6 mothers who 'cherished time together' among victims in avalanche near Lake Tahoe

At slightest six victims person been identified successful the tragic avalanche incidental connected Tuesday that killed up to 9 radical successful Sierra Nevada, adjacent Lake Tahoe, California.

Six of the victims were among a radical of outdoor-loving mothers who regularly traveled together. A associated connection from the affected families identified the women arsenic Kate Vitt, Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and sisters Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh.

"We are devastated beyond words," the families said successful the statement. "Our absorption close present is supporting our children done this unthinkable calamity and honoring the lives of these bonzer women." 

All the women were described arsenic "mothers, wives, and friends, each of whom connected done the emotion of the outdoors."

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

Kate Vitt was a SiriusXM enforcement and parent of two. (Kate Vitt/X)

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said during a quality league Wednesday that authorities had told the families the ngo had shifted from rescue to recovery.

"They were connected their mode backmost to campy erstwhile the avalanche really hit," Moon said, adding that it took hunt and rescue crews hours to find the archetypal fewer survivors.

The radical of women, astir of whom resided adjacent California, were reportedly seasoned backcountry skiers. They were reportedly well-trained, afloat prepared, and equipped with avalanche information gear.

"They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished clip unneurotic successful the mountains," the families' connection said. "They lived successful the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee–Tahoe region."

They expressed being "heartbroken" and said they are doing their champion to enactment 1 different and their families successful the mode they judge the mothers would person wanted.

Caroline Sekar was identified arsenic 1 of the deceased successful Tuesday's Lake Tahoe avalanche.  (Caroline Sekar/Facebook)

McAlister Clabaugh, the member of Sekar and Clabaugh, told The New York Times that Sekar, 45, was a parent of 2 who lived successful San Francisco. 

Liz Clabaugh, 52, served arsenic a postgraduate caregiver residency programme coordinator astatine St. Luke’s Health System successful Boise, Idaho, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Vitt, a San Francisco resident, held positions astatine SiriusXM and Pandora, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Several members of the radical were besides connected to Sugar Bowl Academy, an elite boarding and time schoolhouse for competitory skiers and snowboarders that has counted aggregate Olympians among its alumni.

"This calamity has affected each and each 1 of us. The extent of enactment for the families whose lives person been changed everlastingly reminds america of however peculiar this assemblage is," Executive Director Stephen McMahon said.

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

Caroline Sekar taking a selfie portion skiing. (Caroline Sekar/Facebook)

The Feb. 17 avalanche adjacent Castle Peak successful the Sierra Nevada mountains became the deadliest successful California’s history.

Authorities reported that the calamity progressive a radical of 15 backcountry skiers, including 11 clients and 4 guides, connected a multi-day guided expedition organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides.

Eight radical were confirmed dead, with 1 further idiosyncratic presumed dead.

"We are profoundly grateful for the extended rescue efforts by Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and each of the authorities involved, and for the outpouring of enactment from the Tahoe assemblage and beyond," the families said successful the statement.

"We are heartbroken and are doing our champion to attraction for 1 different and our families successful the mode we cognize these women would person wanted," they added. 

To proceed betterment efforts for the last missing individual, authorities announced Thursday that each National Forest lands and trails astir Castle Peak volition beryllium closed for astir 1 month, from Feb. 20 done March 15.

This representation provided by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office shows members of a rescue squad successful Soda Springs, California connected Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (Nevada County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Authorities emphasized that exigency unit whitethorn request to usage snowfall machines, craft and adjacent explosives during the operations.

"Due to the existent instability of the snowpack and request to prioritize archetypal responder entree to the area, members of the nationalist are prohibited from entering the closure country during hunt and rescue operations," the U.S. Forest Service-Tahoe National Forest said.

"It is our apical precedence to guarantee the information of archetypal responders during this betterment ngo and assistance successful the instrumentality of each unfortunate to their families," Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Chris Feutrier added successful a statement. "Our deepest condolences to the families that person mislaid their loved ones from this tragic incident. Our sincere appreciation to each archetypal responders, instrumentality enforcement and partners that are supporting this recovery." 

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The avalanche marks the deadliest successful the U.S. since 1981, erstwhile 11 climbers were killed connected Mount Rainier successful Washington state. It is besides the 2nd deadly descent adjacent Castle Peak this twelvemonth aft a idiosyncratic connected a snowmobile was buried successful January.