Castle Peak, Calif. – The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Saturday the recovery of the ninth and final body from the site of a devastating avalanche that struck near Castle Peak on Tuesday, February 17th. The tragedy, which occurred approximately 14 miles west of Truckee, California, claimed the lives of nine backcountry skiers.
Sheriff Shannan Moon announced the recovery just before 11 a.m., stating, “Today I can confirm that we have recovered nine of our missing skiers.” Whereas expressing gratitude for the recovery, she emphasized that the search and rescue operation isn’t fully complete until all personnel involved are safely off the mountain. “We still have search and rescue staff and members out on the mountain so I’m not going to say our recovery mission is complete until all of our responders and folks that have really done an incredible job over the last several days, until they’re home back at the office. While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that People can bring them home.”
The recovery efforts were hampered by challenging weather conditions, limiting access to the victims’ location until Friday, according to Lt. Dennis Haack of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. He noted that PG&E assisted local authorities in developing an avalanche mitigation plan to prepare for the recovery operation. The group had reportedly attempted to leave the mountain earlier in the day.
The initial group consisted of 15 individuals, including four guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides. The avalanche tragically resulted in the deaths of nine people. Zeb Blais, founder of Blackbird Mountain Guides, released a statement on Wednesday expressing profound sorrow. “This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced,” Blais wrote, adding that the company mourns the loss of both six clients and three experienced guide team members. He also noted that all guides were certified instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE).
Authorities have released the names of those who perished in the avalanche. The victims include Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, Calif.; Elizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs, Calif. And Larkspur, Calif.; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs, Calif. And San Francisco; Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, Calif.; and Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs, Calif. And Tiburon, Calif. The three Blackbird Mountain Guides who died were identified as Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nev.; Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; and Michael Henry, 30, of Tampa, Fla.
Avalanche Conditions and Recovery Efforts
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has been assessing the Castle Peak avalanche site through aerial surveillance, as reported by ABC10. This assessment aimed to determine the conditions of the scene and the snowpack, and to explore the possibility of controlled avalanche mitigation. A controlled mitigation would involve using explosives to stabilize the snowpack, allowing first responders safer access to the area. Recovery efforts were paused Thursday due to hazardous weather, preventing the safe extraction of the victims.
Area Closure and Safety Concerns
The U.S. Forest Service has closed the Castle Peak avalanche site to the public until March 15th, as detailed in a Facebook post from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. The closure prohibits all access to National Forest lands between Castle Peak and the South Fork of Prosser Creek. Authorities strongly advise all unauthorized personnel to stay away from the area for their safety and the safety of the recovery crews. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of avoiding the area, both for public safety and to allow crews to work unimpeded.
The tragedy underscores the inherent risks associated with backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Avalanche danger remains a serious concern in the Sierra Nevada region, and authorities urge individuals to exercise extreme caution and be properly equipped when venturing into the backcountry. According to FOX40, ten backcountry skiers were initially reported missing following the avalanche on Tuesday.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office continues to coordinate with various agencies in the ongoing recovery efforts. The focus now shifts to supporting the families of the victims and ensuring the safety of those involved in the operation. As the investigation continues, authorities will likely examine the factors that contributed to the avalanche and assess potential measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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