do remember in high school in the early 2000s, you would still hear some Italian conversations on the street. I remember like hearing that at Mario’s and Trieste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Now, as an adult, he works in the financial district and sometimes walks to North Beach for lunch, to grab a caprese sandwich at Molinari’s Deli. But during one of those walks, he wondered … Do Italian people still live in North Beach, or is it all just a tourist trap?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Grant Strother:\u003c/strong> Obviously, immigration patterns have undoubtedly changed since North Beach was populated. But I was just interested then in how Italian North Beach really is, aside from a lot of the restaurants that are still there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>I’m Olivia Allen-Price, and today on Bay Curious, we’ll look at the Italian roots of North Beach, track how things have changed and learn about some of the efforts to keep this history alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Located on San Francisco’s northeast side, North Beach is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and has been home to immigrants from many backgrounds over the years. It sits right next to Chinatown and where Little Manilatown used to be. Now, it’s teeming with Italian cafes, restaurants and bakeries. KQED’s Pauline Bartolone went to find out whether any Italians still live in this neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of Columbus Avenue\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Remnants of Italian culture are still all around North Beach, but to spot them, it helps to have a guide. Someone like Steve Leveroni, who grew up in North Beach in the 50s and 60s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/strong>Way back when… home of the Genoveses lived on Green street from Green and Mason all the way up to Green and Grant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Steve gives me a tour of the neighborhood, his great-great-grandfather, Luigi, landed back in the 1860s. Like many Italian immigrants in North Beach, he came from Northern Italy, the Genoa region. In the decades that followed, other Italians came from Tuscany, Sicily and Calabria to escape poverty and seek new opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>(Sound of walking up steps)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>They settled around the Italian Cathedral, Sts. Peter and Paul Church…still a center point for later generations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/strong>So this is where you come for your baptism, you come for marriage, you also come for your funeral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The church towers above Washington Square Park, where residents bask in the sun, play with dogs, practice tai chi and blast music. Steve says when he was growing up, Italians used to hang out here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>You’d see groups sitting down of men and women and they would be speaking in Italian. So that is probably one thing that’s not as much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>You don’t hear Italian very much because not many Italians live here anymore. At its height in 1930, the Italian community numbered about 60,000 people, almost a tenth of the population of San Francisco. But as early as the 1950s, the Italians here joined many others in the flight to the suburbs. Now, only four percent of residents in North Beach’s main ZIP code have Italian heritage, that’s according to the latest census data of people who reported ancestry. But Steve says even if younger generations moved out of the city, they still come back to the neighborhood for celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/em>\u003c/strong>The North Beach area is the gathering place for all the Italians to come back to. But where do they go? They come, you know, to the restaurants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The restaurants of North Beach are now the most visible and lasting legacy of the Italian enclave here. Graffeo’s coffee on Columbus, since 1935. Molinari’s Deli, our question-asker’s spot, Italian-owned since 1896. Liguria Bakery known for its mushroom or raisin focaccia since 1911.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Restaurant sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Steve wraps up our tour by taking me inside one of the city’s best seafood spots: Sotto Mare, owned by his grammar school friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Steve Leveroni: \u003c/strong>Their sauces are all, I can see all on the stovetop there, so we’re getting some aromas from that. And then probably one of those pots is their crab chipino, which is, which is excellent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Nowadays, you have to look pretty hard to find Italian old-timers in the neighborhood, but it’s not impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>People speaking Sicilian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>After weeks of looking around, I finally heard some chatter at Stella’s pastry shop on Columbus Avenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante:\u003c/strong> We come every morning, seven days a week. Just, you know, we just get a drink espresso and you know we talk Italian, Sicilian actually.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri:\u003c/strong> It’s a meeting spot. Come out here and bullshit all day long. That’s it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Michele Ferrante and Frank Balistreri both ran Italian restaurants in the neighborhood and still live here. They’re just two of the Sicilians who talk sports and politics here every morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante:\u003c/strong> We are known as the peccatore. We are all sinners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri:\u003c/strong> Give him the Academy Award, please. Make him happy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>In fact, San Francisco’s Italian restaurants are what drew Michele here as a young adult in the 1960s. His parents left Palermo for New York, but Michele wanted to come further west.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante: \u003c/strong>I told my father, my mother says, Arrivederci, I’m going to California. I heard about the Fisherman Wharf full of restaurants, full of Italians, mostly Sicilians, the Aliotos and others. And also because I was hearing so much about North Beach, and being Sicilian, and being a cook, so well, I can go there and get a job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>By the late 1960s, North Beach’s reputation was evolving beyond an Italian neighborhood. Beatnik culture was well established by then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante: \u003c/strong>Those were the days of the hippie generation, you know, ‘67 was the summer of love. Everything was going on. One of my favorite hangout was at La Rocca’s Corner, which is still here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The beat culture, artists and Italians got along perhaps better than expected… Italian property owners reportedly kept rents low, and poets liked the cafes. In 1976, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founder of City Lights Bookstore, took note of North Beach’s waning Italian culture in his famous poem “Old Italians are Dying.” Here’s a recording of him reading it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lawrence Ferlinghetti:\u003c/strong> For years the old Italians in faded felt hats have been sunning themselves and dying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You have seen them on the benches in the park in Washington Square\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The old Italians in their black high button shoes\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The old men in their felt fedoras with stained hatbands have been dying and dying day by day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>By the early 1980s, Michele says, North Beach didn’t feel like an Italian enclave anymore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Michele Ferrante: \u003c/strong>They all move, Burlingame, San Mateo, Napa, San Helena, Sonoma. San Francisco, not too many living here anymore, very little.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri: \u003c/strong>Sure, we saw it change. There’s still some kind of flavor, but not originally what I grew up with. The way I was raised here, you knew who was Italian and who wasn’t. Now you don’t know who’s who. So, basically, you feel like nobody’s here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>That feeling of “no Italians” – didn’t sit well with the North Beach chamber of commerce. In the 1990s, they kicked off a marketing campaign for the neighborhood, “Little Italy of the West.” Light poles were painted with Italian flag colors. People could buy “I’m proud to be half Italian” t-shirts. Afterall, research shows, preserving a neighborhood’s ethnic identity is good for business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of kids singing in Italian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Now, new initiatives are popping up to keep Italian heritage alive, like the Little Italy Honor Walk, a series of bronze sidewalk squares that memorialize notable Italians in San Francisco history. Five have been installed around Washington Square Park, and there’s more on the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Singing fades out and sounds of Italian being spoken fade in\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Back at Stella’s pastry shop, Michele and Frank say remembering North Beach’s Italian history is important, but they don’t need monuments to remind them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Frank Balistreri: \u003c/strong>Times change, things change, I don’t worry about it, as long as I’m here where I want to be. Italians are no Italians, I know who I am, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>North Beach’s original Italian enclave may be long gone, but the neighborhood’s history and food will keep bringing tourists…and locals with Italians heritage… back for years to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That story was brought to you by KQED reporter Pauline Bartolone. Special thanks to the San Francisco State University library where Pauline researched some of North Beach’s history. Thanks also to Jim McKee of EarWax Productions for the recording of Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading “Old Italians Are Dying.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today’s question came from Grant Strother, and you could be next! Submit your question about the Bay Area at BayCurious.org.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With extra support from Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Jen Chien, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a wonderful week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>"
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[dropcap]A[/dropcap]lmeter Carroll sits alone on a couch inside the Watts Senior Citizen Community Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s almost noon, but the place is nearly empty. Fitness mats and other workout gear lay stacked in a distant corner. No one shows up for a morning gym class except her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She points across the room to a wall covered with photos of smiling, well-dressed Black men and women gathered at events throughout the years. “They’re all gone. Everyone on that wall. Passed away.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the same in her personal life. Widowed once, Almeter lost a second partner years later to COVID. For the most part, she likes being independent and taking care of herself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Of course, I get lonely,” she says. “I miss my husband. I miss my boyfriend.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074089\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074089\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-2000x658.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-2048x674.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: A memorial wall honoring past members at the Watts Senior Center in Los Angeles. Right: Almeter Carroll, 87, sits at the Watts Senior Center in Los Angeles. “I like coming here, I like getting together with the group and playing cards,” said Ms. Carroll. “People come for fellowship. To talk.” She added, “The pandemic did a lot to this place and to my church.” \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CatchLight/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She speaks of these things matter-of-factly, but still holds a positive outlook and carries a knowing smile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Quiet as it may be at the moment, the Watts Center will begin to buzz with activity come lunchtime. Almeter will be surrounded by friends soon enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074063\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074063\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shane Shabad, 90, sits at Palisades Park in Santa Monica. Shane has lived alone for over a decade and struggles with vision loss associated with macular degeneration. He became increasingly socially isolated during the pandemic. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/seniors\">Older adults\u003c/a> represent a significantly expanding portion of California’s population. By 2030, individuals over age 65 will begin to outnumber those under 18. But living longer also means people will see more loss, experience more grief and face more isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2026/02/look-inside-los-angeles-senior-centers/\">Neighborhood senior centers\u003c/a> may offer a good solution. They localize important resources and provide a safe, accessible space where older adults can go to find community and friendship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re absolutely essential and critical and part of the backbone of older adult services in our state,” said California Department of Aging Director Susan DeMarois. “They’re integral to our communities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074090\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2021px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074090 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2021\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED.jpg 2021w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED-2000x1484.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED-1536x1140.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2021px) 100vw, 2021px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Beverlee Kelly, 70, spends time at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles. Ms. Kelly used to be active at a senior center near her home before the pandemic. She has not returned since the shutdown in 2020 due to health concerns, as she is unvaccinated. Right: Shane Shabad, 90, stands in his apartment in Santa Monica. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Under Gov. Gavin Newsom, the aging department drew up a 10-year master plan that lays out five “bold” goals essential for sustaining longevity — housing, health care, inclusion, caregiving and affordability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Senior centers can address the inclusion component, although how exactly remains unclear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2026/02/senior-centers-what-we-learned/\">No two senior centers are alike\u003c/a>. Local demographics and economic factors shape each center’s unique dynamics. With hardly any state oversight, most are largely left to themselves to figure out their own best practices.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, no one can even say how many are operating in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074094\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074094 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-2000x658.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-2048x674.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Lewis Brown, 80, Director, sits in his office at the Tehachapi Senior Center. Right: Tony Kotch, 86, sits at a table for lunch at the Tehachapi Senior Center. The Tehachapi Senior Center is volunteer-run, and the older adults cover costs through donations. Older adults residing in rural areas are at an increased risk of social isolation. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sounded an alarm in naming loneliness and social isolation a national epidemic in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf\">2023 report\u003c/a> — equating the long-term health effects with smoking 15 cigarettes a day. One in five older Californians like Almeter live alone, making it even more difficult for them to maintain social connections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Going to the senior center may benefit a person’s mental and physical health, according to a 2025 study by researchers from California State University, Northridge, and Kaiser Permanente. They distributed surveys at 23 Los Angeles-area senior centers to gauge how attendance affected the well-being of participants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People who attended frequently — several times a week — or over long periods of time had better mental health and felt less lonely. Frequent senior center attendance was associated with a greater reduction in loneliness among users under age 75, while the positive relationship between senior center attendance and physical health was more evident among users over age 75. Based on those findings, the authors encouraged local officials and doctors “to promote” senior centers as a healthy resource.