![\"KCRA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769020329_917_kcra.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTHIS IS KCRA THREE NEWS AT 5 P.M. NEW DEVELOPMENTS TONIGHT IN THE DEADLY AVALANCHE THAT KILLED NINE SKIERS IN THE LAKE TAHOE AREA. NEVADA COUNTY SHERIFF\u2019S OFFICE CONFIRMING ALL NINE BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT FIVE. I\u2019M CECIL HANNIBAL. AUTHORITIES HAD TO WAIT TO RECOVER THE BODIES UNTIL CONDITIONS WERE SAFE. THIS IS CALIFORNIA\u2019S DEADLIEST AVALANCHE EVER RECORDED. TONIGHT, WE ARE NOW LEARNING THE IDENTITIES OF THE THREE BLACKBIRD MOUNTAIN GUIDES THAT WERE KILLED. 34 YEAR OLD ANDREW ALYSANDRATOS OF VERDI, NEVADA. 30 YEAR-OLD MICHAEL HENRY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, AND 42 YEAR NICOLE NIKKI TEW OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. THE OTHER SIX WERE IDENTIFIED BY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ON THURSDAY. THEY ARE KATE MORSE, CAROLINE SARKAR, LIZ CLAYBAUGH, DANIELLE KEELEY, KATE VITT AND KARI ATKIN. THEIR FAMILIES SAY THEY WERE ALL FRIENDS WHO WERE PASSIONATE, SKILLED SKIERS. WE\u2019RE ALSO LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT LED UP TO THE RESCUE OF THE SURVIVORS FROM THE AREA NEAR FROG LAKE. THIS VIDEO FROM LIVECOPTER3 SHOWS WHERE THE SKIERS STAYED FOR TWO NIGHTS BEFORE TRYING TO MAKE IT BACK TO THEIR CARS. THE GROUP WAS ON A THREE DAY TRIP WITH BLACKBIRD MOUNTAIN GUIDES. IT WAS SET TO COME TO AN END TUESDAY WHEN THE AVALANCHE HIT. SHERIFF\u2019S DEPUTIES SAY MULTIPLE AGENCIES RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. THE GROUP OF SURVIVORS WERE ABLE TO WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THREE OF THE VICTIMS. NOW, THE FIRST RESCUE TEAMS REACHED THEM JUST AFTER 530 THAT EVENING. RESCUERS PROVIDED FIRST AID TO THE SURVIVORS AND FOUND FIVE OTHERS WHO HAD DIED. WEATHER CONDITIONS DELAYED SEARCH EFFORTS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. BUT YESTERDAY AERIAL SURVEYS AND AVALANCHE MITIGATION WERE COMPLETED, ALLOWING TEAMS TO RECOVER FIVE VICTIMS. TODAY, THE NEVADA COUNTY SHERIFF\u2019S OFFICE SHARED THIS PHOTO SHOWING SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS PREPARING TO FLY INTO THE AVALANCHE AREA. HIGHWAY PATROL RECOVERED ONE VICTIM. THE NATIONAL GUARD RECOVERED THE OTHER THREE. JUST BEFORE 11 THIS MORNING, WE STILL HAVE SEARCH AND RESCUE STAFF AND MEMBERS OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN, SO I\u2019M NOT GOING TO SAY OUR RECOVERY MISSION IS COMPLETE UNTIL ALL OF OUR RESPONDERS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE REALLY DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL THEY\u2019RE ALL HOME. BACK AT AT THE OFFICE, WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THIS MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE VERY TIGHT KNIT AND OUR COMMUNITY SHOWS UP IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY. THE MAYOR OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE SAYS 14 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN SNOW SPORTS RELATED INCIDENTS THIS MONTH. HE SAID IN A STATEMENT TODAY WE KNOW THAT THE MOUNTAINS ARE A PLACE OF SANCTUARY, BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE UNFORGIVING IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND VARIABLE CONDITIONS. I URGE EVERYONE TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION. PLEASE RESPECT ALL RESORT BOUNDARIES. STAY INFORMED ON AVALANCHE FORECASTS AND LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER ON THE SLOPES. SAFETY MUST ALWAYS BE FIRST. HE ALSO SAYS THE CITY IS WORKING ON SAFETY DISCUSSIONS WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS AND RESORT OPERATORS. WE\u2019RE SHARING UPDATES ON WHAT WE\u2019RE LEARNING ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHAT WE\u2019RE LEARNING ABOUT THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Guides led group into dangerous terrain prior to California’s deadliest avalanche, report says<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tUpdated: 9:57 PM PDT Apr 2, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Sierra Avalanche Center has released its final report on California’s deadliest avalanche, revealing that guides led a group into avalanche terrain during dangerous conditions on the Feb. 17 trip near Lake Tahoe.Nine of the 15 people in the group died in the avalanche. The Sierra Avalanche Center’s final report states the slide occurred in an area that was “likely or very likely” to experience an avalanche that day.