Rescue teams in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains have recovered the body of the ninth and final missing skier, concluding a five-day search operation following the deadliest avalanche in modern state history. The tragedy struck a 15-person backcountry skiing group near Lake Tahoe’s Castle Peak area last Tuesday, claiming the lives of nine individuals including three professional guides and six clients bound by close friendships and family ties.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon officially confirmed the completion of recovery efforts during a Saturday news conference, releasing the names of all victims. The deceased included six clients: Carrie Atkin (46, Soda Springs), Lizabeth Clabaugh (52, Boise, Idaho), Danielle Keatley (44, Soda Springs/Larkspur), Kate Morse (45, Soda Springs/Tiburon), Caroline Sekar (45, Soda Springs/San Francisco), and Katherine Vitt (43, Greenbrae). The three guides from Blackbird Mountain were identified as Andrew Alissandratos (34, Verdi, Nevada), Nicole Choo (42, South Lake Tahoe), and Michael Henry (30, Soda Springs).
The catastrophic event unfolded as the group returned from a three-day guided expedition, hit by an avalanche spanning an American football field’s dimensions with devastating force—carrying eight feet (2.4 meters) of snow and 90 mph winds. Six members survived the initial impact, with two escaping completely unharmed. These survivors immediately entered what officials described as “frantic mode,” managing to excavate three buried companions who unfortunately did not survive.
Search and recovery operations faced extreme challenges due to persistent white-out conditions and ongoing avalanche risks. High winds prevented helicopter deployment for several days, forcing crews to wait until Friday when conditions marginally improved. Authorities then implemented a unique mitigation strategy, using helicopters to pour water over the unstable snowpack before sending ground teams to locate the final victim.
Sheriff Moon expressed both grief and gratitude, stating, “While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home.” The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has initiated an investigation into potential criminal negligence related to the incident, though details remain undisclosed. The two unharmed survivors are expected to provide critical testimony in reconstructing the sequence of events leading to this tragic outcome.