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074062\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074062\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Residents of an affordable senior housing complex in Santa Monica stand in a hallway in 2020. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hit hard by the social distancing impacts of COVID, community-based centers faced significant challenges when things began to return to normal. Older adults stayed away for some time out of caution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But some returned to centers with a renewed focus on health and well-being. Rather than look for traditional recreation like bingo, post-COVID older adults wanted to see fitness classes and longevity training.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As the population changes, as the opportunities change, as the needs change — senior centers evolve with that,” said Dianne Stone of the National Council on Aging. “At the core of it, senior centers are highly social places. It’s all about creating opportunities for social engagement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That might be just sitting around having a cup of coffee. It might be taking a class and finding people that are interested in the same things you’re interested in. But all of it is an opportunity to come in and meet people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Karaoke, tai chi and romance\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Less than 20 miles from Watts, the Culver City Senior Center surges with energy and enthusiasm. Sunlight filters through large glass windows onto tables bustling with Mah Jong and other games. For $20 a year, participants get daily access to rooms filled with exercise classes, arts and crafts workshops and movie screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members gather early to hit the gym as soon as doors open at 9 a.m. Billiards players bring their own cues to shoot pool. Twice a week, packed-house karaoke sessions involve not just free-spirited singing, but also plenty of dancing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074091\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2019px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074091 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2019\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED.jpg 2019w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED-2000x1486.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED-1536x1141.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2019px) 100vw, 2019px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members dance during weekly karaoke at the Culver City Senior Center. Some older adults attend the center with their caregivers, who are also members. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On a sunny, gorgeous day in mid-November, the karaoke team brought microphones and speakers out into the fresh air of Culver’s spacious central courtyard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Selvee Provost bounced around and chatted knowingly with almost every person sitting under the verandas and shade umbrellas. As people took turns singing, she danced intermittently with different friends. Her simple social activity appeared to come naturally, but it was in the aftermath of loss and loneliness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074059\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074059\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Toni DiModica, 84, and Jim Diego, 82, dance during karaoke, as Verna Akwa, 77, sings, and Lee Karol, 69, and Stan Kamens, 78, manage the program at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Selvee first came to the Culver Center with her husband, Jim, in 2018. When COVID hit, things shut down. Then Jim died, and Selvee felt utterly alone. She could feel herself spiraling down in isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I knew if I sit at home and keep thinking about Jim, I’m gonna get more and more depressed,” she said. “That’s what motivated me to come here and try a class or something — just try anything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074092\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2019px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074092\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2019\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED.jpg 2019w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED-2000x1486.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED-1536x1141.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2019px) 100vw, 2019px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Cristina Guevara, 78, embraces Julia Sedana, 82, at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center. Right: Selvee Provost, 67, bows during a Tai-Chi class at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tai chi became her pathway to community. “I didn’t know anybody, really. But by going to this class, I met people and learned they have a group about dealing with grief.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s where she met Daniel Kerson. He’d lost his wife at almost the same time as Selvee lost Jim. “Both of us really needed to find companionship to survive,” she said. They moved in together right away and now come to the center throughout the week for classes, events and to socialize.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074060\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074060\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Gelb, 78, brushes his hair while seated in the courtyard at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CatchLight/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Louis Cangemi, a newcomer over the last few months, mingled with Selvee and made his own rounds amongst the outdoor karaoke singers and dancers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I heard about this place and came to meet more people,” said the energetic 80-year-old. “I’m still a bachelor, so I hope to hit it off here with more women.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But he might encounter a bit of competition. Other men like Jim Diego, 82, have been dancing and courting at Culver for years ahead of Cangemi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Find a public senior center in Los Angeles\" aria-label=\"Locator map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-cMgPL\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cMgPL/4/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"695\" data-external=\"1\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coffee, tea and art — “Cafe, te y arte” — are the kind of social opportunities that begin each weekday at the Lincoln Heights Senior Citizen Center, all gratis for the mostly Spanish-speaking older adults who make themselves at home here. In one large community room, they share galletas and pasteles along with the free coffee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As mid-morning hits, fitness classes like chair yoga and Latin dance entice a dozen or so participants — predominantly women — to move, smile and laugh together beside the room’s raised performance stage. The men mostly sit and watch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Twice a week, la lotería keeps the tables full for a couple of hours. Holiday dances draw crowds of over a hundred and feature DJs and live musicians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074064\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074064\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Garcia, 78, dances with Eva De La Torre, 75, alongside other members of the Lincoln Heights Senior Center during a Halloween party in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s such a lovely community,” said the Lincoln Heights director and one-man staff, Anthony Montiel. “I’m really fortunate to be part of this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As director, he maintains the schedule of classes and fills in wherever necessary. People are asked to contribute a few dollars per class, if they can afford it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his backroom office, he logs in and accounts for handfuls of dog-eared $1 bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lone ping pong player looks for the director in the afternoons. If he’s not too busy with his other duties, he’ll take a break for a quick match. “We have practically a brand new table,” said Montiel. “It’s nice equipment, but the guy usually has no one to play with but me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Shared meals, shared space, shared community\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Putting a finger on the pulse of how senior centers maintain relevance, adapt and thrive is no easy task. Each center relies on a mix of different funding and resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Besides the classes and activities, subsidized lunch programs at all these centers play a crucial role in helping older adults stay healthy. The nutritionally balanced meals provide free or low-cost sustenance, but offering the food in a shared, congregate space might be equally just as vital.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074065\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074065\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members gather at different tables in the afternoon at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“When people are able to go to a setting like a senior center to enjoy a meal in the company of others, possibly to have music and entertainment and activities, that can be really good for people’s mental health,” said DeMarois of the Department of Aging. “That’s a big part of it — just trying to foster that connection and engagement on the preventive side.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Congregate setting meal programs accounted for over 2.3 million older adult meals in the City of Los Angeles and in L.A. County in 2024, according to California Department of Aging records. But this data is not specific to senior centers, as it also includes meals in senior care facilities and other older adult group spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When it comes to senior centers, there is not good data,” said Stone. “There is not that central database of senior centers or community-based organizations, and there’s not even a shared definition of what they are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074093\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074093 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-2000x658.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-2048x674.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Maudell Robinson, 95, at the Watts Senior Center in Los Angeles. Right: A member of the Watts Senior Center prepares to depart for the day in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Senior centers are community responses to community aging. No two are the same because no two communities are the same.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking anecdotally from her own experience, Stone sees the bulk of most senior center populations as being between 75 and 85 years old. But that age range is evolving as older adult communities expand.[aside postID=news_12050210 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/la-seniors-688a20454f1fc.jpg']DeMarois sees the same dynamics taking shape. “When we talk about people 60-plus, we’re experiencing the greatest longevity ever right now,” she said. “The fastest growing demographic in California is 85-plus. We’re talking about four decades of life for many people from 60 to 100, so their needs and preferences will change over time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in Watts, Almeter’s not much interested in a free meal. “I eat my own food.” She sits around as other older adults filter into the center one by one. Many grab their subsidized lunch in styrofoam containers and soon walk right back out the door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She waits patiently for her friends to arrive — women like Luretha Muckelroy, Maudell Robinson and Watts advisory board member Linda Cleveland. They gather here two or three times each week to play Spades or Bid Whist, card games that evoke plenty of smack talking and mirth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need more men around here,” said Linda, as she noted the all-female crowd. Older adult males show up for some functions and events, but women seem to comprise most of the Watts Center attendance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sharron Robinson, 80, Laura Shroder, 89, and Johnnie Devereaux, 86, hold hands and dance as other members sing karaoke at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CatchLight/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For a few hours, the close-knit group makes the place come alive. Four players compete in two-person teams, while others keep tally. The losing team must vacate their seats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They laugh, point fingers and chastise one another — all in good fun. The games can sometimes get heated. In between hands and shuffles, they share snacks and pour sodas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When asked how she feels about aging alone, Almeter answers without hesitation. “Oh, I love being 87. It’s great to be alive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Joe Garcia is a California Local News fellow. \u003c/em>\u003cem>This story was produced jointly by CalMatters and CatchLight as part of our \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.catchlight.io/mental-health\">\u003cem>mental health initiative\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2026/02/senior-centers-aging-health/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "No two senior centers are alike. We visited three very different venues in L.A. to learn how they’re changing for California’s aging population.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__dropcapShortcode__dropcap\">A\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>lmeter Carroll sits alone on a couch inside the Watts Senior Citizen Community Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s almost noon, but the place is nearly empty. Fitness mats and other workout gear lay stacked in a distant corner. No one shows up for a morning gym class except her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She points across the room to a wall covered with photos of smiling, well-dressed Black men and women gathered at events throughout the years. “They’re all gone. Everyone on that wall. Passed away.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the same in her personal life. Widowed once, Almeter lost a second partner years later to COVID. For the most part, she likes being independent and taking care of herself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Of course, I get lonely,” she says. “I miss my husband. I miss my boyfriend.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074089\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074089\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-2000x658.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-1-KQED-2048x674.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: A memorial wall honoring past members at the Watts Senior Center in Los Angeles. Right: Almeter Carroll, 87, sits at the Watts Senior Center in Los Angeles. “I like coming here, I like getting together with the group and playing cards,” said Ms. Carroll. “People come for fellowship. To talk.” She added, “The pandemic did a lot to this place and to my church.” \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CatchLight/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>She speaks of these things matter-of-factly, but still holds a positive outlook and carries a knowing smile.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Quiet as it may be at the moment, the Watts Center will begin to buzz with activity come lunchtime. Almeter will be surrounded by friends soon enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074063\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074063\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/221326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-04-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shane Shabad, 90, sits at Palisades Park in Santa Monica. Shane has lived alone for over a decade and struggles with vision loss associated with macular degeneration. He became increasingly socially isolated during the pandemic. