TRUCKEE, Calif. — What began as a backcountry ski outing near Lake Tahoe ended in one of the deadliest avalanche incidents in recent California memory. Nine experienced skiers, including three professional guides, were killed when a massive slide struck Castle Peak on Tuesday.
By Saturday, authorities confirmed that all nine bodies had been recovered. The final victim had been missing for days, presumed dead as search crews battled relentless snowfall and dangerous white-out conditions. That skier was eventually found close to the others, but early visibility issues had delayed the discovery.
The avalanche swept through the group on Castle Peak, a well-known backcountry area in the Sierra. Recovery efforts were slowed not just by snow, but by the threat of more slides. Officials paused operations several times to protect search teams from unstable snowpack.
Helicopters from the California National Guard and the California Highway Patrol lifted the victims from the mountain. Snowcats were used to transport them further down. In a careful mitigation effort, crews released unstable layers of snow using water to lower the risk to rescuers working on steep terrain.
The large-scale operation involved the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Pacific Gas & Electric, and the Sierra Avalanche Center. Each agency played a role in navigating a rescue that quickly became a recovery mission.
The victims were identified as Andrew Alissandratos of Nevada, Nicole Chu of South Lake Tahoe, and Michael Henry of Tampa, Florida — all professional guides. The remaining six were Carrie Atkin of the Truckee-Tahoe area; Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and Kate Vitt of Marin County; Caroline Sekar of San Francisco; and Liz Clabaugh of Boise, Idaho.
All nine were considered skilled backcountry skiers. The guides made their living in the mountains. The others had experience traveling in avalanche terrain. Yet even experience has limits when nature shifts without warning.
The tragedy has left a deep mark on families and on the broader skiing community. Authorities continue reviewing the circumstances of the avalanche, underscoring the inherent risks of winter backcountry travel. In the high Sierra, beauty and danger share the same slope, and sometimes the line between them is razor thin.
