SUMMARY
- Six women were identified by families after a California avalanche near Lake Tahoe.
- Search crews recovered eight of nine trapped skiers; one remains missing and presumed dead.
- Hazardous weather continues to complicate recovery efforts in the Sierra Nevada backcountry.
TRUCKEE, California — Families have identified six women killed in a powerful California avalanche near Lake Tahoe earlier this week, as search and recovery crews continued efforts to reach victims still on the mountain amid hazardous winter conditions.
In a statement issued Thursday, families of the Castle Peak victims named the skiers as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt.
The women were part of a larger backcountry group caught Tuesday morning near Castle Peak, north of Truckee. “We are devastated beyond words,” the families said.
“Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women.”
Authorities said nine women and six men, ages thirty to fifty five, were skiing in the backcountry when the avalanche struck around 11:30 AM Tuesday.
Six members of the group survived and were rescued after hours of difficult access in high winds and unstable snow. Two were hospitalized with injuries.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that eight bodies had been recovered. One skier remains unaccounted for and is presumed dead.
Deputies said weather conditions prevented safe extraction operations and that recovery efforts are expected to continue into the weekend.
Until the mission is completed, officials said they are unable to formally confirm identifications, ages or cities of origin.
The families said eight of the women had planned a professionally guided, two night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake Huts outside Truckee, a trip organized well in advance.
They described the victims as experienced and fully equipped with avalanche safety gear.
The Sierra Nevada has experienced intense winter storms in recent days, sharply increasing avalanche risk across higher elevations near Lake Tahoe.
Castle Peak, a popular destination for backcountry skiers, sits along the Pacific Crest corridor and draws experienced outdoor enthusiasts seeking ungroomed terrain.
According to the nonprofit Sierra Avalanche Center, recent snowfall combined with strong winds created unstable slabs over weaker snow layers, heightening the likelihood of human triggered avalanches. The women lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Idaho and the Truckee Tahoe region.
In interviews with the The San Francisco Chronicle, friends described Sekar, a mother of two from San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, as a community anchor who volunteered at her children’s school and organized neighborhood gatherings.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters Thursday that his family had personal connections to some of the victims through mutual friends in Marin County.
Avalanche specialists said the tragedy underscores the unpredictability of backcountry terrain even for experienced skiers.
“Training and equipment reduce risk but do not eliminate it,” said Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
He said persistent weak layers buried under new snow can create conditions where slopes fail unexpectedly.
Bridget Gibbons, executive director of the Sierra Avalanche Center, said guided hut trips are common in the region and typically involve professional oversight.
“This event appears to have occurred during a period of rapidly changing weather and elevated danger ratings,” she said, emphasizing that investigations take time and rely on field observations.
Jen Wofford, a neighbor of Sekar in San Francisco, described her as “the sunshine” of the block. “She was always smiling, always polite and would do any little thing to help out a neighbor,” Wofford told the Chronicle.
A family statement said the women were “mothers, wives and friends” connected by a shared love of the outdoors. “We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another,” the statement said.
Search officials said recovery operations will continue as weather permits. The sheriff’s office said it will release confirmed identifications and additional details once next of kin notifications and on-site recovery are complete.
The California avalanche near Lake Tahoe is among the deadliest backcountry incidents in the region in recent years, highlighting ongoing safety challenges in increasingly popular winter recreation areas across the Sierra Nevada.
NOTE! This article was generated with the support of AI and compiled by professionals from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage. For more information, please see our T&C.