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/seniors\">Older adults\u003c/a> represent a significantly expanding portion of California’s population. By 2030, individuals over age 65 will begin to outnumber those under 18. But living longer also means people will see more loss, experience more grief and face more isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2026/02/look-inside-los-angeles-senior-centers/\">Neighborhood senior centers\u003c/a> may offer a good solution. They localize important resources and provide a safe, accessible space where older adults can go to find community and friendship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re absolutely essential and critical and part of the backbone of older adult services in our state,” said California Department of Aging Director Susan DeMarois. “They’re integral to our communities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074090\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2021px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074090 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2021\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED.jpg 2021w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED-2000x1484.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-2-KQED-1536x1140.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2021px) 100vw, 2021px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Beverlee Kelly, 70, spends time at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles. Ms. Kelly used to be active at a senior center near her home before the pandemic. She has not returned since the shutdown in 2020 due to health concerns, as she is unvaccinated. Right: Shane Shabad, 90, stands in his apartment in Santa Monica. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Under Gov. Gavin Newsom, the aging department drew up a 10-year master plan that lays out five “bold” goals essential for sustaining longevity — housing, health care, inclusion, caregiving and affordability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Senior centers can address the inclusion component, although how exactly remains unclear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2026/02/senior-centers-what-we-learned/\">No two senior centers are alike\u003c/a>. Local demographics and economic factors shape each center’s unique dynamics. With hardly any state oversight, most are largely left to themselves to figure out their own best practices.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, no one can even say how many are operating in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074094\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074094 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-2000x658.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-3-KQED-2048x674.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Lewis Brown, 80, Director, sits in his office at the Tehachapi Senior Center. Right: Tony Kotch, 86, sits at a table for lunch at the Tehachapi Senior Center. The Tehachapi Senior Center is volunteer-run, and the older adults cover costs through donations. Older adults residing in rural areas are at an increased risk of social isolation. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sounded an alarm in naming loneliness and social isolation a national epidemic in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf\">2023 report\u003c/a> — equating the long-term health effects with smoking 15 cigarettes a day. One in five older Californians like Almeter live alone, making it even more difficult for them to maintain social connections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Going to the senior center may benefit a person’s mental and physical health, according to a 2025 study by researchers from California State University, Northridge, and Kaiser Permanente. They distributed surveys at 23 Los Angeles-area senior centers to gauge how attendance affected the well-being of participants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People who attended frequently — several times a week — or over long periods of time had better mental health and felt less lonely. Frequent senior center attendance was associated with a greater reduction in loneliness among users under age 75, while the positive relationship between senior center attendance and physical health was more evident among users over age 75. Based on those findings, the authors encouraged local officials and doctors “to promote” senior centers as a healthy resource.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074062\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074062\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/3LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-09-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Residents of an affordable senior housing complex in Santa Monica stand in a hallway in 2020. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hit hard by the social distancing impacts of COVID, community-based centers faced significant challenges when things began to return to normal. Older adults stayed away for some time out of caution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But some returned to centers with a renewed focus on health and well-being. Rather than look for traditional recreation like bingo, post-COVID older adults wanted to see fitness classes and longevity training.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As the population changes, as the opportunities change, as the needs change — senior centers evolve with that,” said Dianne Stone of the National Council on Aging. “At the core of it, senior centers are highly social places. It’s all about creating opportunities for social engagement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That might be just sitting around having a cup of coffee. It might be taking a class and finding people that are interested in the same things you’re interested in. But all of it is an opportunity to come in and meet people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Karaoke, tai chi and romance\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Less than 20 miles from Watts, the Culver City Senior Center surges with energy and enthusiasm. Sunlight filters through large glass windows onto tables bustling with Mah Jong and other games. For $20 a year, participants get daily access to rooms filled with exercise classes, arts and crafts workshops and movie screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members gather early to hit the gym as soon as doors open at 9 a.m. Billiards players bring their own cues to shoot pool. Twice a week, packed-house karaoke sessions involve not just free-spirited singing, but also plenty of dancing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074091\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2019px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074091 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2019\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED.jpg 2019w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED-2000x1486.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-4-KQED-1536x1141.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2019px) 100vw, 2019px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members dance during weekly karaoke at the Culver City Senior Center. Some older adults attend the center with their caregivers, who are also members. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On a sunny, gorgeous day in mid-November, the karaoke team brought microphones and speakers out into the fresh air of Culver’s spacious central courtyard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Selvee Provost bounced around and chatted knowingly with almost every person sitting under the verandas and shade umbrellas. As people took turns singing, she danced intermittently with different friends. Her simple social activity appeared to come naturally, but it was in the aftermath of loss and loneliness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074059\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074059\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/1-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-12-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Toni DiModica, 84, and Jim Diego, 82, dance during karaoke, as Verna Akwa, 77, sings, and Lee Karol, 69, and Stan Kamens, 78, manage the program at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Selvee first came to the Culver Center with her husband, Jim, in 2018. When COVID hit, things shut down. Then Jim died, and Selvee felt utterly alone. She could feel herself spiraling down in isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I knew if I sit at home and keep thinking about Jim, I’m gonna get more and more depressed,” she said. “That’s what motivated me to come here and try a class or something — just try anything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074092\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2019px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074092\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2019\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED.jpg 2019w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED-2000x1486.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-5-KQED-1536x1141.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2019px) 100vw, 2019px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Cristina Guevara, 78, embraces Julia Sedana, 82, at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center. Right: Selvee Provost, 67, bows during a Tai-Chi class at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tai chi became her pathway to community. “I didn’t know anybody, really. But by going to this class, I met people and learned they have a group about dealing with grief.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s where she met Daniel Kerson. He’d lost his wife at almost the same time as Selvee lost Jim. “Both of us really needed to find companionship to survive,” she said. They moved in together right away and now come to the center throughout the week for classes, events and to socialize.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074060\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074060\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-15-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Gelb, 78, brushes his hair while seated in the courtyard at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CatchLight/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Louis Cangemi, a newcomer over the last few months, mingled with Selvee and made his own rounds amongst the outdoor karaoke singers and dancers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I heard about this place and came to meet more people,” said the energetic 80-year-old. “I’m still a bachelor, so I hope to hit it off here with more women.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But he might encounter a bit of competition. Other men like Jim Diego, 82, have been dancing and courting at Culver for years ahead of Cangemi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Find a public senior center in Los Angeles\" aria-label=\"Locator map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-cMgPL\" src=\"https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cMgPL/4/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"695\" data-external=\"1\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coffee, tea and art — “Cafe, te y arte” — are the kind of social opportunities that begin each weekday at the Lincoln Heights Senior Citizen Center, all gratis for the mostly Spanish-speaking older adults who make themselves at home here. In one large community room, they share galletas and pasteles along with the free coffee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As mid-morning hits, fitness classes like chair yoga and Latin dance entice a dozen or so participants — predominantly women — to move, smile and laugh together beside the room’s raised performance stage. The men mostly sit and watch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Twice a week, la lotería keeps the tables full for a couple of hours. Holiday dances draw crowds of over a hundred and feature DJs and live musicians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074064\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074064\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-16-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Garcia, 78, dances with Eva De La Torre, 75, alongside other members of the Lincoln Heights Senior Center during a Halloween party in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s such a lovely community,” said the Lincoln Heights director and one-man staff, Anthony Montiel. “I’m really fortunate to be part of this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As director, he maintains the schedule of classes and fills in wherever necessary. People are asked to contribute a few dollars per class, if they can afford it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his backroom office, he logs in and accounts for handfuls of dog-eared $1 bills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A lone ping pong player looks for the director in the afternoons. If he’s not too busy with his other duties, he’ll take a break for a quick match. “We have practically a brand new table,” said Montiel. “It’s nice equipment, but the guy usually has no one to play with but me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Shared meals, shared space, shared community\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Putting a finger on the pulse of how senior centers maintain relevance, adapt and thrive is no easy task. Each center relies on a mix of different funding and resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Besides the classes and activities, subsidized lunch programs at all these centers play a crucial role in helping older adults stay healthy. The nutritionally balanced meals provide free or low-cost sustenance, but offering the food in a shared, congregate space might be equally just as vital.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074065\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074065\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-17-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members gather at different tables in the afternoon at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“When people are able to go to a setting like a senior center to enjoy a meal in the company of others, possibly to have music and entertainment and activities, that can be really good for people’s mental health,” said DeMarois of the Department of Aging. “That’s a big part of it — just trying to foster that connection and engagement on the preventive side.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Congregate setting meal programs accounted for over 2.3 million older adult meals in the City of Los Angeles and in L.A. County in 2024, according to California Department of Aging records. But this data is not specific to senior centers, as it also includes meals in senior care facilities and other older adult group spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When it comes to senior centers, there is not good data,” said Stone. “There is not that central database of senior centers or community-based organizations, and there’s not even a shared definition of what they are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074093\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12074093 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-2000x658.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-1536x506.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-01-DIP-6-KQED-2048x674.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Maudell Robinson, 95, at the Watts Senior Center in Los Angeles. Right: A member of the Watts Senior Center prepares to depart for the day in Los Angeles. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CalMatters/CatchLight)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Senior centers are community responses to community aging. No two are the same because no two communities are the same.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking anecdotally from her own experience, Stone sees the bulk of most senior center populations as being between 75 and 85 years old. But that age range is evolving as older adult communities expand.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>DeMarois sees the same dynamics taking shape. “When we talk about people 60-plus, we’re experiencing the greatest longevity ever right now,” she said. “The fastest growing demographic in California is 85-plus. We’re talking about four decades of life for many people from 60 to 100, so their needs and preferences will change over time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in Watts, Almeter’s not much interested in a free meal. “I eat my own food.” She sits around as other older adults filter into the center one by one. Many grab their subsidized lunch in styrofoam containers and soon walk right back out the door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She waits patiently for her friends to arrive — women like Luretha Muckelroy, Maudell Robinson and Watts advisory board member Linda Cleveland. They gather here two or three times each week to play Spades or Bid Whist, card games that evoke plenty of smack talking and mirth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need more men around here,” said Linda, as she noted the all-female crowd. Older adult males show up for some functions and events, but women seem to comprise most of the Watts Center attendance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/NOT4FILE-021326-LA-Senior-Center-IK-CM-20-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sharron Robinson, 80, Laura Shroder, 89, and Johnnie Devereaux, 86, hold hands and dance as other members sing karaoke at the Culver City Senior Center. \u003ccite>(Isadora Kosofsky for CatchLight/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For a few hours, the close-knit group makes the place come alive. Four players compete in two-person teams, while others keep tally. The losing team must vacate their seats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They laugh, point fingers and chastise one another — all in good fun. The games can sometimes get heated. In between hands and shuffles, they share snacks and pour sodas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When asked how she feels about aging alone, Almeter answers without hesitation. “Oh, I love being 87. It’s great to be alive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Joe Garcia is a California Local News fellow. \u003c/em>\u003cem>This story was produced jointly by CalMatters and CatchLight as part of our \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.catchlight.io/mental-health\">\u003cem>mental health initiative\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2026/02/senior-centers-aging-health/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "california-authorities-launch-investigation-of-criminal-negligence-in-deadly-tahoe-avalanche",
