The deadliest avalanche in the U.S. in decades killed eight people, with one other presumed to be dead. Six survived the disaster.
NEVADA CITY, Calif. (KGO) — Six women killed in an avalanche in the Castle Peak avalanche were among a group of eight close friends and experienced backcountry skiers on a trip together, their families said in a statement Thursday.
Tuesday’s avalanche, the deadliest in the U.S. in decades, killed eight people and one person remains missing but is presumed to be dead. Six survived the disaster.
It will be at least another day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies and continue the search for a ninth person still missing and presumed dead, said Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Three victims have yet to be identified.
The town of Truckee will be holding a vigil Sunday to honor lives lost in the tragic avalanche
“We’re kind of holding our breath, waiting to hear, those names as well,” said Mayor of Truckee, Anna Klovstad. “Our winter guides, our summer guides of different kinds, or maybe they’re working construction, or they’re working at your local bike shop. We’re all pretty interconnected here. We live here for a reason.”
Blackbird Mountain Guides hasn’t released a statement since Wednesday, at the time saying they are doing what they can to support the families who lost loved ones and the members of their team who have lost colleagues.
Victims
Carrie Atkin – 46, Soda Springs, CA
Danielle Keatley – 44, Larkspur, CA and Soda Springs, CA
We’re learning more about a Larkspur mother whose friends say was devoted to her family, career and boutique wine business.
Keatley’s friend, Paul Laland describes her as a devoted wife and mom to her two young kids – he met Danielle for coffee just days ago.
“As per usual, we talked about the mountains, which she absolutely loved. I’ve skied with her at Palisades, she kicked my butt, a great skier,” Laland said.
Danielle was VP of investor relations and corporate communications at Structure Therapeutics in San Francisco. CEO Ray Stevens, posting a message on the company’s website:
“Her spirit and passion inspired me and the many Structure colleagues who spent time with her each day.”
In 2016, Danielle and her husband, Dave founded Keatley Wines, a boutique producer in Healdsburg. According to their website, the venture was a way to learn about California’s potential to craft the next generation of great wines.
Kate Morse – 45, Tiburon, CA and Soda Springs, CA
Kate Vitt – 43, Greenbrae, CA
Mill Valley neighbors described Kate Vitt as a great mom who was devoted to her two young children. They said she was vibrant and friendly and would walk her kids to school in the morning.
Caroline Sekar – 45, San Francisco, CA and Soda Springs, CA
The husband of 45-year-old Caroline Sekar of San Francisco shared a statement with the New York Times, writing:
“Caroline spent her final days, doing what she loved best, with the people who loved her the most, in her favorite place… she was with me, her children, and her puppy, and then on one last adventure with her sister and close friends, who she now rests with.”
Sekar’s Bernal Heights neighbor Jen Wofford described her as, “The sweetest, kindest, most positive person, radiated sunshine.”
Liz Clabaugh – 52, Boise, ID
Sekar’s 52-year-old sister Liz Clabaugh was from Boise, Idaho. Their brother spoke to the New York Times, saying his sisters were the best people he ever knew. That they were:
“Incredible sisters, mothers, wives, and friends. And the idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
The three remaining victims were identified on Saturday, Feb. 21. All were Blackbird Mountain Guides.
Andrew Alissandratos – 34, Verdi, Nev.
Nicole “Niki” Choo – 42, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Michael Henry-30, Soda Springs, CA and Tampa, FL.
The sheriff named for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 21, the three guides from Blackbird Mountain Company who died: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30.
According to biographies on the company’s website, Alissandratos was originally from Tampa, Florida, and moved to Tahoe roughly a decade ago. He enjoyed a wide array of adventure activities, from backcountry exploration to rock climbing.
Henry moved to Colorado in 2016 and then to Truckee three years later. He was described as “laid back” and devoted to sharing his knowledge and love of the mountains with others.
There was no bio for Choo on the website.
Family statement
A statement released by the victims’ families says all of them were mothers who were from the Bay Area, the Truckee-Tahoe region and Idaho.
