The families of six of the women killed in the horrific avalanche north of Lake Tahoe have broken their silence, revealing their heartache and the identities of more of the victims.
Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt and Liz Claubaugh all died Tuesday in the tragic event, and their loved ones united to release a statement Thursday.
Carrie Atkin holding her child.Facebook/Carrie Atkin
Caroline Sekar wearing goggles and a hat on a snowy trail.Facebook/Caroline Sekar
“We are devastated beyond words.Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women,” the statement said.
“They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains. They lived in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee–Tahoe region.”
Kate Vitt and her husband.X/@KateVitt
Liz Claubaugh and a man stand smiling with a snow-covered mountain and frozen lake in the background.Facebook/LizClabaugh
While the families said they still have many unanswered questions surrounding the shocking deaths, they laid out some more details on what happened leading up to the fateful trip.
“Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake Huts outside Truckee, California. The trip had been organized well in advance. They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains,” the statement continued.
Motorists try to drive through snow along Interstate 80 during a storm near Camp Spaulding in Placer County, California.AP
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“They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.”
“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,” the statement concluded.
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Heartbreaking tributes online from friends also referred to the women as a group of “supermoms.”
Rescuers revealed conditions on the mountain Thursday prevented them from recovering the bodies of those who were killed.
In total, 11 skiers and four guides made the trip; eight of those people are dead and one is still missing yet presumed dead. Six people were rescued from the mountain after the avalanche, five women and one man ages 30 to 55.