"title": "California Authorities Launch Investigation of Criminal Negligence in Deadly Tahoe Avalanche",
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"headTitle": "California Authorities Launch Investigation of Criminal Negligence in Deadly Tahoe Avalanche | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Local and state authorities are investigating whether criminal negligence was involved in the backcountry skiing trip caught up in Tuesday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">deadly avalanche in Lake Tahoe\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The avalanche on Tuesday, the deadliest in modern California history, buried a group of 15 skiers who were part of a three-day guided backcountry tour in the Donner Summit region. Six of the skiers were rescued Tuesday night, while\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\"> eight have been confirmed dead\u003c/a>, and a ninth is still missing but presumed dead. The victims include six mothers and three guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides, an outdoor adventure company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Friday, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in an email that it was conducting a “standard investigation,” and that it is too early to know if criminal charges would be applicable. In a statement, Cal/OSHA said it was also investigating and has up to six months to complete that examination and issue any citations for “violations of workplace safety regulations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While questions surrounding what preceded the incident have already begun to arise, snow and ski safety consultant Mark Di Nola said whether the company can be found liable will depend on what those investigations determine regarding what operators knew about weather and terrain conditions throughout the trip, and when.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Is a big storm foreseeable? Yes. Did they know about it? We don’t know when. Did the avalanche danger increase during that period of time? The investigation will bear that out,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to family members, the group that was caught in Tuesday’s avalanche had traveled to Lake Tahoe last week for the two-night backcountry hut trip from the Bay Area, Truckee and as far as Idaho.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073999\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073999\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow covers the roof of the Nevada County Sheriff’s office on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains,” the families of the victims wrote in a statement. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of 11 skiers and four guides had departed for the Frog Lake Huts near Castle Peak on Sunday, despite warnings from the Sierra Avalanche Center that a “strong winter storm” was expected to begin in the evening, bringing feet of snow to the region on Monday and Tuesday. A twelfth member of the group backed out of the trip before they left.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the day Sunday and into the week, weather conditions in Tahoe became significantly more perilous. More than 28 inches of snow fell around the Donner Summit on Monday, according to UC Berkeley’s Sierra Snow Lab, and Donner Ski Ranch reported another 26 inches on Tuesday. The snow shuttered Interstate 80 for much of the early week, and some ski resorts closed on Tuesday due to the storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon, the group was travelling out of the backcountry, coming back to the trailhead when they encountered the avalanche midday Tuesday.[aside postID=news_12073851 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED.jpg']“Anytime you go in the back country with lots of new snow, it’s risky,” Di Nola, a ski industry investigations consultant for more than 20 years, told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said that most guide companies require participants to sign liability waivers that acknowledge that risk, and that guides who lead these trips have generally received applicable training.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Blackbird Mountain Guides to be found liable, he said, investigations or potential lawsuits against the company that could emerge would have to find that the company acted “recklessly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lawyers would look at this and say, releases are signed … expected they don’t release negligence that is reckless or more than just normal,” Di Nola told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said an investigation may look into when the group decided to depart the Frog Lake Huts on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a reason why you hire an organization to guide you in these situations,” Di Nola said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If there was a decision … to move these people [and] at that time, they had knowledge of an increased avalanche danger, yeah, that’s a jury question, and it’s a question for a judge,” he continued.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In a statement issued Wednesday, Blackbird founder Zeb Blais said guides in the field were American Mountain Guides Association-trained or certified in backcountry skiing, and each was an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. The company offers courses in “Avalanche Education” and avalanche rescue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blais also said that guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at the company’s base “to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company, which operates in Northern California and Washington, has suspended its field operations in Tahoe through Saturday at least, and said it could extend that into the next few weeks, and the U.S. National Service has closed the national forest lands and trails in the Castle Peak area through mid-March.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of Friday, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is still conducting its search and rescue operation and has not yet been able to recover the bodies of the eight deceased.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do. In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts,” Blais wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "California Authorities Launch Investigation of Criminal Negligence in Deadly Tahoe Avalanche | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Local and state authorities are investigating whether criminal negligence was involved in the backcountry skiing trip caught up in Tuesday’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">deadly avalanche in Lake Tahoe\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The avalanche on Tuesday, the deadliest in modern California history, buried a group of 15 skiers who were part of a three-day guided backcountry tour in the Donner Summit region. Six of the skiers were rescued Tuesday night, while\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\"> eight have been confirmed dead\u003c/a>, and a ninth is still missing but presumed dead. The victims include six mothers and three guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides, an outdoor adventure company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Friday, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in an email that it was conducting a “standard investigation,” and that it is too early to know if criminal charges would be applicable. In a statement, Cal/OSHA said it was also investigating and has up to six months to complete that examination and issue any citations for “violations of workplace safety regulations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While questions surrounding what preceded the incident have already begun to arise, snow and ski safety consultant Mark Di Nola said whether the company can be found liable will depend on what those investigations determine regarding what operators knew about weather and terrain conditions throughout the trip, and when.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Is a big storm foreseeable? Yes. Did they know about it? We don’t know when. Did the avalanche danger increase during that period of time? The investigation will bear that out,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to family members, the group that was caught in Tuesday’s avalanche had traveled to Lake Tahoe last week for the two-night backcountry hut trip from the Bay Area, Truckee and as far as Idaho.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073999\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073999\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow covers the roof of the Nevada County Sheriff’s office on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains,” the families of the victims wrote in a statement. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of 11 skiers and four guides had departed for the Frog Lake Huts near Castle Peak on Sunday, despite warnings from the Sierra Avalanche Center that a “strong winter storm” was expected to begin in the evening, bringing feet of snow to the region on Monday and Tuesday. A twelfth member of the group backed out of the trip before they left.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the day Sunday and into the week, weather conditions in Tahoe became significantly more perilous. More than 28 inches of snow fell around the Donner Summit on Monday, according to UC Berkeley’s Sierra Snow Lab, and Donner Ski Ranch reported another 26 inches on Tuesday. The snow shuttered Interstate 80 for much of the early week, and some ski resorts closed on Tuesday due to the storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon, the group was travelling out of the backcountry, coming back to the trailhead when they encountered the avalanche midday Tuesday.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“Anytime you go in the back country with lots of new snow, it’s risky,” Di Nola, a ski industry investigations consultant for more than 20 years, told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said that most guide companies require participants to sign liability waivers that acknowledge that risk, and that guides who lead these trips have generally received applicable training.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Blackbird Mountain Guides to be found liable, he said, investigations or potential lawsuits against the company that could emerge would have to find that the company acted “recklessly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lawyers would look at this and say, releases are signed … expected they don’t release negligence that is reckless or more than just normal,” Di Nola told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said an investigation may look into when the group decided to depart the Frog Lake Huts on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a reason why you hire an organization to guide you in these situations,” Di Nola said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If there was a decision … to move these people [and] at that time, they had knowledge of an increased avalanche danger, yeah, that’s a jury question, and it’s a question for a judge,” he continued.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In a statement issued Wednesday, Blackbird founder Zeb Blais said guides in the field were American Mountain Guides Association-trained or certified in backcountry skiing, and each was an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. The company offers courses in “Avalanche Education” and avalanche rescue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blais also said that guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at the company’s base “to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company, which operates in Northern California and Washington, has suspended its field operations in Tahoe through Saturday at least, and said it could extend that into the next few weeks, and the U.S. National Service has closed the national forest lands and trails in the Castle Peak area through mid-March.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of Friday, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is still conducting its search and rescue operation and has not yet been able to recover the bodies of the eight deceased.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do. In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts,” Blais wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "After Deadly Tahoe Avalanche, Backcountry Skiing Is Under Scrutiny. Here’s What to Know",
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"headTitle": "After Deadly Tahoe Avalanche, Backcountry Skiing Is Under Scrutiny. Here’s What to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>On Tuesday, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">powerful avalanche\u003c/a> close to the Donner Summit north of Lake Tahoe claimed the lives of eight people — with another person still missing but presumed dead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">The six women\u003c/a> killed, whose names were released by their families on Thursday, were skiers on a guided two-night backcountry trip into the Castle Peak wilderness, with the majority of them hailing from the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The names of the three guides killed in the avalanche have not yet been released.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The loss of life has prompted a litany of questions — and critiques — about safety while skiing and recreating in remote areas during winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With much still unknown about what happened earlier this week, KQED spoke to experts about the backcountry itself: the appeal, the risks and the sheer preparation that exploring this beautiful but often dangerous kind of terrain demands.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What does ‘backcountry’ mean?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The “backcountry” is a term referring to land that’s not a ski resort. This is terrain that is out of bounds of any developed park or resort, which means it tends to be somewhat difficult to access and lacks infrastructure like roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Being in the backcountry also means there’s no ski patrol or avalanche control, when resort staff deliberately trigger small avalanches in an effort to stop larger ones from potentially building up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073663\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073663\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p-160x120.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Emergency responders deploy to rescue six skiers and find others caught in an avalanche in the Castle Peak area near Truckee on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the case of the Castle Peak wilderness, where Tuesday’s fatal avalanche occurred, this particular backcountry is part of the Tahoe National Forest. But it’s not a \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wilderness\">designated wilderness area\u003c/a>, so people skiing and staying overnight there don’t need a wilderness permit to recreate there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As ski resorts have gotten more and more crowded, skiing in the backcountry has\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/00000195-2157-d9ce-a795-b95f0aa60000-123\"> risen in popularity\u003c/a> — most notably when \u003ca href=\"https://snowbrains.com/reflecting-on-5-years-since-covid-19-shut-down-ski-resorts-and-how-it-has-shaped-the-industry-today/\">the COVID-19 pandemic closed resorts in 2020. