Nine bodies recovered in deadly Sierra Nevada avalanche, officials say

By ORLANDO MAYORQUÍN and DAVE PHILIPPS

The bodies of nine skiers who were killed in an avalanche in the mountains near Lake Tahoe in California this past week have been recovered, authorities said Saturday, bringing to a close an effort that had been hampered for several days by hazardous weather conditions.

A ninth victim who had been missing was found and recovered along with four other victims Friday, Lt. Dennis Haack of the Nevada County sheriff’s office said at an afternoon news conference.

Four other victims were recovered Saturday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.

“While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home,” said Shannan Moon, the sheriff.

The avalanche Tuesday was the deadliest in modern California history. The victims were part of a group of 15 people, including four professional guides, finishing up a three-day backcountry trek near Castle Peak, a remote part of the Sierra Nevada.

The group had set out on its trip last Sunday even as the region anticipated its first big blizzard of the year and an avalanche prediction center had warned of a “high” danger level for travel in avalanche-prone areas.

Officials said Saturday that an avalanche strong enough to knock down a house descended on the group when most were gathered in one spot, adding that two skiers who were at the rear of the group had not been swept away. Authorities did not identify the survivors.

Officials for the first time identified the victims, including a group of six women and three of the group’s guides, two men and one woman. The six women were Carrie Atkin, 46; Liz Clabaugh, 52; Danielle Keatley, 44; Kate Morse, 45; Caroline Sekar, 45; and Kate Vitt, 43.

Family members, who had previously identified the women, said they were a friend group, including two sisters, who regularly took trips to the Lake Tahoe area. Several were from the Bay Area. The three guides, who worked for Blackbird Mountain Guides, were Andrew Alissandratos, 34; Michael Henry, 30; and Nicole Choo, 42.