6 mothers who cherished time together” killed in tragic Lake Tahoe avalanche
As the Sierra Nevada mountains settle into a somber silence following the deadliest avalanche to strike the United States in over forty years, the harrowing task of piecing together the final moments of nine backcountry skiers has begun. While many technical questions regarding the disaster remain unanswered, the veil of anonymity is lifting, revealing the identities of the extraordinary women who perished in Tuesday’s catastrophic slide near Lake Tahoe.
What was intended to be a celebratory backcountry expedition near Castle Peak has left a community shattered. Among the confirmed fatalities is a inseparable group of mothers whose bond was forged in the rugged beauty of the outdoors—a tradition of sisterhood and adventure that ended in an unimaginable tragedy.
A Sisterhood Bound by the Peaks
In a poignant joint statement released Wednesday, the families of the victims identified six of the women who were swept away. They were Kate Vitt, Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, and sisters Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh.
The group, comprised of women from California, Idaho, and the immediate Truckee–Tahoe region, were far from novices. Loved ones described them as seasoned backcountry skiers who were fully equipped with modern avalanche safety gear and a deep respect for the terrain.
“We are devastated beyond words,” the families shared in their collective statement. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives, and friends who connected through the love of the outdoors. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”
The Final Descent: A Trip Turned Tragic
The details provided by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office paint a grim picture of the incident’s timing. The women were part of a larger, 15-person guided multiday expedition. According to Sheriff Shannan Moon, the group was not in the midst of a dangerous descent but was actually transitioning back to their base camp when the slope gave way at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time.
“They were on their way back to camp when the avalanche actually hit,” Sheriff Moon confirmed, noting the logistical nightmare faced by first responders. It took rescue teams hours to reach the remote site and locate the first survivors.
As of Friday, eight individuals are confirmed dead, with one skier still missing and presumed deceased. This catastrophe now stands as the deadliest avalanche in California’s recorded history and the most lethal event of its kind in the United States since 1981. Consequently, the mission has officially transitioned from a search-and-rescue operation to a recovery effort.
Lives Defined by Service and Family
The victims represented a vibrant cross-section of their communities. Kate Vitt, a resident of Marin County and a mother of two, was a former high-level executive at SiriusXM. Her death has sent shockwaves through the Bay Area, where neighbors have begun rallying to support her husband and children.
The tragedy struck a double blow to one family with the loss of Caroline Sekar, 45, and Liz Clabaugh, 52. Sekar was a devoted mother of ktwo living in San Francisco, while her sister, Clabaugh, served as a graduate nurse residency coordinator in Boise, Idaho.
In an emotional interview with The New York Times, their brother struggled to articulate the magnitude of the loss. “I’m just devastated. These are two of the best people I’ve ever known,” he said. “They were incredible sisters, mothers, wives, and friends. The idea that they are both gone is—I don’t even know how to put it into words.”
The loss has also deeply impacted the Sugar Bowl Academy, a prestigious competitive ski school with which several members of the group were closely connected. Executive Director Stephen McMahon expressed the collective grief of the mountain community, stating, “The depth of support for the families whose lives have been changed forever reminds us of how special this community is.”
Recovery Hampered by the Elements
The recovery process remains fraught with danger. Unstable snowpacks and harsh weather conditions continue to threaten the safety of personnel from Nevada County Search and Rescue and Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue. To protect these first responders, authorities have taken the extraordinary step of closing public access to the Castle Peak area through mid-March.
Despite the agonizing wait, the families have expressed profound gratitude for the massive multi-agency response. “We are profoundly grateful for the extensive rescue efforts… and for the outpouring of support from the Tahoe community and beyond,” the statement continued.
As the investigation into the cause of the slide continues, those left behind are focused on a singular goal: maintaining the legacy of the women who lived as fiercely as they loved. “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.”