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://snowbrains.com/reflecting-on-5-years-since-covid-19-shut-down-ski-resorts-and-how-it-has-shaped-the-industry-today/\">And f\u003c/a>or many, being in the backcountry is about getting away from it all, said Dave Miller, owner and director of \u003ca href=\"https://www.internationalalpineguides.com/\">International Alpine Guides\u003c/a> and an internationally certified mountain guide who grew up in North Lake Tahoe.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do people travel on snow around the backcountry?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>During the winter, most people are traveling in the backcountry on skis or snowshoes. Using “skins” on skis gives skiers traction for uphill climbs. They can be removed for downhill portions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Historically, Miller said, many backcountry skiers used \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/types-of-skiing.html\">telemark \u003c/a>setups, in which the heels always remain unlocked on the skis. However, contemporary backcountry skiers often prefer \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/types-of-skiing.html\">alpine touring\u003c/a> sets for exploring the backcountry, he said, which allow skiers to switch modes for uphill and downhill travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How remote is the backcountry? Where do people stay?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many places in the backcountry do have cell service — others do not. But on Miller’s guided trips, he said, no one is ever completely out of communication. (Miller’s company was not involved in the Castle Peak trip, which suffered the fatalities on Tuesday, and which was led by Truckee-based guiding company Blackbird Mountain Guides.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many backcountry skiers, Miller said his guides carry a satellite communication device like a Garmin InReach, which is used to send and receive the morning’s forecast via satellite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11940130\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11940130\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589.jpg\" alt=\"A creek running through a forest where trees are covered in snow.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1388\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-800x578.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-1020x737.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-160x116.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-1536x1110.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fresh Winter Snow near where the Donner Party saga unfolded. \u003ccite>(Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/19/california-avalanche-iphone-sos\">iPhone’s SOS feature\u003c/a>, which allows a user to send texts without cellphone signal using satellite, was also used by rescuers of the Castle Peak party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for accommodation, the group on the Castle Peak trip had stayed two nights at \u003ca href=\"https://www.truckeedonnerlandtrust.org/frog-lake-huts\">the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts\u003c/a>. Owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, these cabins require reservations, which can be extremely hard to get.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Is the backcountry always avalanche territory in winter? How dangerous is it?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While anyone going out to ski in the backcountry should have avalanche education and equipment (more on this below), not every part of the backcountry is in avalanche territory, explained Miller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that the entire backcountry has avalanche danger,” Miller said. “In a place like Tahoe, for instance, I’d say that the majority of the backcountry doesn’t have avalanche danger. There’s a lot of avalanche terrain in the Tahoe area, but it’s not everywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, skiing is an inherently dangerous sport, stressed Miller, even at ski resorts. And doing it in the backcountry adds new elements of risk: not just avalanches but also delayed response times for rescuers if something does go wrong with your trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kevin Cooper, a longtime Tahoe backcountry skier ingrained in the local ski industry, said that to help people understand the risks, he likens backcountry skiing to surfing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wildness of the mountains is no less dangerous than the ocean, he said. “Debunk the myth that the backcountry is safe, because it’s not,” Cooper said. “There are so many factors out there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, many people safely backcountry ski during good weather and bad, but they should always be prepared with the latest avalanche forecast from places like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/\">Sierra Avalanche Center\u003c/a>, know their route and have checked the weather to mitigate risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of all, stressed Miller, “in high avalanche danger, you should go nowhere near avalanche terrain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But you’ve got to know how to identify that, and that’s where an avalanche course comes in,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What kind of avalanche training is needed to explore the backcountry? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Anyone skiing in an unregulated backcountry area like Tahoe National Forest should carry avalanche equipment like a beacon, probe and shovel — and even more importantly, be prepared and knowledgeable about avalanche safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Miller said this is why his “top advice” is always to take a formal avalanche course.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are a number of courses available to anyone interested in backcountry skiing through outfitters like \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/events/a/outdoor-skills-avalanche-safety\">REI \u003c/a>or local schools like \u003ca href=\"https://www.ltcc.edu/academics/academic_programs/wildernessed.php\">Lake Tahoe Community College\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vehicle is buried in snow during a storm on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Brooke Hess-Homeier/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Those courses teach skiers the basics of avalanche safety and preparation, with a major focus on planning, Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They emphasize not just \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know#Whattodoifyourecaughtinanavalanche\">how to read the avalanche forecast\u003c/a>, but also how part of making a safe plan for the day is being willing to abort that plan, he said. Cooper encouraged anyone new to backcountry skiing and taking their first course to “be the dissenter” in the group.[aside postID=news_12073851 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260220-AVALANCHE-VICTIMS-KQED.jpg']“There are times when you look at a terrain trap, and you go, ‘No, we shouldn’t go down there,’” he said. “Everyone else says ‘yes,’ and you’re the one person who says, ‘No, I don’t think that’s safe.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s OK, because you’ll live to ride another day,” he said. “There’ll be another peak to bag.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Courses also teach participants how to make observations in the backcountry about weather, snow stability and snow science more generally — and also include crucial learnings about group management.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Heuristics” — the ability to problem solve and make decisions with available information — are “huge” for being safe when it comes to avalanche risk in the backcountry, Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you can’t just take one course and walk away ready, Cooper stressed: “It takes years of knowledge to understand snow, snow loads, wind loading — all the different conditions Mother Nature puts out there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of all, Cooper stressed, “never ever go alone” into the backcountry.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Given the potential dangers and the preparation, why are people drawn to the backcountry?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For one thing, there’s those crowds at the resorts. Miller said he fondly remembered the times in the 1980s when he could get midday fresh powder turns at Palisades Tahoe — but today’s crowds at resorts make that near impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But to Miller, the real draw of backcountry skiing is “getting away into what I call ‘the real world,’” he said. “You’re getting out into the wilderness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11972213\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11972213\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A view of a snow-covered parking lot.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People walk through the parking area of the Alpine Base Area at Palisades Tahoe during a winter storm on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Alpine Meadows, Placer County. Search teams were deployed following an avalanche on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Palisades ski resort near Lake Tahoe, officials said. \u003ccite>(John Locher/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Others, he said, want the physical exercise and challenge the backcountry poses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of people just like the exercise of it,” he said. “If you want a really good workout, you go backcountry skiing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do guided trips work in the backcountry?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Backcountry guides have professional training in avalanche stability evaluation, Miller said, and at any reputable guiding company, carry certifications from organizations like the American Mountain Guides Association and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a Wednesday \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/pages/live-incident-updates\">statement\u003c/a>, Blackbird Mountain Guides founder Zeb Blais said that the four guides who accompanied the group on the Frog Lake trip were AGMA-trained or certified in backcountry skiing, in addition to being AIARE instructors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike individual skiers, any backcountry tour operator must also have guiding permits from the Tahoe National Forest that allow them to operate in the forest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046093\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046093\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1505\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3-1536x1156.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heading to the summit of Dick’s Peak in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe as a storm rolled in, dusting snow on the mountains on June 21, 2025. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Matt Savener)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On a guided trip, the preparation is extensive, Miller said — no matter the length or location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, guides will look at the avalanche forecast from the Sierra Avalanche Center, and then weather reports like those from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine future risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These reports help guides decide at around 7:30 a.m. which terrain to “open” and “close” each day — and this is a decision that sticks, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we decide to close terrain at 7:30 in the morning at the guides’ training, we don’t open it,” Miller said. “Even if we get out there and find out, ‘Well, it doesn’t seem as bad as we thought,’ we don’t open that terrain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074166\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074166\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-1536x989.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan skis down a backcountry slope near Mammoth Rock while exploring the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Mammoth Lakes, California. \u003ccite>(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On a day with high avalanche risk, any terrain with slopes over 30 degrees or underneath potential avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/terrain/avalanche-terrain-exposure/avalanche-path/runout-zone/\">runout zones\u003c/a> — where an avalanche eventually slows then stops — would be “closed,” Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Guides also typically make a huge amount of contingency plans, Miller said, including routes and backup routes that avoid avalanche terrain depending on conditions. And if conditions are so bad that no route is safe, they don’t go out at all, Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At some point, you’ve got to ask yourself, is it worth going out in that bad of conditions?” Guided trips — like the one led by Blackbird Mountain Guides at Castle Peak — also require the participants to be prepared.[aside postID=science_2000137 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/GettyImages-1482972333-1020x678.jpg']\u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/collections/ski-splitboard/products/frog-lake-huts?variant=51070530552107\">Listed on their website\u003c/a> are prerequisites for any clients wanting to join their Frog Lake Hut trips that include advanced resort riding skills and intermediate backcountry experience — which includes 20 or more days spent in the backcountry. They also require participants to have moderate fitness levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, Miller said that in his experience, most people backcountry skiing these days have taken at least one avalanche course, which he said was not the case in the sport even 20 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In their Thursday statement, the families of the six women named as victims of the Castle Peak avalanche stressed the group’s experience and preparation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains,” the families said. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As well as stressing their certifications, “guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” Blackbird founder Zeb Blais said. “There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033987\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12033987\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra snow scene near Lake Tahoe, late December 2015. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Mikee Gildea)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health confirmed to KQED on Friday that it has launched an investigation into Blackbird Mountain Guides, the Truckee-based guiding company involved in the incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement, Cal/OSHA said that “the agency has up to six months to complete an investigation and issue citations if violations of workplace safety regulations are identified.” KQED has reached out to Blackbird for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the Nevada County sheriff’s office said Friday that they were also \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/california-avalanche-investigation-criminal-negligence\">“investigating the incident \u003c/a>to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Carly Severn contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Backcountry safety is under scrutiny after this week’s deadly Tahoe avalanche claimed multiple lives. Here’s what experts say about skiing in these remote areas.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On Tuesday, a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">powerful avalanche\u003c/a> close to the Donner Summit north of Lake Tahoe claimed the lives of eight people — with another person still missing but presumed dead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073851/tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know-about-the-victims\">The six women\u003c/a> killed, whose names were released by their families on Thursday, were skiers on a guided two-night backcountry trip into the Castle Peak wilderness, with the majority of them hailing from the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The names of the three guides killed in the avalanche have not yet been released.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The loss of life has prompted a litany of questions — and critiques — about safety while skiing and recreating in remote areas during winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With much still unknown about what happened earlier this week, KQED spoke to experts about the backcountry itself: the appeal, the risks and the sheer preparation that exploring this beautiful but often dangerous kind of terrain demands.