🚨 OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION: Authorities have now recovered ALL 9 bodies from the Castle Peak avalanche and released the heartbreaking identities of the victims – including three expert guides and six incredible moms who were living their dream in the Sierra Nevada! 😢🏔️

What started as a guided backcountry adventure to Frog Lake Huts turned into California’s deadliest avalanche in modern history… a massive slide burying the group amid brutal storms, leaving families shattered and communities in mourning. Names now out:

Nevada County authorities on Saturday confirmed the recovery of all nine bodies from a massive avalanche that struck a guided backcountry ski group in the Castle Peak area of Tahoe National Forest on February 17, 2026, marking the conclusion of a grueling five-day search operation hampered by severe winter storms.

Sheriff Shannan Moon announced during a press conference that the final four bodies were recovered Saturday morning, following five retrieved the previous evening. The avalanche, described as roughly the size of a football field, occurred amid heavy snowfall and high winds in the Sierra Nevada northwest of Lake Tahoe, claiming what officials say is the deadliest slide in modern California history.

The victims, part of a 15-person group on a multi-day trip led by Blackbird Mountain Guides, included six women clients and three professional guides. Authorities identified them in alphabetical order as:

Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada (Blackbird Mountain Guide)
Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California
Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, California (Blackbird Mountain Guide)
Lizabeth “Liz” Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho
Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs, California (Blackbird Mountain Guide)
Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California
Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California
Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California
Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California

Six survivors from the group were rescued earlier in the week, with some assisting in initial locating of victims before hazardous conditions delayed full recovery efforts.

The group had been staying at the Frog Lake Huts for a two-night excursion and was en route back when the slide hit on a north-facing slope near Perry Peak. Heavy snow accumulation – up to 8 feet in parts of the region, with 3-6 feet near the incident site – combined with wind loading and variable conditions contributed to the instability, according to preliminary reports from the Sierra Avalanche Center and officials.

Rescue operations involved multiple agencies, including Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, California National Guard helicopters, California Highway Patrol Air Operations, and others. Aerial surveys, avalanche mitigation, and ground teams were required due to ongoing risks and poor visibility. Whiteout conditions prevented comprehensive searches until Friday, when recovery began in earnest.

Family statements released earlier in the week described the six women as close friends – many mothers connected through communities in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee-Tahoe region – who were passionate, skilled skiers cherishing time together in the mountains. Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh were sisters, adding a deeper layer of family tragedy. Caroline’s husband, Kiren Sekar, previously spoke of her spending her final days “doing what she loved best” with loved ones.

Tributes highlighted individual lives: Kate Vitt, a mother of two young boys in Marin County’s Kentfield School District; Danielle Keatley, remembered for her devotion as a wife and mother; Carrie Atkin, a local in the Truckee-Tahoe area; Kate Morse and others bonded over outdoor adventures. The guides – Andrew Alissandratos, Michael Henry, and Nicole Choo – were experienced professionals from Blackbird Mountain Guides, a Truckee-based company.

Blackbird Mountain Guides issued statements expressing grief and cooperation with investigations. Founder Zeb Blais noted the company’s response to the incident, while emphasizing the inherent risks of backcountry travel.

The tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of guided backcountry operations in high-risk conditions. Cal/OSHA is investigating potential workplace safety aspects involving the guides, and broader questions surround route selection amid an active avalanche warning for the Lake Tahoe region. The warning, in effect from early February 17, highlighted likely large avalanches capable of burying vehicles or structures.

South Lake Tahoe’s mayor noted 14 snow-sports-related deaths in the area this month alone, urging caution, respect for boundaries, avalanche forecasting, and vigilance. Officials stressed the mountains’ dual nature – a place of sanctuary yet unforgiving in heavy accumulations and variable snowpack.

Community response has included memorials in Truckee, Marin County, San Francisco, and beyond. Support networks for families have formed, with many expressing heartbreak over the loss of vibrant individuals pursuing joy in nature.

As the recovery concludes, focus shifts to investigations into contributing factors, including weather, terrain choices, and group preparations. No criminal charges have been announced, but the scale of the loss has fueled discussions on enhancing safety protocols for guided tours in the backcountry.

For the families, the confirmed identities bring some closure amid profound grief. The names now etched in public record serve as a somber reminder of lives cut short in pursuit of adventure. Authorities continue to thank the dozens of responders and partner agencies whose efforts made the recoveries possible under extreme conditions.

The Sierra Nevada remains blanketed in snow, beautiful yet perilous. This incident underscores the need for preparation, awareness, and respect for nature’s power in an area long known for its allure to outdoor enthusiasts.