All nine victims recovered after Lake Tahoe avalanche; rescue operation concludes

Los Angeles: Authorities have recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers who were killed in an avalanche on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe, California, after a challenging search operation hampered by heavy snowfall.

A team located eight of the victims, with a ninth found “relatively close” to the others but initially obscured by whiteout conditions, according to Nevada County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Hack. The avalanche struck on Tuesday during the final day of a three-day tour, which the group had cut short to avoid an approaching snowstorm.

Sheriff Shannon Moon praised the efforts of multiple agencies involved in the recovery, including the California Highway Patrol, the National Guard, Pacific Gas & Electric, and 42 volunteers. “We are fortunate in this mountain community that we are very tight-knit, and our community shows up in times of tragedy,” she said.

Among the deceased were three guides from Blackbird Mountain Company: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30. Alissandratos, originally from Tampa, Florida, had lived in Tahoe for a decade and enjoyed backcountry exploration and rock climbing. Henry moved from Colorado to Truckee in 2019 and was described as “laid back” and devoted to sharing his love of the mountains. No biography was available for Choo. Blackbird Mountain founder Zeb Blais described the avalanche as “an enormous tragedy” and pledged support for the victims’ families and team members.

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The remaining six victims were women in their 40s who were part of a close-knit group of experienced backcountry skiers. They were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Kate Vitt, living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Idaho, and Lake Tahoe. Families said they were “devastated beyond words” and focused on supporting their children while mourning the loss of mothers, wives, and friends who shared a passion for the outdoors.

Two other members of the group survived, along with four others, including one guide. Officials said initial reports indicated at least two survivors were not swept away, while the others were caught in the slide.

The avalanche covered a path approximately the length of a football field. Rescuers were unable to reach all victims immediately due to heavy snowfall and the risk of further slides. Two California Highway Patrol helicopters, assisted by Pacific Gas & Electric, were used to break up unstable snowpack before crews could recover five bodies on the evening of the first day. The remaining four were hoisted by helicopter and ropes the following morning amid severe winds and transported via snowcat trucks.

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Forest supervisor Chris Feutrier said the terrain will remain closed to visitors until mid-March while the investigation continues. “This is the public’s land, and they love to recreate on it. The Forest Service doesn’t close public land for every hazard. We trust the American people to use their best judgment when recreating,” he said.

Authorities have not yet determined what triggered the avalanche. The Sierra Nevada tragedy underscores the risks of backcountry skiing even for experienced adventurers.