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What does ‘backcountry’ mean?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The “backcountry” is a term referring to land that’s not a ski resort. This is terrain that is out of bounds of any developed park or resort, which means it tends to be somewhat difficult to access and lacks infrastructure like roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Being in the backcountry also means there’s no ski patrol or avalanche control, when resort staff deliberately trigger small avalanches in an effort to stop larger ones from potentially building up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073663\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073663\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/021726_avalancherescuers-p-160x120.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Emergency responders deploy to rescue six skiers and find others caught in an avalanche in the Castle Peak area near Truckee on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the case of the Castle Peak wilderness, where Tuesday’s fatal avalanche occurred, this particular backcountry is part of the Tahoe National Forest. But it’s not a \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wilderness\">designated wilderness area\u003c/a>, so people skiing and staying overnight there don’t need a wilderness permit to recreate there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As ski resorts have gotten more and more crowded, skiing in the backcountry has\u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/00000195-2157-d9ce-a795-b95f0aa60000-123\"> risen in popularity\u003c/a> — most notably when \u003ca href=\"https://snowbrains.com/reflecting-on-5-years-since-covid-19-shut-down-ski-resorts-and-how-it-has-shaped-the-industry-today/\">the COVID-19 pandemic closed resorts in 2020. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://snowbrains.com/reflecting-on-5-years-since-covid-19-shut-down-ski-resorts-and-how-it-has-shaped-the-industry-today/\">And f\u003c/a>or many, being in the backcountry is about getting away from it all, said Dave Miller, owner and director of \u003ca href=\"https://www.internationalalpineguides.com/\">International Alpine Guides\u003c/a> and an internationally certified mountain guide who grew up in North Lake Tahoe.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do people travel on snow around the backcountry?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>During the winter, most people are traveling in the backcountry on skis or snowshoes. Using “skins” on skis gives skiers traction for uphill climbs. They can be removed for downhill portions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Historically, Miller said, many backcountry skiers used \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/types-of-skiing.html\">telemark \u003c/a>setups, in which the heels always remain unlocked on the skis. However, contemporary backcountry skiers often prefer \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/types-of-skiing.html\">alpine touring\u003c/a> sets for exploring the backcountry, he said, which allow skiers to switch modes for uphill and downhill travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How remote is the backcountry? Where do people stay?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many places in the backcountry do have cell service — others do not. But on Miller’s guided trips, he said, no one is ever completely out of communication. (Miller’s company was not involved in the Castle Peak trip, which suffered the fatalities on Tuesday, and which was led by Truckee-based guiding company Blackbird Mountain Guides.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many backcountry skiers, Miller said his guides carry a satellite communication device like a Garmin InReach, which is used to send and receive the morning’s forecast via satellite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11940130\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11940130\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589.jpg\" alt=\"A creek running through a forest where trees are covered in snow.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1388\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-800x578.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-1020x737.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-160x116.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/GettyImages-157677589-1536x1110.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fresh Winter Snow near where the Donner Party saga unfolded. \u003ccite>(Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/19/california-avalanche-iphone-sos\">iPhone’s SOS feature\u003c/a>, which allows a user to send texts without cellphone signal using satellite, was also used by rescuers of the Castle Peak party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for accommodation, the group on the Castle Peak trip had stayed two nights at \u003ca href=\"https://www.truckeedonnerlandtrust.org/frog-lake-huts\">the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts\u003c/a>. Owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, these cabins require reservations, which can be extremely hard to get.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Is the backcountry always avalanche territory in winter? How dangerous is it?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While anyone going out to ski in the backcountry should have avalanche education and equipment (more on this below), not every part of the backcountry is in avalanche territory, explained Miller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that the entire backcountry has avalanche danger,” Miller said. “In a place like Tahoe, for instance, I’d say that the majority of the backcountry doesn’t have avalanche danger. There’s a lot of avalanche terrain in the Tahoe area, but it’s not everywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, skiing is an inherently dangerous sport, stressed Miller, even at ski resorts. And doing it in the backcountry adds new elements of risk: not just avalanches but also delayed response times for rescuers if something does go wrong with your trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kevin Cooper, a longtime Tahoe backcountry skier ingrained in the local ski industry, said that to help people understand the risks, he likens backcountry skiing to surfing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wildness of the mountains is no less dangerous than the ocean, he said. “Debunk the myth that the backcountry is safe, because it’s not,” Cooper said. “There are so many factors out there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, many people safely backcountry ski during good weather and bad, but they should always be prepared with the latest avalanche forecast from places like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/\">Sierra Avalanche Center\u003c/a>, know their route and have checked the weather to mitigate risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of all, stressed Miller, “in high avalanche danger, you should go nowhere near avalanche terrain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But you’ve got to know how to identify that, and that’s where an avalanche course comes in,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>What kind of avalanche training is needed to explore the backcountry? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Anyone skiing in an unregulated backcountry area like Tahoe National Forest should carry avalanche equipment like a beacon, probe and shovel — and even more importantly, be prepared and knowledgeable about avalanche safety.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Miller said this is why his “top advice” is always to take a formal avalanche course.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are a number of courses available to anyone interested in backcountry skiing through outfitters like \u003ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/events/a/outdoor-skills-avalanche-safety\">REI \u003c/a>or local schools like \u003ca href=\"https://www.ltcc.edu/academics/academic_programs/wildernessed.php\">Lake Tahoe Community College\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SnowStormSierraNevadaAP1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vehicle is buried in snow during a storm on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Truckee, California. \u003ccite>(Brooke Hess-Homeier/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Those courses teach skiers the basics of avalanche safety and preparation, with a major focus on planning, Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They emphasize not just \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know#Whattodoifyourecaughtinanavalanche\">how to read the avalanche forecast\u003c/a>, but also how part of making a safe plan for the day is being willing to abort that plan, he said. Cooper encouraged anyone new to backcountry skiing and taking their first course to “be the dissenter” in the group.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“There are times when you look at a terrain trap, and you go, ‘No, we shouldn’t go down there,’” he said. “Everyone else says ‘yes,’ and you’re the one person who says, ‘No, I don’t think that’s safe.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s OK, because you’ll live to ride another day,” he said. “There’ll be another peak to bag.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Courses also teach participants how to make observations in the backcountry about weather, snow stability and snow science more generally — and also include crucial learnings about group management.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Heuristics” — the ability to problem solve and make decisions with available information — are “huge” for being safe when it comes to avalanche risk in the backcountry, Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you can’t just take one course and walk away ready, Cooper stressed: “It takes years of knowledge to understand snow, snow loads, wind loading — all the different conditions Mother Nature puts out there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of all, Cooper stressed, “never ever go alone” into the backcountry.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Given the potential dangers and the preparation, why are people drawn to the backcountry?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For one thing, there’s those crowds at the resorts. Miller said he fondly remembered the times in the 1980s when he could get midday fresh powder turns at Palisades Tahoe — but today’s crowds at resorts make that near impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But to Miller, the real draw of backcountry skiing is “getting away into what I call ‘the real world,’” he said. “You’re getting out into the wilderness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11972213\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11972213\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A view of a snow-covered parking lot.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/AP24010708778703-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People walk through the parking area of the Alpine Base Area at Palisades Tahoe during a winter storm on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Alpine Meadows, Placer County. Search teams were deployed following an avalanche on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Palisades ski resort near Lake Tahoe, officials said. \u003ccite>(John Locher/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Others, he said, want the physical exercise and challenge the backcountry poses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of people just like the exercise of it,” he said. “If you want a really good workout, you go backcountry skiing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do guided trips work in the backcountry?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Backcountry guides have professional training in avalanche stability evaluation, Miller said, and at any reputable guiding company, carry certifications from organizations like the American Mountain Guides Association and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a Wednesday \u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/pages/live-incident-updates\">statement\u003c/a>, Blackbird Mountain Guides founder Zeb Blais said that the four guides who accompanied the group on the Frog Lake trip were AGMA-trained or certified in backcountry skiing, in addition to being AIARE instructors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike individual skiers, any backcountry tour operator must also have guiding permits from the Tahoe National Forest that allow them to operate in the forest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12046093\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12046093\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1505\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Tahoe3-1536x1156.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heading to the summit of Dick’s Peak in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe as a storm rolled in, dusting snow on the mountains on June 21, 2025. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Matt Savener)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On a guided trip, the preparation is extensive, Miller said — no matter the length or location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First, guides will look at the avalanche forecast from the Sierra Avalanche Center, and then weather reports like those from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine future risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These reports help guides decide at around 7:30 a.m. which terrain to “open” and “close” each day — and this is a decision that sticks, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we decide to close terrain at 7:30 in the morning at the guides’ training, we don’t open it,” Miller said. “Even if we get out there and find out, ‘Well, it doesn’t seem as bad as we thought,’ we don’t open that terrain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12074166\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12074166\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/GettyImages-2206235654-1536x989.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Dolan skis down a backcountry slope near Mammoth Rock while exploring the growing trend of backcountry skiing on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Mammoth Lakes, California. \u003ccite>(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On a day with high avalanche risk, any terrain with slopes over 30 degrees or underneath potential avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/terrain/avalanche-terrain-exposure/avalanche-path/runout-zone/\">runout zones\u003c/a> — where an avalanche eventually slows then stops — would be “closed,” Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Guides also typically make a huge amount of contingency plans, Miller said, including routes and backup routes that avoid avalanche terrain depending on conditions. And if conditions are so bad that no route is safe, they don’t go out at all, Miller said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At some point, you’ve got to ask yourself, is it worth going out in that bad of conditions?” Guided trips — like the one led by Blackbird Mountain Guides at Castle Peak — also require the participants to be prepared.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdguides.com/collections/ski-splitboard/products/frog-lake-huts?variant=51070530552107\">Listed on their website\u003c/a> are prerequisites for any clients wanting to join their Frog Lake Hut trips that include advanced resort riding skills and intermediate backcountry experience — which includes 20 or more days spent in the backcountry. They also require participants to have moderate fitness levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, Miller said that in his experience, most people backcountry skiing these days have taken at least one avalanche course, which he said was not the case in the sport even 20 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In their Thursday statement, the families of the six women named as victims of the Castle Peak avalanche stressed the group’s experience and preparation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains,” the families said. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As well as stressing their certifications, “guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” Blackbird founder Zeb Blais said. “There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033987\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12033987\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/SierraSnow2-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra snow scene near Lake Tahoe, late December 2015. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Mikee Gildea)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health confirmed to KQED on Friday that it has launched an investigation into Blackbird Mountain Guides, the Truckee-based guiding company involved in the incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement, Cal/OSHA said that “the agency has up to six months to complete an investigation and issue citations if violations of workplace safety regulations are identified.” KQED has reached out to Blackbird for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the Nevada County sheriff’s office said Friday that they were also \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/california-avalanche-investigation-criminal-negligence\">“investigating the incident \u003c/a>to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Carly Severn contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims",
