(NewsNation) — Mothers of a local youth ski team were among the group of skiers caught in a deadly California avalanche this week.
Sugar Bowl Academy, an independent ski school at Sugar Bowl Resort, confirmed in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday that multiple victims had ties to the program.
“We are an incredibly close and connected community. This tragedy has affected each and every one of us,” Stephen McMahon, executive director of the Sugar Bowl Academy, wrote. “The depth of support for the families whose lives have been changed forever reminds us of how special this community is. The best thing we can do is surround our athletes and families with care and support while providing the necessary space and time for grief and healing.”
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What we know about the skiers
As of Wednesday, the bodies of 8 of the 9 missing skiers who were reported trapped during the avalanche have been discovered. The ninth skier has been presumed dead, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Six other members of the group survived, two of whom have non-life-threatening injuries.
While the identities of the skiers have not yet been released, People Magazine reports that one of the victims was the spouse of a Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue team member.
“This has not only been challenging for our community — it’s been a challenging rescue — but it’s also been challenging for our team and organization,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said.
A source familiar with the accident told the San Francisco Chronicle that it was an annual trip organized by a close-knit group of parents. Of the nine confirmed or presumed dead, the chronicle reports that seven were women and two were men, while the survivors were five women and one man.
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Aftermath of the avalanche
Blackbird Mountain Guides, in a statement, said a dozen clients and several guides had been staying at huts near Frog Lake in Castle Peak since Feb. 15.
“The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred,” the company said.
Sheriff Shannan Moon said the survivors began searching for missing members of their group and located three bodies before rescuers arrived.
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Dangerous conditions persist
The Sierra Avalanche Center warned Wednesday the risk of avalanche remains high and advised against travel in the area. Multiple feet of snowfall and gale-force winds in recent days left the snowpack unstable and unpredictable, and more snow was predicted to fall, the center said.
This tragedy marks the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. since 1981, when 11 climbers were killed on Mount Rainier, Washington.
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