Final Missing Skier Found in Lake Tahoe Avalanche
The ninth and final missing skier has been located deceased in the Lake Tahoe backcountry of California, five days following a powerful avalanche that impacted several guides and a close-knit group of friends during a trip.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced on Saturday at a news conference that all nine victims have now been recovered from the Castle Peak area within the Sierra Nevada mountains.
She also disclosed the names of all nine individuals, which included close friends, two sisters, and three professional guides.
Two members of the group survived the "football-field sized" avalanche—the deadliest in modern California history—and authorities indicated they may assist in reconstructing the events leading to the tragedy.
During the news conference, Sheriff Moon and others described the severe weather conditions rescue teams faced after the avalanche, noting that white-out conditions delayed days of search efforts.
Authorities reported ongoing avalanche risks following the Tuesday incident, and strong winds prevented the use of helicopters for several days.
When winds subsided on Friday, helicopters were deployed to drop water over the area—a method intended to reduce avalanche risk—before crews resumed searching for the ninth missing skier.
Victims Identified
The victims confirmed on Saturday are:
- Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California
- Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho
- Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California
- Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California
- Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California
- Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California
The three Blackbird Mountain guides who perished were identified as:
- Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada
- Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, California
- Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs
Earlier in the week, a family spokesperson confirmed several of the skiers' identities to the BBC's US media partner, CBS News.
"While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home," Moon said at the news conference.
She explained that avalanche experts assessed the disaster as covering an area the size of an American football field and being nearly powerful enough to destroy a house.
Details of the Incident and Rescue Efforts
Six members of the 15-person backcountry ski group were rescued earlier in the week. The group was returning from a three-day guided ski trip in the backcountry when the avalanche occurred, bringing approximately eight feet (2.4 meters) of snow and winds reaching 90 mph.
Nevada County Undersheriff Sam Brown told CBS on Thursday that when the avalanche struck, the skiers entered what he described as "frantic mode" to locate their friends and partners.
"They were ultimately able to unbury three individuals who did not survive," Brown said.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office stated on Friday that authorities are investigating the possibility of criminal negligence related to the avalanche, according to CBS.