"title": "6 Women Killed in Tahoe Avalanche Identified, Recovery Still Delayed by ‘Treacherous’ Conditions",
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"headTitle": "6 Women Killed in Tahoe Avalanche Identified, Recovery Still Delayed by ‘Treacherous’ Conditions | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Six women who were killed in this week’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know\">avalanche in the Sierra Nevada\u003c/a> were identified as close friends and skilled skiers from the Bay Area, Truckee region and Idaho, according to a statement Thursday from their families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are devastated beyond words,” read the statement, released by a spokesperson for the families. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Authorities have confirmed eight deaths in what has become the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, and a ninth person who is missing is presumed dead. Six others, who were part of a three-day backcountry skiing group staying at the Frog Lake huts near Castle Peak, were rescued amid extreme weather conditions Tuesday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to hazardous winter storm conditions, it will be at least another day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies of those who were killed, California authorities said Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With around a foot of snow expected to fall in high elevations around Lake Tahoe by Thursday night, and avalanche warning still in effect through Friday morning, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the recovery of the avalanche victims is likely “to carry into the weekend.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Due to hazardous weather conditions, avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today,” the statement said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Sugar Bowl Academy, an elite ski club in Placer County, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sbacademy.org/media-statements\">confirmed\u003c/a> in a statement that some of its community members are among those who were caught in the avalanche.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/02/18/castle-peak-avalanche-what-we-know-so-far/\">confirmed to CapRadio\u003c/a> on Thursday that it has launched an investigation into Blackbird Mountain Guides, the Truckee-based guiding company involved in the incident. In a statement, Cal/OSHA said that “the agency has up to six months to complete an investigation and issue citations if violations of workplace safety regulations are identified.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Wednesday night, Blackbird said in a statement that the group’s four guides were trained or certified in backcountry skiing by the American Mountain Guides Association and are instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.[aside postID=news_12073690 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaAvalancheAP1.jpg']“In addition, guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” founder Zeb Blais said. “There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has reached out to Blackbird for comment on the Cal/OSHA investigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said during a Wednesday \u003ca href=\"https://fb.watch/Fnjpz8dZTL/\">press conference\u003c/a> that rescuers had to ski in two miles to locate the surviving members of the group during “extreme conditions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, the avalanche area, which was the size of a football field, according to Sheriff’s Capt. Rusty Greene has been “reloaded” with snow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While that risks reburying the victims, it’s also a major risk to the recovery team, Greene said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The longer that we continue to have people out there and exposed, the higher chance we put our rescuers in danger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though Friday’s \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ072\">forecast \u003c/a>shows the storm subsiding\u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ072\">,\u003c/a> Sierra Avalanche Center executive director David Reichel said the threat to the Tahoe area remains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073961\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073961\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Motorists stuck in the snow are aided by a member of the California Highway Patrol along Interstate 80 during a storm on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, near Camp Spaulding in Placer County, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Most avalanche accidents actually occur on ‘considerable’ or ‘moderate’ days,” he said, referring to the center’s rating system. “The avalanche danger could decrease, and also still be dangerous.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reichel said it’s important that anyone considering going into the backcountry check the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/forecasts/avalanche/central-sierra-nevada#/central-sierra-nevada/\">avalanche report\u003c/a> and adjust their plans accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know\">\u003cstrong>Learn how to prepare for avalanches and what to do if you’re caught in one.\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>“I’m a little bit nervous with this weekend and the potential for blue skies and lots of people, understandably, wanting to enjoy new snow,” he said. “We still need to make good decisions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo went one step further at Wednesday’s press conference, warning visitors to “avoid the Sierras during this current storm and in the upcoming days,” he said. During Tuesday’s rescue attempt, some emergency responders were pulled away from the search due to other reports of skiers in need.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avoid mountain travel — it’s treacherous,” he said. “Avoid the backcountry.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/eromero\">\u003cem>Ezra David Romero\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The women were close friends and skilled skiers from the Bay Area, Truckee region and Idaho, their families said. Meanwhile, California officials warned of high avalanche risks in the coming days. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Six women who were killed in this week’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know\">avalanche in the Sierra Nevada\u003c/a> were identified as close friends and skilled skiers from the Bay Area, Truckee region and Idaho, according to a statement Thursday from their families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are devastated beyond words,” read the statement, released by a spokesperson for the families. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The women were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Authorities have confirmed eight deaths in what has become the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, and a ninth person who is missing is presumed dead. Six others, who were part of a three-day backcountry skiing group staying at the Frog Lake huts near Castle Peak, were rescued amid extreme weather conditions Tuesday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to hazardous winter storm conditions, it will be at least another day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies of those who were killed, California authorities said Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With around a foot of snow expected to fall in high elevations around Lake Tahoe by Thursday night, and avalanche warning still in effect through Friday morning, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the recovery of the avalanche victims is likely “to carry into the weekend.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters observe a crack in the snow on Feb. 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Nolan Averbuch)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Due to hazardous weather conditions, avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today,” the statement said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Sugar Bowl Academy, an elite ski club in Placer County, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sbacademy.org/media-statements\">confirmed\u003c/a> in a statement that some of its community members are among those who were caught in the avalanche.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health \u003ca href=\"https://www.capradio.org/articles/2026/02/18/castle-peak-avalanche-what-we-know-so-far/\">confirmed to CapRadio\u003c/a> on Thursday that it has launched an investigation into Blackbird Mountain Guides, the Truckee-based guiding company involved in the incident. In a statement, Cal/OSHA said that “the agency has up to six months to complete an investigation and issue citations if violations of workplace safety regulations are identified.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Wednesday night, Blackbird said in a statement that the group’s four guides were trained or certified in backcountry skiing by the American Mountain Guides Association and are instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“In addition, guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” founder Zeb Blais said. “There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has reached out to Blackbird for comment on the Cal/OSHA investigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said during a Wednesday \u003ca href=\"https://fb.watch/Fnjpz8dZTL/\">press conference\u003c/a> that rescuers had to ski in two miles to locate the surviving members of the group during “extreme conditions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, the avalanche area, which was the size of a football field, according to Sheriff’s Capt. Rusty Greene has been “reloaded” with snow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While that risks reburying the victims, it’s also a major risk to the recovery team, Greene said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The longer that we continue to have people out there and exposed, the higher chance we put our rescuers in danger,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though Friday’s \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ072\">forecast \u003c/a>shows the storm subsiding\u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ072\">,\u003c/a> Sierra Avalanche Center executive director David Reichel said the threat to the Tahoe area remains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073961\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073961\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/SierraAvalanche2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Motorists stuck in the snow are aided by a member of the California Highway Patrol along Interstate 80 during a storm on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, near Camp Spaulding in Placer County, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Most avalanche accidents actually occur on ‘considerable’ or ‘moderate’ days,” he said, referring to the center’s rating system. “The avalanche danger could decrease, and also still be dangerous.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reichel said it’s important that anyone considering going into the backcountry check the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/forecasts/avalanche/central-sierra-nevada#/central-sierra-nevada/\">avalanche report\u003c/a> and adjust their plans accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Read more: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know\">\u003cstrong>Learn how to prepare for avalanches and what to do if you’re caught in one.\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>“I’m a little bit nervous with this weekend and the potential for blue skies and lots of people, understandably, wanting to enjoy new snow,” he said. “We still need to make good decisions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo went one step further at Wednesday’s press conference, warning visitors to “avoid the Sierras during this current storm and in the upcoming days,” he said. During Tuesday’s rescue attempt, some emergency responders were pulled away from the search due to other reports of skiers in need.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avoid mountain travel — it’s treacherous,” he said. “Avoid the backcountry.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/eromero\">\u003cem>Ezra David Romero\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "in-prison-books-can-be-a-lifeline-but-advocates-worry-about-access-and-censorship",
"title": "In Prison, Books Can Be a Lifeline, But Advocates Worry About Access and Censorship",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545?mt=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Listen to this and more in-depth storytelling by subscribing to The California Report Magazine podcast.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When Cherish Burtson was sent to prison, she says one of the main things that helped her get through her time was reading. She devoured memoirs and books on mindfulness, which helped her manage the challenges she experienced behind bars. After she was released, she began to volunteer with Books Through Bars San Diego, a group that provides reading materials to people who are incarcerated. But lately she’s noticed that more titles are being rejected by prison officials. This week, we bring you an excerpt of KPBS’s podcast \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/the-nations-largest-book-ban-inside-the-fight-to-read-in-americas-prisons\">\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Finest\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It explores prison book bans, which some critics are calling censorship.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "For Cherish Burtson, books provided a welcome escape while she was incarcerated. But getting reading materials behind bars can be challenging and critics say restrictions on what kinds of books are allowed is a form of censorship. ",