The eight close friends had planned the trip to Frog Lake Huts well in advance. They were all experienced backcountry skiers who were trained and prepared for this kind of excursion. They trusted their professional guides for this trip and were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
The representative says that the victims’ families are focusing on supporting the children affected by this horrific tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women.
Read the full statement below:
We are devastated beyond words.
Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains. They lived in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee-Tahoe region.
We have many unanswered questions, but here is what we know at this time: Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake Huts outside Truckee, California. The trip had been organized well in advance. They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains. They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
We are profoundly grateful for the extensive rescue efforts by Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and all of the authorities involved, and for the outpouring of support from the Tahoe community and beyond.
We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted.
We are asking for privacy and space as our families grieve this sudden and profound loss.
Mill Valley reacts
In the North Bay, grief and devastation are being felt by many as we learn more about the skiers who died in the Castle Peak avalanche.
“I can’t, I’m still in shock, she was my neighbor for the last four years,” said Sheryl Longman.
Longman is coping with the loss of her neighbor in Greenbrae. Kate Vitt is one of several skiers from Marin County, killed this week in a massive avalanche near Castle Peak.
“Vibrant, friendly person devoted to her kids, she’d walk them to school in the morning,” Longman said.
“She was out there with her kids, getting them hustled off to school activities. She was super friendly, great mom,” said neighbor Carleen Cullen.
Carleen Cullen says Kate and her husband have two young sons. The Kentfield School District is sending a message home to parents, breaking the news to the school community.
“It’s truly a tragedy, a classic family walking their dog, went skiing and winds up in an avalanche,” said Scott Morrow.
In Mill Valley, Mayor Max Perrey told the Associated Press, “Our heart and Mill Valley goes out to the families that have been impacted.”
Lorraine Adams, owner of Mill Valley Coffee Shop, saw one of the victims just days ago.
“I didn’t know her intimately. She came in with her husband; she said they were going skiing. We won’t see you, turns out, we won’t see them ever, tragedy, unfortunate,” said Adams.
SF woman, sister among victims
The news of the Castle Peak avalanche is hitting close to home, specifically in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood.
Forty-five-year-old Caroline Sekar of San Francisco and her 52-year-old sister, Liz Clabaugh of Idaho, died in the avalanche.
Sekar’s husband Kiren Sekar shared a statement with the New York Times, writing:
“Caroline spent her final days, doing what she loved best, with the people who loved her the most, in her favorite place… she was with me, her children, and her puppy, and then on one last adventure with her sister and close friends, who she now rests with.”
We talked to neighbor Jen Wofford, who is still processing what happened.
“It’s a huge loss,” said Wofford. “She’s just a wonderful human being, she loved life and full of love, a very vibrant person. Really, one of the nicest people you ever known.”
Wofford says Sekar traveled to Tahoe often.
“She loved skiing. A lot of her profile pictures were of her in ski goggles. She loved winter sports,” said Wofford.
Sekar’s brother McAlister Clabaugh told the New York Times his sisters were the best people he ever knew. That they were:
“Incredible sisters, mothers, wives, and friends. And the idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
The Times reports that many of the women who were killed in the avalanche went to college together at Stanford.
“Caroline was the most solid gold person. The sweetest, kindest, most positive person, radiated sunshine,” said Wofford.
Avalanche victims were from a ‘connected community’
The 15 skiers, most of them women, began their three-day trip on Sunday just as warnings about the storm were intensifying. They spent the weekend staying along Frog Lake in high country huts accessible only by challenging trails.
Some have ties with the elite Sugar Bowl Academy, which issued a statement late Wednesday mourning the loss of skiers with “strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community.”
Perched on Donner Summit, the academy is a private boarding and day school for competitive skiers and snowboarders. Its former students include multiple Olympians.
“We are an incredibly close and connected community,” Sugar Bowl Academy executive director Stephen McMahon said in the statement. “This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.”
McAlister Clabaugh told The New York Times his sisters were on the trip with close friends from college. His employer later told the AP that he and his family asked for privacy while they grieve.
Mayor Max Perrey of Marin County’s Mill Valley, confirmed that some in the group were mothers from his city.
One of the victims was married to a member of a backcountry search and rescue team in the area, said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
