In a tragic turn during what was meant to be a celebratory backcountry ski adventure, nine experienced skiers are confirmed or presumed dead following a massive avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, on Tuesday. The incident, described as the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. in decades, claimed the lives of six close friends— all mothers and wives deeply passionate about the outdoors—who had traveled from as far as Idaho for the three-day guided trip organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides. The group of 15, including four professional guides, was on its final descent toward the trailhead in the rugged Castle Peak area of the Tahoe National Forest when the disaster struck around 11:30 a.m.
The avalanche, rated a 2.5 on a five-level scale measuring destructive potential—capable of burying a person or even a small house—swept through the terrain with the force of a football field of snow and ice, according to Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon. A member of the group shouted "Avalanche!" moments before the slide buried several skiers, leaving survivors to frantically dig through the debris. "Uncovering people who are deceased, that they know and probably cared about, is just horrible," Nevada County Undersheriff Sam Brown told CBS News, recounting the harrowing efforts of the survivors who managed to extract three bodies before rescue teams arrived.
Among the victims identified by their families are sisters Liz Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar, along with Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and Kate Vitt. A spouse of a Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue team member was also killed, authorities said. Only two of the six friends survived, alongside one guide and two other group members, making for six survivors in total. The remaining victim is still missing and presumed dead beneath the snowpack, Sheriff Moon reported.
The friends, hailing from Idaho, the Bay Area, and the Truckee-Tahoe region, were described by their families as "passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains." The trip had been meticulously planned well in advance, with the women training for backcountry conditions and equipping themselves with avalanche safety gear, including beacons and probes. They trusted their guides, who were certified by the American Mountain Guides Association and trained in avalanche education, according to Blackbird Mountain Guides.
Yet, the conditions that day were exceptionally severe. The area was under a level 4 out of 5 avalanche threat, the second-highest rating, due to a weak layer in the snowpack burdened by recent heavy snowfall, explained Chris Feutrier, USDA forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest. Over a foot of additional snow fell on Thursday alone, exacerbating the instability and delaying recovery efforts. "Adverse weather, coupled with ongoing avalanche danger, has hindered the recovery process," the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office stated in a Friday update.
Rescue operations began immediately after a 911 call reached the Nevada County dispatch center at 11:30 a.m., but gale-force winds, blinding snow, and rugged terrain slowed progress. Dozens of search and rescue personnel, including teams from as far as Los Angeles—over 500 miles away—mobilized, but it took hours to reach the site. Survivors, some injured and unable to walk, huddled in a makeshift shelter, communicating via emergency beacons, iPhone SOS signals, and texts from one guide to rescuers. By around 5:30 p.m., crews arrived on snowcats and skis, evacuating the injured over two miles of treacherous snow to waiting vehicles. Two survivors were hospitalized, authorities said.
The bodies of the eight confirmed dead had to be left on the mountainside due to the extreme dangers, with recovery stalled by persistent storms and subzero temperatures expected through Saturday—dropping to the teens in the morning and 20s in the afternoon, per CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar. To mitigate risks, controlled explosions were initiated at the site on Friday, following aerial surveys, in an effort to stabilize the snowpack and protect recovery teams.
Families of the six women expressed profound grief while seeking answers. "We are devastated beyond words," they said in a joint statement. "Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women." McAlister Clabaugh, brother of Liz and Caroline, told The New York Times, “These are two of the best people I’ve ever known. They were incredible sisters, mothers, wives and friends. And the idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
Neighbors and community members remembered the victims fondly. Sekar’s neighbor described her to CNN affiliate KXTV as “a wonderful human being who loved life,” adding, “She was a very vibrant person, one of the nicest people I’ve ever known.” Kate Vitt “seemed like a super friendly, great mom,” said neighbor Carleen Cullen to KXTV. “She was just always out there with her kids and getting them hustled off to school and after-school activities.” Some victims were connected to the Sugar Bowl Academy, a local ski training center near the site, which issued a statement mourning the loss.
Blackbird Mountain Guides emphasized the expertise of its team, noting that the four guides were in constant communication with base staff about conditions and routes. The company has suspended all operations through at least February 22 to support families and staff. “We ask that people following this tragedy refrain from speculating. We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do," the company said. “In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.”
However, questions linger about the decisions made that day. The families stated they have “many unanswered questions,” and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is investigating potential criminal negligence, alongside coroner’s inquiries into the deaths. “In addition to the coroner’s death investigations,” the office told Reuters, though it cautioned that the probe is preliminary and no specific targets have been identified. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has also launched an investigation into the guide company, with six months to complete it and issue any citations if violations are found. The Nevada County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on possible charges.
California Governor Gavin Newsom offered condolences on Thursday, revealing personal ties. “Turns out (we have) a lot of mutual friends in Marin County. Just learning some of my wife’s old family friends,” he told reporters. “I’ve been in that area many, many times. Stayed in those cabins just a year or so ago, and very mindful of the terrain and the nature of this,” he added, referencing the huts where the group stayed near Donner Summit—an area closed to the public for nearly a century until 2020.
The avalanche has prompted broader safety measures. The Tahoe National Forest closed all lands and trails in the Castle Peak area until March 15 to prioritize first responder access and address snowpack instability, officials announced Thursday. “Due to the current instability of the snowpack and need to prioritize first responder access to the area, members of the public are prohibited from entering the closure area,” they posted on social media.
This tragedy marks the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. since 1981, when 11 people perished on Mount Rainier’s Ingraham Glacier in Washington, according to the Associated Press. The remote, ungroomed backcountry terrain, on the north side of the highway, is no place for novices, Sheriff Moon emphasized. “It’s a very remote, rugged area... This is a backcountry area.”
As the community grapples with the loss, a vigil is planned for 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Truckee, followed by an interfaith service at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Church of the Mountains. Families have requested privacy during their mourning. “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,” they said. Recovery efforts continue amid the weather challenges, with hopes that safer conditions will soon allow teams to bring the victims home and provide closure to those left behind.