Eight backcountry skiers are dead and one remains missing, presumed dead, after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, officials confirmed Wednesday. The incident, occurring on a remote slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, marks the deadliest avalanche in the United States in more than four decades.
The victims, identified by family as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, were described as experienced skiers and close friends. Sekar and Clabaugh were sisters, according to a report in The New York Times. Six skiers were rescued Tuesday, but the recovery operation has been hampered by continued heavy snowfall and the risk of further avalanches.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the male victims, citing the need to allow families time to process the loss. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon stated, “They’re still reeling. I could not imagine what they’re going through.” The group included four experienced guides, one of whom was among those rescued.
The avalanche occurred after a period of relatively dry weather, followed by several feet of new snowfall. Experts have suggested this created unstable conditions, with the new snow falling on a hardened layer beneath. The avalanche spanned the width of a football field, according to initial reports.
Global Affairs Canada has stated it is not aware of any Canadian citizens involved in the incident. The bodies of the eight skiers were found relatively close together, according to Captain Russell Greene of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, complicating the recovery effort. The terrain and ongoing weather conditions are preventing the immediate removal of the victims from the mountain.
The six women killed were part of a group of 15 skiers who had planned the backcountry trip. They were equipped with avalanche safety gear, but the severity of the conditions proved overwhelming. The families of the victims released a statement expressing their devastation and describing the women as passionate skiers who cherished their time in the mountains.
Search efforts for the ninth missing skier are ongoing, but officials have acknowledged the likelihood of a fatal outcome given the time elapsed and the challenging conditions. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has not provided a timeline for when the recovery of the remaining skiers will begin.
