Here’s what you need to know about the Sierra Nevada Avalanche
This is what we know about the tragic Castle Peak avalanche near Lake Tahoe that killed eight skiers during a powerful winter storm
The families of six women killed in the worst avalanche in the United States in more than 40 years said they were all married mothers and were “connected through a love of the outdoors.”
In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Thursday, February 19, the family identified their loved ones as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Daniel Keetley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekhar and Kate Witt. On February 17, a group of 15 people were killed in an avalanche deep in California’s Sierra Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. A ninth person has not yet been recovered and is presumed dead, but there were six survivors.
“Words cannot express how devastated we are,” the family said. “Our focus now is to support these children through this incredible tragedy and honor the lives of these incredible women… They were passionate and accomplished skiers who cherished the time they spent together in the mountains.”
The women lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe/Truckee area, and Idaho.
The company guiding the trip the women participated in, Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides, is facing tough questions about why it went ahead with the backcountry adventure despite dire warnings about a storm expected to bring up to 8 feet of fresh snow and create “very dangerous” avalanche conditions.
Family members said, “There are many unanswered questions.” “But here’s what we know at this point: Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry cabin trip to the Frog Lake cabin outside of Truckee, California. The trip had been planned for quite some time. They were experienced backcountry skiers with a deep respect for the mountains. They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel, and trusted their professional guides on this trip.”
Here’s more from the family and what Blackbird Mountain Guides have to say about the tragedy.
Blackbird Mountain Guides founder: Guide was ‘very experienced’
Zev Blais, founder of Blackbird Mountain Guides, said in a Feb. 18 statement that the four guides who took the 11 guests into the backcountry were “very experienced.”
“There’s still a lot we haven’t learned about what happened,” he said. “While it is too early to draw conclusions, the investigation is ongoing…We ask those involved in this tragedy to refrain from speculation. We do not yet have all the answers, and it may be some time before we do.”
Brace called the avalanche a “huge tragedy” and “the saddest thing our team has ever experienced.”
“We are doing everything we can to support the families who have lost so much, and the members of our team who have lost dear friends and colleagues,” he said.
Brace said the guides are all American Mountain Guides Association trained or certified in backcountry skiing, and all have a wealth of knowledge about avalanches.
“Additionally, guides in the field are in touch with senior guides at our base to discuss routes based on conditions and conditions,” he said.
Authorities are investigating the decision taken
Nevada County Sheriff Shanann Moon said at a Feb. 18 press conference that authorities are investigating the “full scope” of the tragedy. This includes finding out why the trip was not cancelled.
“There are a lot of forecasts out there about this storm,” President Moon said. “These are obviously decisions made by the guide companies. We’re still talking to them about the deciding factors that they made.”
She said her top priority is getting to the bottom of the key questions surrounding this tragedy.
“I think at the heart of it all, I want to be able to provide answers for the families who were affected, for the guide members who were there, and for the customers who paid for this trip,” she said.
Victim’s family: loved ones ‘fully equipped’ for avalanche
Family members said in a statement Thursday that their loved ones were “fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”
“While we are heartbroken, we are doing our best to care for each other and our families in the way the women would have wanted,” the families said in a statement. “Our family requests privacy and space as we grieve this sudden and profound loss.”
Authorities have not released the identities of the other victims of the avalanche.
Among the victims were members of the Elite Ski Academy.
The school said in a statement that among the dead were members of the elite Sugar Bowl Ski Academy. “Sugar Bowl Academy is focused on supporting our athletes, students, staff and families through this tragedy.”
Sugar Bowl Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for competitive skiers in grades 8 through 12 located in Norden, California near Lake Tahoe.
The academy focuses on developing elite athletes, with graduates often going on to the U.S. Ski Team or NCAA Division I programs. It has produced many elite skiers, particularly on the U.S. and International Ski Teams, with eight alumni selected for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Notable alumni include World Cup winner Alice Robinson, U.S. Olympian Luke Winters, and freeride World Tour champion Isaac Freeland.
“The Sugar Bowl Academy community will continue to be there for families who have lost a loved one in the months and years to come,” the school said in a statement.
“We are an incredibly close-knit and connected community, and this tragedy has affected each and every one of us,” said Executive Director Stephen McMahon. “The best thing we can do is surround athletes and their families with care and support while providing them with the space and time they need to grieve and heal.”
Contributor: Mike James, USA TODAY
