The search for the final victim of a devastating avalanche in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California concluded on Saturday, bringing the total confirmed death toll to nine. The recovery operation, hampered by severe winter weather, marks the end of a five-day ordeal for rescue crews and brings a somber closure to a tragedy that has gripped the region.
According to Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon, all nine individuals have now been recovered from the Castle Peak area near Lake Tahoe. The victims comprised seven women and two men, ranging in age from 30 to 52, including three experienced backcountry guides. The group was caught in the avalanche on Tuesday while on the final day of a three-day guided ski trip.
The avalanche, described as approximately 100 meters in length, struck as the group was returning to the Frog Lake huts. Six skiers, including one guide, managed to survive the slide and were able to signal for help. Rescue teams faced treacherous conditions, battling heavy snowfall and challenging terrain to reach the survivors and begin the arduous task of recovering the bodies of those lost.
Sheriff Moon formally identified the victims as Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe; Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs, California; Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California. The three guides were identified as Alissandratos, Choo and Henry.
The recovery operation was significantly delayed by ongoing hazardous weather conditions. Authorities cited the risk of further avalanches and high winds as preventing the use of helicopters for much of the week. On Friday, crews were able to mitigate some of the avalanche risk by using specialized techniques, including employing Pacific Gas & Electric to reduce the hazard, allowing for the recovery of four bodies. The remaining four were recovered on Saturday morning.
“While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that You can bring them home,” Sheriff Moon stated during a Saturday news conference. She added, “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.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the avalanche, focusing on the factors that contributed to the incident given the prevailing weather conditions. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued warnings of high avalanche danger due to recent heavy snowfall.
This tragedy represents one of the deadliest avalanche events in California’s history. While the region has experienced significant avalanche activity in the past, the scale of this disaster is comparable to an incident in March 1982, when seven people lost their lives in an avalanche at a Lake Tahoe ski resort. This event underscores the inherent risks associated with backcountry skiing and snowboarding, even for experienced individuals and those accompanied by professional guides.
The incident has prompted renewed discussion about avalanche safety protocols and the challenges of operating in increasingly unpredictable mountain environments. The close-knit nature of the backcountry skiing community has been particularly affected, with many expressing grief and offering support to the families and friends of the victims. The temporary flight restriction over the avalanche site, barring drones and unauthorized aircraft, remains in effect until 5 p.m. Sunday.
The recovery of all nine victims marks a difficult but necessary step towards closure for the families involved and the wider community. The investigation into the cause of the avalanche will likely provide valuable insights into how to mitigate similar risks in the future, but the pain of this loss will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.
