The families of six women killed in the worst avalanche in the United States in more than 40 years say they were all married mothers “connected by their love of the outdoors.”
In a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday, February 19, the families identified their loved ones as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt. On February 17, a group of 15 people were caught in an avalanche in a remote area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains outside Lake Tahoe, California. They were among eight people killed. The ninth person has not yet been rescued and is presumed dead, and there are six other survivors.
“Words cannot describe our grief,” the family said. “Our focus now is on supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women… who were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished their time together in the mountains.”
The women live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Lake Tahoe-Truckee area and Idaho.
The company that guides the women, Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides, is facing tough questions about why the backcountry adventure continues despite dire warnings about a storm expected to bring up to 8 feet of new snow and create “very dangerous” avalanches.
“We have a lot of unanswered questions,” the family said. “But what we know so far is this: Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry cabin trip to Frog Lake Cabin outside of Truckee, California. The trip was organized in advance. They were experienced backcountry skiers with a deep respect for the mountains. They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip.”
Here’s more from the families of the victims, as well as Blackbird Mountain Guides’ perspective on the tragedy.
Founder of Blackbird Mountain Guide: The guide is “experienced”
Zeb Blais, founder of Blackbird Mountain Guides, said in a statement on February 18 that the four guides who led the 11 guests into and through the wilderness were “extremely experienced.”
“We still know a lot about what happened,” he said. “It’s too early to tell, but the investigation is ongoing… We ask people in the aftermath of this tragedy not to speculate. We don’t have all the answers yet and it may be some time before we do.”
Bryce called the avalanche a “huge tragedy” and “the saddest event our team has ever experienced.”
“We are doing everything we can to support the families who have lost so many people, as well as the team members who have lost cherished friends and colleagues,” he said.
Bryce said all the guides are American Mountain Guides Association trained or backcountry ski certified and have extensive avalanche knowledge.
“In addition, on-site tour guides are communicating with senior tour guides at our base to discuss conditions and develop routes based on conditions,” he said.
Authorities are investigating the decision
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a press conference on February 18 that authorities were investigating “all” circumstances of the tragedy. This includes finding out why the trip was not cancelled.
“There are many predictions about this storm,” Moon said. “These are obviously decisions that the tour guide companies have made. We are still having conversations with them about the factors that went into their decisions.”
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Nevada City, California, February 18, 2026. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon answers a question during a press conference after a group of skiers disappeared after an avalanche in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
She said getting to the bottom of the main issues surrounding the tragedy is her top priority.
“I think that was at the core of my thinking and hopefully provide answers for the families who were affected, the tour guides who were there and the customers who paid for the tour,” she said.
Victims’ families: Relatives are “prepared for avalanches”
The families said in a statement Thursday that their loved ones were “equipped with full avalanche safety equipment.”
“We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for each other and our families the way we know these women would have wanted,” the families said. “We ask for privacy and space as our families grieve this sudden and profound loss.”
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the other victims of the avalanche.
This screenshot from video provided by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office shows a ski rescue team heading into an avalanche area in the Green Mountains area of Truckee, California, on February 17, 2026. Rescuers were searching for 10 skiers struck by avalanches in the California mountains on Tuesday, where a massive storm had dumped several feet of snow. (Photo by Handout/Nevada County Sheriff’s Office/AFP via Getty Images) / Editorial use only – Mandatory attribution “AFP Photo/Nevada County Sheriff’s Office/Handout” – Handout – No Marketing, No Advertising Events – Distributed as Customer Service Original File ID: 2261696114
Some of the victims were members of elite ski academies
Some of those killed were members of the elite Sugar Bowl Ski Academy, the school said in a statement. “Sugar Bowl Academy is committed to supporting its athletes, students, staff and families through this tragedy.”
Sugar Bowl Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school for competitive skiers in grades 8-12 located in Norden, California, near Lake Tahoe.
The academy focuses on developing high-level athletes, with graduates frequently transferring to the U.S. Ski Team and NCAA Division I programs. It has produced numerous elite ski athletes, notably for the U.S. and international ski teams, with eight alumni selected for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Notable alumni include World Cup champion Alice Robinson, U.S. Olympian Luke Winters and Freestyle Skiing World Tour champion Isaac Freeland.
“The Sugar Bowl Academy community will continue to provide support to families who have lost loved ones in the months and years ahead,” the school said.
“We are a very close and interconnected community. This tragedy has impacted every one of us,” said Executive Director Stephen McMahon. “The best thing we can do is provide care and support to our athletes and families while providing the necessary space and time to grieve and heal.”
Contributed by: Mike James, USA Today
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Family mourns 6 mothers killed in California avalanche: ‘Devastated’
