A devastating avalanche in the California mountains has claimed the lives of nine skiers, marking one of the worst such disasters in US history. The group, a tight-knit community of experienced backcountry skiers, was returning from a three-day expedition when the avalanche struck on 17 February near Castle Peak in the Lake Tahoe area.
The 911 call came just before noon, reporting that an avalanche had occurred on the 9,110ft mountain. Six skiers survived, but more than half the group was missing. Rescue teams, comprising 46 first responders, battled treacherous conditions, including heavy snowfall and high avalanche risk, to reach the survivors. By 5.30pm, they had located six survivors who had built a shelter and uncovered three bodies. Five more bodies were found, and all nine were brought down by helicopter and Sno-Cat.
The victims have been identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Kate Vitt, along with three guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides. The families described them as passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains. Two of the women, Sekar and Clabaugh, were sisters. The group were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
The tragedy has deeply affected the Bay Area community, with Mill Valley mayor Max Perrey calling it a huge loss. School officials are preparing to support students whose mothers may be among the dead. Blackbird Mountain Guides founder Zeb Blais expressed profound sorrow, noting that the guides were highly trained and certified.