(Previous coverage in the video player above) For the first time, it has been revealed that some of the people caught in the avalanche had airbag backpacks that were not deployed. These backpacks are designed to create a space to breathe when trapped under snow. The Sierra Avalanche Center said an equipment problem likely saved the lives of four of the survivors. Two fell behind the rest of the group and then helped dig out two other survivors.Four guides with Blackbird Mountain Guides led the group on that backcountry trip near Frog Lake. Five guests and one guide survived.The victims of the deadly avalanche were:Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, NevadaMichael Henry, 30, from Tampa Bay, FloridaNicole “Niki” Choo, 42, from South Lake TahoeCarrie Atkin, 42, from South Lake TahoeLiz Clabaugh, 52, from Boise, IdahoDanielle Keatley, 44, from Marin CountyKate Morse, 45, from Marin CountyCaroline Sekar, 45, from San FranciscoKate Vitt, 43, from Marin CountySince 1950, California has experienced 57 fatal avalanches.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channelPHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The Sierra Avalanche Center has released its final report on California’s deadliest avalanche<\/a>, revealing that guides led a group into avalanche terrain during dangerous conditions on the Feb. 17 trip near Lake Tahoe.<\/p>\n Nine of the 15 people in the group died in the avalanche. The Sierra Avalanche Center’s final report states the slide occurred in an area that was “likely or very likely” to experience an avalanche that day.<\/p>\n (Previous coverage in the video player above) <\/p>\n For the first time, it has been revealed that some of the people caught in the avalanche had airbag backpacks that were not deployed. These backpacks are designed to create a space to breathe when trapped under snow. <\/p>\n The Sierra Avalanche Center said an equipment problem likely saved the lives of four of the survivors. Two fell behind the rest of the group and then helped dig out two other survivors.<\/p>\n Four guides with Blackbird Mountain Guides led the group on that backcountry trip near Frog Lake. Five guests and one guide survived.<\/p>\n The victims of the deadly avalanche were:<\/p>\n Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, NevadaMichael Henry, 30, from Tampa Bay, FloridaNicole “Niki” Choo, 42, from South Lake TahoeCarrie Atkin, 42, from South Lake TahoeLiz Clabaugh, 52, from Boise, IdahoDanielle Keatley, 44, from Marin CountyKate Morse, 45, from Marin CountyCaroline Sekar, 45, from San FranciscoKate Vitt, 43, from Marin County<\/p>\n Since 1950, California has experienced 57 fatal avalanches.<\/p>\n See more coverage of top California stories here<\/a> | Download our app<\/a> | Subscribe to our morning newsletter<\/a> | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel<\/a><\/p>\n PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"THIS IS KCRA THREE NEWS AT 5 P.M. NEW DEVELOPMENTS TONIGHT IN THE DEADLY AVALANCHE THAT KILLED NINE…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249619,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[111225,111223,7,9,8,111224,86769,23615,111226,86909,7244,6205,871,27047,111227,592,3729,86283,14390,271,20787,5988],"class_list":{"0":"post-249618","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-california","8":"tag-airbag-backpack","9":"tag-avalanche-terrain","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-california-headlines","12":"tag-california-news","13":"tag-dangerous-terrain","14":"tag-deadly-avalanche","15":"tag-download","16":"tag-floridanicole","17":"tag-frog-lake","18":"tag-group","19":"tag-guide","20":"tag-lake-tahoe","21":"tag-nevada-county","22":"tag-niki","23":"tag-people","24":"tag-report","25":"tag-sierra-avalanche-center","26":"tag-skiing","27":"tag-snow","28":"tag-survivor","29":"tag-trip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249618"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249618\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}