The six friends were among the eight people confirmed to have perished in the avalanche, the deadliest in the United States in nearly 45 years.
The remaining two victims, as well as a third person presumed dead whose body hasn’t been recovered, were guides on the trip. Recovery efforts are ongoing.
The six friends skiing together in the group were identified by family members as Vitt, Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and Caroline Sekar.
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“We are devastated beyond words,” their families said in a statement released through a spokesperson. The women were mothers, wives, and friends who “connected through the love of the outdoors,” they said.
The families said they were carrying avalanche safety gear.
All told, a group of 15 skiers began their three-day trip Sunday just as warnings about the storm were intensifying. By early Tuesday, officials cautioned that avalanches were expected, and the snowslide occurred later that morning.
Vitt lived in San Francisco and worked previously at SiriusXM and Pandora, according to her LinkedIn page. The Kentfield School District told families that Vitt’s two sons “are safe and are with their father, Geoff, as they navigate this profound loss,” The New York Times reported.
“RIP Kate Vitt,” said Chris Glasgow, a SiriusXM producer, via Facebook on Thursday.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.