SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California workplace safety officials have fined a guide company that was leading backcountry skiers down a mountain in February when an avalanche was triggered, killing nine members of the group in the deadliest avalanche in the state's modern history.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, issued $151,300 in fines against Blackbird Mountain Guides for seven alleged violations it found. The largest fine, $81,000, was for “failing to correct the imminent hazard posed by traveling in avalanche terrain when the avalanche danger was rated high."
The agency issued the fines earlier this month.
Blackbird Mountain Guides said it has filed a formal appeal and that it believes it was in “full compliance” with all regulatory requirements.
A separate investigation by Cal/OSHA’s Bureau of Investigations, which reviews workplace deaths for possible criminal charges, is ongoing, the agency said in a Friday statement. The Nevada County Sheriff's Department has forwarded results of its own criminal investigation to the district attorney's office for review of possible criminal charges, said Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office. The DA's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The nine people who died were part of a group of 15 backcountry skiers headed out on a three-day trek organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides into pristine wilderness near Frog Lake in California’s Sierra Nevada as a powerful winter storm moved into the state. Three of the dead were guides.
The skiers made their way to remote huts located at 7,600 feet (2,316 meters) in Tahoe National Forest, carrying their own food and supplies. Two days later, on Feb. 17, the group was attempting to ski down the mountain when an avalanche hit near Castle Peak, trapping them. Six skiers, including one guide, were rescued after sheltering in place for hours as searchers battled blizzard conditions to reach them.
Cal/OSHA, which issued the fines on Aug. 12, found the company allegedly failed “to correct the imminent hazard posed by traveling in avalanche terrain when the avalanche danger was rated high.” The other five violations are related to alleged workplace violations, including not providing employees with effective training and failing to report the three employees' deaths to the agency in a timely manner.
“The citations do not reflect the reality of our profession or the safety program we have built," Blackbird Mountain Guides said in a statement. "Mountain guiding takes place in dynamic wilderness environments where conditions change minute to minute — it’s not a controlled setting such as construction sites. We welcome the opportunity to work with Cal/OSHA to contextualize the unique realities of operating in backcountry environments.”
The guides on the trip had years of experience in backcountry skiing and certifications from the American Mountain Guides Association, which offers the highest level of training in the industry, the company said.
“Guides pursue knowledge and excellence as a lifelong responsibility and the guides on this trip approached their work with care and professionalism," said Blackbird Mountain Guides owner Zeb Blais.
FILE - A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter lands at Truckee Tahoe Airport in Truckee, Calif., Feb. 21, 2026, while aiding in recovery efforts for a group of skiers who went missing during a deadly avalanche. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
FILE - Castle Peak is shown in an aerial view on Feb. 20, 2026, near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Stetson Bennett passed for 181 yards and rushed for two TDs while leading the Rams to a 20-point halftime lead Saturday, and Los Angeles cruised to a 34-0 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Bennett went 19 of 31 while playing the entire first half for the Rams (2-0) before rookie Ty Simpson finished up.
Bennett is the Rams' presumptive backup to NFL MVP Matthew Stafford this season despite never playing in a regular-season game, but the former University of Georgia star turned in another in his history of strong preseason performances during his four seasons on the LA roster. He dived to the pylon for the Rams’ first touchdown against New Orleans, and he scored again on a scramble in the second quarter while leading four substantial scoring drives.
The Saints (0-2) stirred up their own quarterback competition with Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler playing one half apiece at SoFi Stadium, but neither prospective backup to Tyler Shough stood out during a rough overall outing for New Orleans.
Rattler moved the offense better than Wilson while facing the bottom of the Rams' defensive depth chart in the second half, but the Saints also made two goal-line turnovers, with Rattler throwing an interception that was returned for a 100-yard touchdown by safety Alex Cook.
The Saints even attempted a 39-yard field goal in the final minute to avoid the shutout, but Tanner Brown missed it.
The Saints didn’t play their presumptive starters for the second straight preseason game after spending the past week training on the West Coast, while the Rams continued Sean McVay's decade-long tradition of resting every key player possible for the entire preseason.
Simpson finally got on the field midway through the third quarter, and the 13th overall pick in the draft again ran the offense capably, although he didn’t get as much of a chance to perform as he did while looking sharp last week in Kansas City.
Rattler, who started 14 games over the past two seasons with the Saints, got better drives out of New Orleans' offense than Wilson, the 2021 No. 2 overall pick who is on his fourth team in six NFL seasons.
Wilson went 6 of 12 for 55 yards, and he threw an interception to AZ Hamilton in the second quarter.
Rattler led a long drive after halftime, but his goal-line throw to Treyton Welch was intercepted and taken all the way back by Cook.
Rattler led the Saints deep into Rams territory again, but impressive undrafted Rams rookie linebacker Wesley Bailey forced a fumble by Ty Chandler.
The Saints finish their preseason Friday with a visit to the Cowboys less than two weeks after their brawl-filled joint practice that led to $500,000 fines for each team. The Rams stay at SoFi as the road team against the Chargers on Thursday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Payton Zdroik (62) recovers a fumble during the second half an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman )
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) rolls out of the pocket during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Zach Wilson throws a pass during the first half an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) celebrates his rushing touchdown with teammates during the first half an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett reaches out to touch the pylon to score a touchdown during the first half an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
