California avalanche victims identified: 6 mothers killed in Sierra Nevada

A minimum of six victims have been recognized within the tragic avalanche incident that killed as much as 9 folks within the Sierra Nevada Mountains close to Lake Tahoe, California.

Six of the victims have been amongst a bunch of moms who cherished the outside and often traveled collectively. A joint assertion from the affected households recognized the ladies as Kate Vitt, Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse and sisters Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh.

“We’re devastated,” the households stated in an announcement. “Our focus now could be on supporting our youngsters by way of this unimaginable tragedy and honoring the lives of those extraordinary ladies.”

All the ladies have been described as “moms, wives and mates, all related by a love of the outside.”

8 SKIERS FOUND DEAD, 1 MISSING AFTER HUGE LAKE TAHOE AVALANCHE

Kate Vitt was a SiriusXM govt and mom of two youngsters. (Kate Vitt/X)

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon stated at a information convention Wednesday that authorities advised households the mission had shifted from rescue to restoration.

“They have been on their approach again to camp when the avalanche truly hit,” Moon stated, including that it took search and rescue personnel hours to seek out the primary few survivors.

The group of ladies, most of whom lived close to California, have been reportedly skilled backcountry skiers. They have been reportedly effectively skilled, absolutely ready and outfitted with avalanche security gear.

“They have been passionate, skilled skiers who frolicked collectively within the mountains,” the households’ assertion stated. “They lived within the Bay Space, Idaho and the Truckee-Tahoe space.”

They stated they have been “heartbroken” and stated they’re doing their finest to assist one another and their households in the way in which they consider the moms would have needed.

Caroline Sekar was recognized as a kind of killed in Tuesday’s Lake Tahoe avalanche. (Caroline Sekar/Fb)

McAlister Clabaugh, brother of Sekar and Clabaugh, told The New York Occasions reported that Sekar, 45, was a mom of two and lived in San Francisco.

Liz Clabaugh, 52, was a nursing residency program coordinator at St. Luke’s Well being System in Boise, Idaho, based on her LinkedIn profile.

Vitt, a San Francisco resident, held positions at SiriusXM and Pandora and was a mom of two, based on her LinkedIn profile.

A number of members of the group have been additionally related to the Sugar Bowl Academy, an elite boarding and day college for aggressive skiers and snowboarders that has counted a number of Olympians amongst its alumni.

“This tragedy has affected us all, and the outpouring of assist for the households whose lives have been eternally modified reminds us how particular this neighborhood is,” stated Government Director Stephen McMahon.

2 SKIERS KILLED IN AVALANCHE ON POPULAR MONT BLANC SKI ROUTE NEAR THE FRENCH-SWISS BORDER

Caroline Sekar takes a selfie whereas snowboarding. (Caroline Sekar/Fb)

The February 17 avalanche close to Fort Peak within the Sierra Nevada Mountains turned the deadliest in California historical past.

Authorities stated the tragedy concerned a bunch of 15 backcountry skiers, together with 11 shoppers and 4 guides, on a multi-day guided expedition organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

Eight folks have been confirmed lifeless, whereas another individual was presumed lifeless.

“We’re extraordinarily grateful for the in depth rescue efforts of Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and all authorities concerned, and for the outpouring of assist from the Tahoe neighborhood and past,” the households stated within the assertion.

“We’re heartbroken and doing our greatest to look after one another and our households within the methods we all know these ladies would have needed,” she added.

To proceed restoration efforts for the most recent lacking individual, authorities introduced Thursday that every one Nationwide Forest areas and trails round Fort Peak will probably be closed for roughly a month, from February 20 by way of March 15.

This picture courtesy of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Workplace exhibits members of a rescue crew in Soda Springs, California on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Nevada County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP)

Authorities pressured that emergency personnel might have to make use of snow machines, airplanes and even explosives throughout the operations.

“As a result of present instability of the snowpack and the necessity to prioritize first responder entry to the world, the general public is prohibited from coming into the closed space throughout search and rescue operations,” the U.S. Forest Service-Tahoe Nationwide Forest stated.

“It’s our high precedence to make sure the security of first responders throughout this restoration mission and help within the return of every sufferer to their households,” Tahoe Nationwide Forest Supervisor Chris Feutrier added in an announcement. “Our deepest condolences to the households who misplaced their family members to this tragic incident. Our honest appreciation to all first responders, regulation enforcement and companions supporting this restoration.”

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The avalanche is the deadliest within the US since 1981, when 11 climbers died on Mount Rainier in Washington state. It’s also the second deadly slide at Fort Peak this 12 months, after an individual on a snowmobile was buried in January.