The Sierra Nevada Avalanche killed nine people – 6 mothers and 3 guides – on Sunday at 11:30a.m, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California. “A weekslong ‘snow drought’ in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada helped set the stage for Tuesday’s deadly avalanche, after several feet of new snow fell on an earlier layer that had hardened, making it unstable and easily triggered,” Craig Clements, an avalanche expert, said. Rescue teams rushed to the area to search for the people in the travel team, but unfortunately, 9 are confirmed dead.
Among the 9 victims, 6 are mothers and they are each other’s best friends. “They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors,” the families said. The New York Times reported, “They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.” All family members were in disbelief after they heard the news. Mr. Colbert, a member of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, said, “Frankly, we’re in shock.” He claimed, “Everybody knows everybody. It’s gut wrenching because so many people knew these moms.”
According to the authorities, the women embarked on a guided, two-night trip to the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts outside Truckee, Calif. Officials said the avalanche slide was triggered near Perry Peak, which is also close to Frog Lake and ran hundreds feet down to the bottom, with a steep slope. Out of the 15 people in the group, 12 were buried. The three members of the group who were not caught in the slide successfully dug out three of the people who were buried. In the end, 9 of the skiers – Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt, and 3 guides – Andrew Alissandratos, Michael Henry, and Nicole “Niki” Choo were killed.