You step into a story that begins with a single, devastating moment on the slopes and quickly expands into a wider loss felt across families and communities. Six women who were mothers and close friends were identified among nine killed or presumed dead after a powerful avalanche near Lake Tahoe, a tragedy that has left surviving family members focused on supporting the children and honoring those lives.
They traveled together on a backcountry skiing trip when the storm-hit terrain turned deadly, and the account that follows will trace who they were, how the avalanche unfolded, and how rescue and investigation efforts responded to the disaster.
Six Mothers Lost: Honoring The Victims
Six women who died in the Castle Peak avalanche were close friends, experienced backcountry skiers, and mothers rooted in the Bay Area, Truckee–Tahoe region, Boise and Marin County. Their families say they planned the trip together years ago and trusted professional guides for a two-night hut outing when the storm hit.
Their Lives and Backgrounds
Caroline Sekar, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse and Kate Vitt lived active lives split between family, work and mountain sports. Several called the Truckee–Tahoe area or the Bay Area home; one family lived in Boise and another in Marin County.
They skied together regularly and belonged to overlapping social and ski communities. Some coached or mentored younger athletes, and a few had ties to Sugar Bowl Academy as students, parents, or alumni networks.
Each woman balanced parenting with outdoor pursuits, and their families describe them as practiced in backcountry travel. They carried avalanche safety equipment and accepted the guide company’s expertise when they booked the hut trip.
Community Connections
The victims’ deaths reverberated across multiple communities: Bay Area neighborhoods, the Truckee–Tahoe ski scene, Boise local circles, and the Sugar Bowl Academy community. School staff, teammates and parents from Sugar Bowl Academy issued statements of grief and offered long-term support to affected athletes.
Local rescue teams, volunteer organizations and neighboring towns mobilized after the avalanche, reflecting how interconnected winter recreation communities are in the region. Fundraisers and memorials appeared quickly in Marin County and Truckee, showing practical support for the families.
These communities emphasized shared memories — winter weekends, coaching sessions, and family traditions — underscoring how the women’s friendships strengthened broader local bonds.
Family Statements and Support
Families described the six women as married mothers who “cherished time together” and asked for privacy while focusing on their children. They emphasized the women’s experience in backcountry skiing and that they trusted the professional guides for the trip.
Officials and the guiding company confirmed investigations are underway, while families requested space to grieve and requested that attention center on caring for the victims’ children. Community offers included counseling, childcare assistance, and financial contributions to immediate needs.
Public statements from relatives and local institutions stressed practical support — coordination of school care, legal and logistical help, and long-term plans to maintain the children’s stability in the months ahead.
Avalanche Details and Response
The avalanche struck a steep east-facing slope on Castle Peak near Frog Lake Huts during a multiday guided expedition. Rescue teams and local authorities mobilized quickly, but deep snow, stormy weather and terrain complexity made operations hazardous and slow.
Timeline of the Castle Peak Tragedy
The group departed for a backcountry trip from the Truckee–Tahoe region over a weekend, traveling toward high country huts and routes near Donner Summit. On Tuesday morning, while ascending a bowl below Castle Peak, a large slab released and swept across the travel line, engulfing members of the party within seconds.
Local 911 dispatch alerted the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Placer County authorities within minutes. Nevada County Search and Rescue and Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue teams arrived later that morning and worked with volunteer squads from neighboring counties. Helicopter support faced weather delays, limiting aerial reconnaissance early in the response.
By afternoon, search teams used avalanche transceivers, probes and search dogs to locate victims. Multiple people were extricated, but several were critically buried. Officials later confirmed nine people were killed or missing and presumed dead, six of whom were mothers identified by families.
The Guided Ski Trip and Expedition
The party consisted of experienced backcountry skiers on a multiday guided expedition tied to high country huts and routes. Reports indicate the group included professional guides affiliated with a guiding service and clients who were veteran backcountry travelers. The route choice near Castle Peak is known for steep terrain and avalanche-prone slopes, especially after recent storm cycles.
Participants reportedly carried standard avalanche safety gear: beacons, probes, shovels and some carried airbags. Blackbird Mountain Guides and other regional operators emphasize terrain management and group spacing, but in this event multiple skiers were caught in the same avalanche path. Organizers later noted challenging weather and rapidly changing snowpack conditions that increased objective avalanche hazard.
Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Search and rescue operations combined local sheriff’s deputies, Nevada County Search and Rescue teams, Tahoe Nordic volunteers, and Placer County resources under coordination by Sheriff Wayne Woo. Ground teams used probes and transceivers; canine units assisted in locating buried victims. Helicopters were tasked when weather allowed for medevac and reconnaissance.
Recovery required digging through deep, wind-packed snow and dangerous runout zones. Teams prioritized safety, implementing roped travel and terrain safety briefings to protect rescuers from secondary slides. American Mountain Guides Association and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education protocols informed scene management and decision-making during operations.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations
Authorities continue to investigate the avalanche dynamics, snowpack history and decision points leading up to the slide. Investigators will review trip planning, route selection, guide qualifications and adherence to industry standards for professional guides. Agencies may consult avalanche experts, including instructors certified by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, to analyze slab characteristics and trigger mechanisms.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and partnering agencies will compile an incident report and may issue safety advisories for backcountry travel in the Truckee–Tahoe region. Families, community groups and guide organizations are discussing changes to risk management, training and client screening following the tragedy.
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