NORTH LAKE TAHOE — Families of six women who died in a deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe have broken their silence, sharing heartbreaking tributes and revealing the identities of their loved ones as the community continues to mourn one of the most devastating backcountry accidents in decades.
The avalanche struck Castle Peak this week, killing eight people and leaving one person still missing and presumed dead. A group of 15 skiers — most of them women — had been on a planned three-day backcountry skiing trip when the slide occurred in challenging high-elevation terrain near Frog Lake Huts.
In statements released through family members, the six women killed have been identified as:
- Carrie Atkin
- Liz Clabaugh
- Danielle Keatley
- Kate Morse
- Caroline Sekar
- Kate Vitt
“There wasn’t a single person in that group who wasn’t full of life, love, and joy,” one relative shared. “They were all mothers, wives, and friends — all of whom were connected through the love of the outdoors.”
The women came from different parts of the western United States, including the Bay Area of California, the Truckee-Tahoe region, and Boise, Idaho. Among the victims were two sisters — Liz Clabaugh of Boise and Caroline Sekar, a mother of two from San Francisco — who were traveling together with close friends from college. Their brother, McAlister Clabaugh, said the family is struggling to comprehend losing both sisters in the same tragedy.
“The idea that they are both gone is, I don’t even know how to put it into words,” Clabaugh said, emphasizing that the family is asking for privacy as they grieve.
One of the victims was married to a member of a local backcountry search and rescue team, officials said, and ski community groups across Northern California expressed profound sorrow over the losses. Members of the skiing world — including those affiliated with Sugar Bowl Academy, a private ski school near Donner Summit — described the deceased as pillars of the outdoor community.
“The Tahoe backcountry community is incredibly close and connected,” said Stephen McMahon, executive director of Sugar Bowl Academy. “This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.”
Avalanche conditions in the Sierra Nevada had been rated as elevated on the day of the incident, and crews are continuing to work cautiously, as ongoing risk has delayed recovery operations. Rescue teams are preparing to resume efforts once conditions allow, particularly in the challenging terrain around Frog Lake.
Family statements emphasized that the women were experienced backcountry skiers who respected the mountain environment. “They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip,” one family statement read, noting that the group had planned the excursion well in advance and was fully equipped with avalanche safety gear.
As families focus on supporting the children and spouses left behind, public memorials have begun to take shape near the Tahoe area, with friends and community members gathering to pay tribute.
“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,” families said in a joint message, underscoring the deep bonds shared among the group.
Officials have not yet named the two other victims killed in the slide or the individual still missing. The investigation into the conditions that led to the avalanche remains active, and additional updates are expected as search and recovery operations continue.
