February 21 update:
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office has identified the nine people who lost their lives in the Castle Peak avalanche February 17th:
• Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada
• Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, CA
• Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, ID
• Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs
• Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, CA
• Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, CA
• Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, CA
• Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrea, CA
Andrew Alissandratos, Nicole Choo and Michael Henry were identified as Blackbird Mountain Guides.
All nine people have been recovered from the avalanche site.
Sheriff Shannan Moon of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "There are no words that truly capture the significance of this loss and our hearts mourn alongside the families of those affected by this catastrophic event. The weight of this event is felt across many families, friends, and colleagues, and we stand together with them during this difficult time.”
Previous Story:
Families have identified six of the 8 skiers who died in the Castle Peak avalanche. One skier still hasn't been found at this time.
The families say they are grieving the loss and ask for privacy at this time. Find their full statement below:
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.
