SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has reported there were two fatalities at the Heavenly Mountain Resort on Friday, February 20, 2026. One was a medical and the other was the result of a serious accident.
At approximately 11:55 a.m., DSCO responded to the resort’s Boulder Lodge on the Nevada side of Heavenly.
Both decedents were transported to the lodge area by Heavenly Ski Patrol. Life-saving measures were attempted by ski patrol and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) paramedics; however, both individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The incidents are not connected, according to DCSO, and there is no known relationship between the two people involved.
A spokesperson for Heavenly said members of their ski patrol responded to an incident on the intermediate Orion trail involving a 33-year-old male. They transported him to the paramedics at Boulder Lodge. After further emergency care and evaluation, the skier was pronounced deceased.
The second death was the result of a “serious medical event” that took place on the Tamarack Return trail involving a 58-year-old male. They were also transported by ski patrol to the awaiting TDFPD EMS staff at the base of Boulder. Following continued emergency care and medical review, the skier was declared deceased.
“On behalf of the entire Heavenly Mountain Resort team, we extend our heartfelt condolences to our guests’ families, friends, and loved ones,” said Shaydar Edelmann, vice president and general manager at Heavenly. “We are appreciative of the efforts of our Ski Patrol team and the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District.”
The cause and manner of death are pending. Identification of the decedents will be released following notification of the next of kin.
These two deaths make a total of five deaths at Vail Resorts at Lake Tahoe since Feb. 6. Three people died earlier at Northstar Resort at the north end of the lake.
Over the last week, Heavenly has received 62″ of snow.
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