Six of the people killed in the deadly Nevada County avalanche have been identified by their families.
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — Six of the people killed in the deadly Nevada County avalanche were identified Thursday by their families.
In a statement, the families identified Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt as six victims of Tuesday’s deadly avalanche.
The families released the following statement:
“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.”
Recovery efforts for the nine total victims were paused Thursday due to hazardous weather conditions, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies said the victims cannot be safely extracted from the mountain, and the effort is expected to carry into the weekend.
Eight people were killed in the incident, and the ninth is missing and presumed dead, authorities said.
Six people were found safe and have been rescued, per the sheriff’s office. Two of them had to be taken to the hospital and are expected to survive.
The 15 backcountry skiers were on the final day of a three-day trip guided by Blackbird Mountain Guides to Frog Lake huts when the avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to express its continued gratitude to all of our mutual aid partners and volunteers who have worked tirelessly around the clock, initially to save six lives, and who have continuously worked in adverse weather conditions in an effort to bring loved ones safely home,” the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
WATCH MORE: Crews pause recovery of avalanche victims in Nevada County due to hazardous conditions
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