Newsom Loses Family, Friends In Lake Tahoe Avalanche: Report
A devastating avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada has left at least eight people dead and one more missing and presumed dead, marking one of the deadliest avalanche disasters in modern U.S. history.
The tragedy unfolded Feb. 17 near Castle Peak, just north of Lake Tahoe, when a powerful winter storm triggered a massive slide that struck a group of backcountry skiers returning from a guided multi-day excursion.
Deadly Storm Turns Routine Excursion Into Catastrophe
Authorities said the avalanche — estimated to be roughly the size of a football field — slammed into a group of 15 skiers near the Frog Lake huts. Six were rescued and transported to area hospitals, some suffering injuries. Eight bodies were located, while one individual remains missing and is presumed dead.
Rescue and recovery operations have been repeatedly delayed due to severe weather conditions and ongoing avalanche threats. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, local search-and-rescue teams, and California workplace safety investigators are continuing efforts to assess the scene and determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed reporters shortly after the tragedy, revealing that the loss struck close to home.
“It turns out, a lot of mutual friends in Marin County — I’m just learning [that] some of my wife’s old family friends were among the victims,” he said, per the American Tribune.
Victims Identified as Mothers, Professionals, Community Leaders
By late Thursday, six of the victims had been publicly identified — all women described as experienced backcountry skiers who were equipped with proper safety gear.
Among them were sisters Caroline Sekar, 45, and Liz Clabaugh, 52. Also killed were Kate Vitt, a mother of two and former vice president at SiriusXM, along with Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, and Kate Morse.
Families described the women as mothers, wives, and close friends bonded by their shared love of the outdoors.
“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,” the families said in a statement. The women were mothers, wives and friends who “connected through the love of the outdoors.”
The ski expedition had been organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, a professional guiding company that confirmed three of its own guides were also among those killed.
“This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced,” the company said in a statement.
Communities Mourn
In Larkspur, just north of San Francisco, neighbors grappled with the sudden loss of Danielle Keatley, who lived there with her family.
“She was just a great mom. I’d always see her with the kids, picking them up, just seemed like a great mom and a great family,” said resident Rob Bramble, whose daughter had babysat for the family.
Larkspur Mayor Stephanie Andre remembered Keatley fondly.
“She was warm, kind and exuded a special quality that drew people to her,” Andre said in a statement.
Morse, who worked in the biotech industry, lived north of San Francisco with her husband and three children. Vitt had previously worked at Pandora in addition to SiriusXM and resided with her husband and two sons. Atkin, a former corporate executive turned leadership coach, lived in Lake Tahoe with her husband and two children.
Area Closed Amid Ongoing Risk
Officials have closed portions of the Castle Peak area and the Tahoe National Forest through mid-March as avalanche risks remain elevated. Authorities are continuing mitigation efforts while awaiting safer conditions to complete body recovery operations.
The scale of the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable power of nature — even for experienced adventurers equipped with safety gear. As families and communities mourn, investigators will work to determine whether any additional safety measures or environmental factors contributed to one of the most catastrophic avalanche events in recent American memory.