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"content": "\u003cp>Gov. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> authorized a $590 million emergency bridge loan on Thursday to prevent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> transit agencies from shuttering stations and slashing service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The financing supports the region’s four largest transit operators: BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit. The agencies face a combined $\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026627/with-bay-area-transit-crisis-looming-lawmaker-pushes-for-urgent-state-funding\">800 million deficit\u003c/a>, triggered by the slow recovery of ridership following the pandemic, rising costs and the exhaustion of federal emergency relief funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While much smaller than the $2 billion in emergency funds that Bay Area lawmakers requested in 2025 — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040042/transit-advocates-warn-fiscal-crisis-after-newsom-passes-on-emergency-funding\">which Newsom rejected last May — state Sen. Scott Wiener said Thursday the loan is \u003c/a>critical to preventing an “unraveling” of the system that connects the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we don’t do anything, if we just let inertia sit in, we’re going to lose our public transportation systems,” Wiener said. “They will either be a shadow of what they were, or they will not exist at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Facing a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912988/bart-proposes-station-closures-and-fare-hikes-to-deal-with-massive-budget-shortfall\">$357 million deficit\u003c/a>, BART officials warned earlier this month that without a significant infusion of cash, the agency could be forced to move to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912988/bart-proposes-station-closures-and-fare-hikes-to-deal-with-massive-budget-shortfall\">“doomsday” schedule\u003c/a> that threatens to close up to 15 stations and terminate service at 9 p.m. nightly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12070961\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12070961\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks on his support for California Senate Bill 63 at a press conference at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Speaking outside a BART train at the Colma yard, Newsom described the loan as a “value proposition” for the region’s identity and economic future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve been frankly living off our inheritance,” Newsom said. “We’ve taken a lot of these systems for granted. We haven’t invested in them over the course of many, many decades.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the governor’s office, the agreement aims to protect service for more than three million monthly riders while agencies pursue a long-term funding solution on the November 2026 ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB117\">Assembly Bill 117\u003c/a> authorizes the state to lend the money for a 12-year term. The first two years are interest-free, after which the interest rate will be tied to the state’s surplus money investment fund to ensure the general fund is not “short-changed,” according to Newsom.[aside postID=news_12070685 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00248_TV-KQED.jpg']The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the transportation planning and financing agency for nine Bay Area counties, will administer the funds. The commission is responsible for distributing the loan proceeds to the four operators and overseeing the quarterly repayment installments to the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To secure the debt, transit agencies must pledge their future state transit assistance revenues as collateral. If the agencies fail to repay the loan, the MTC has the authority to redirect those funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MTC Chair Sue Noack described the bill as a “must-pass” measure to protect the 900,000 trips taken daily across the region’s networks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In November, voters in five counties — San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Santa Clara — will vote on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12032607/first-look-at-2026-tax-proposal-to-keep-bay-area-transit-running\">regional transportation sales tax\u003c/a> measure to fund the struggling agencies. And San Francisco residents will vote on a parcel tax to shore up municipal transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the state loan provides some immediate stability, Newsom warned that local transit leaders must “step up their game” and find more efficient ways to manage their budgets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can’t continue to do what we’ve done because we’ll be right back here in a few years,” Newsom said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Gov. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> authorized a $590 million emergency bridge loan on Thursday to prevent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> transit agencies from shuttering stations and slashing service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The financing supports the region’s four largest transit operators: BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit. The agencies face a combined $\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12026627/with-bay-area-transit-crisis-looming-lawmaker-pushes-for-urgent-state-funding\">800 million deficit\u003c/a>, triggered by the slow recovery of ridership following the pandemic, rising costs and the exhaustion of federal emergency relief funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While much smaller than the $2 billion in emergency funds that Bay Area lawmakers requested in 2025 — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040042/transit-advocates-warn-fiscal-crisis-after-newsom-passes-on-emergency-funding\">which Newsom rejected last May — state Sen. Scott Wiener said Thursday the loan is \u003c/a>critical to preventing an “unraveling” of the system that connects the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If we don’t do anything, if we just let inertia sit in, we’re going to lose our public transportation systems,” Wiener said. “They will either be a shadow of what they were, or they will not exist at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Facing a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912988/bart-proposes-station-closures-and-fare-hikes-to-deal-with-massive-budget-shortfall\">$357 million deficit\u003c/a>, BART officials warned earlier this month that without a significant infusion of cash, the agency could be forced to move to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912988/bart-proposes-station-closures-and-fare-hikes-to-deal-with-massive-budget-shortfall\">“doomsday” schedule\u003c/a> that threatens to close up to 15 stations and terminate service at 9 p.m. nightly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12070961\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12070961\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260123-SIGNATUREKICKOFF00063_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks on his support for California Senate Bill 63 at a press conference at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco on Jan. 23, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Speaking outside a BART train at the Colma yard, Newsom described the loan as a “value proposition” for the region’s identity and economic future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve been frankly living off our inheritance,” Newsom said. “We’ve taken a lot of these systems for granted. We haven’t invested in them over the course of many, many decades.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the governor’s office, the agreement aims to protect service for more than three million monthly riders while agencies pursue a long-term funding solution on the November 2026 ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB117\">Assembly Bill 117\u003c/a> authorizes the state to lend the money for a 12-year term. The first two years are interest-free, after which the interest rate will be tied to the state’s surplus money investment fund to ensure the general fund is not “short-changed,” according to Newsom.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the transportation planning and financing agency for nine Bay Area counties, will administer the funds. The commission is responsible for distributing the loan proceeds to the four operators and overseeing the quarterly repayment installments to the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To secure the debt, transit agencies must pledge their future state transit assistance revenues as collateral. If the agencies fail to repay the loan, the MTC has the authority to redirect those funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MTC Chair Sue Noack described the bill as a “must-pass” measure to protect the 900,000 trips taken daily across the region’s networks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In November, voters in five counties — San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Santa Clara — will vote on a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12032607/first-look-at-2026-tax-proposal-to-keep-bay-area-transit-running\">regional transportation sales tax\u003c/a> measure to fund the struggling agencies. And San Francisco residents will vote on a parcel tax to shore up municipal transit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the state loan provides some immediate stability, Newsom warned that local transit leaders must “step up their game” and find more efficient ways to manage their budgets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can’t continue to do what we’ve done because we’ll be right back here in a few years,” Newsom said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Tahoe Avalanche: Here’s What We Know About the Victims",
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"content": "\u003cp>Six women among those \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">killed in an avalanche\u003c/a> in Tahoe’s backcountry this week were a group of “mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors,” their families said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to a statement from their families released Thursday evening, the victims were:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Danielle Keatley of Marin County\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kate Morse of Marin County\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kate Vitt of Marin County\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Caroline Sekar of San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Carrie Atkin, a Truckee-Tahoe area resident\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Liz Clabaugh of Boise, Idaho\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Two of the women, Clabaugh and Sekar, were sisters, according to reporting from \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/tahoe-avalanche-victims-sisters.html\">\u003cem>The New York Times\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which also reported that Vitt was a mother of students who attend elementary school in the Kentfield School District in Marin County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFeGnIbhhPE\">public transportation event\u003c/a> on Thursday that some of those from Marin County who were involved in the avalanche were family friends, calling the incident tragic. Newsom said he had previously spent time at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">the Frog Lake huts\u003c/a> where the victims had stayed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, Larkspur Mayor Stephanie Andre expressed her condolences for the loss of Keatley, who founded Keatley Wines with her husband.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073871\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073871\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow comes down on pine trees during a storm on Feb. 18, 2026, in Placer County, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The pair were frequently seen supporting local organizations and sharing their namesake wines at community events,” Andre wrote. “Danielle Keatley was a radiant, beautiful soul. She was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people to her.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The families’ statement called the six women “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains” and said they were experienced, trained and fully equipped to be on the trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted,” the families’ statement reads.[aside postID=science_2000137 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/10/GettyImages-1482972333-1020x678.jpg']For the community of Truckee, which sits at the base of Donner Summit near where the avalanche occurred, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know\">news of the deadly avalanche\u003c/a> has been traumatizing, Mayor Anna Klovstad said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With just over 17,000 residents, the small mountain town is full of outdoor enthusiasts and recreators, many of whom regularly go into the Castle Peak wilderness, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can see Castle Peak from most of Truckee,” Klovstad said. “That’s also where many of us play.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tremendous efforts from local search-and-rescue crews and the community support she’s seen so far have been heartening, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A community vigil is planned for 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Truckee, and a community grief support listening session is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sierra College.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An interfaith service is also set to take place at the Church of the Mountains on Monday at 5:30 p.m., and will be followed by drop-in support hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost immediately, members of the community reached out offering their support and wanted to know how they could help,” Klovstad said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Six women among those \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">killed in an avalanche\u003c/a> in Tahoe’s backcountry this week were a group of “mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors,” their families said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to a statement from their families released Thursday evening, the victims were:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Danielle Keatley of Marin County\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kate Morse of Marin County\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Kate Vitt of Marin County\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Caroline Sekar of San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Carrie Atkin, a Truckee-Tahoe area resident\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Liz Clabaugh of Boise, Idaho\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Two of the women, Clabaugh and Sekar, were sisters, according to reporting from \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/tahoe-avalanche-victims-sisters.html\">\u003cem>The New York Times\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which also reported that Vitt was a mother of students who attend elementary school in the Kentfield School District in Marin County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters at a \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFeGnIbhhPE\">public transportation event\u003c/a> on Thursday that some of those from Marin County who were involved in the avalanche were family friends, calling the incident tragic. Newsom said he had previously spent time at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073933/treacherous-sierra-nevada-storm-delays-recovery-of-9-presumed-avalanche-victims\">the Frog Lake huts\u003c/a> where the victims had stayed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, Larkspur Mayor Stephanie Andre expressed her condolences for the loss of Keatley, who founded Keatley Wines with her husband.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12073871\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12073871\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/CaliforniaSnowAP1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow comes down on pine trees during a storm on Feb. 18, 2026, in Placer County, California. \u003ccite>(Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The pair were frequently seen supporting local organizations and sharing their namesake wines at community events,” Andre wrote. “Danielle Keatley was a radiant, beautiful soul. She was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people to her.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The families’ statement called the six women “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains” and said they were experienced, trained and fully equipped to be on the trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted,” the families’ statement reads.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>For the community of Truckee, which sits at the base of Donner Summit near where the avalanche occurred, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073690/8-skiers-confirmed-dead-1-still-missing-after-tahoe-avalanche-heres-what-we-know\">news of the deadly avalanche\u003c/a> has been traumatizing, Mayor Anna Klovstad said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With just over 17,000 residents, the small mountain town is full of outdoor enthusiasts and recreators, many of whom regularly go into the Castle Peak wilderness, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can see Castle Peak from most of Truckee,” Klovstad said. “That’s also where many of us play.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tremendous efforts from local search-and-rescue crews and the community support she’s seen so far have been heartening, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A community vigil is planned for 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Truckee, and a community grief support listening session is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sierra College.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An interfaith service is also set to take place at the Church of the Mountains on Monday at 5:30 p.m., and will be followed by drop-in support hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost immediately, members of the community reached out offering their support and wanted to know how they could help,” Klovstad said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"marketplace": {
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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"politicalbreakdown": {
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
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"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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"reveal": {
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"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"order": 16
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},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
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"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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