‘It appears that a number of mutual friends in Marin County again, I’m just learning that some of my wife’s old family friends’ were among those who died, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, reflecting on a loss that extended into his own social circle.
The disaster occurred during a guided backcountry ski tour near Castle Peak, just outside Truckee in the Tahoe National Forest. Newsom referenced it during a separate Bay Area event, using the occasion to remind people heading into the mountains to take avalanche warnings seriously. Newsom said the event was “just tragic,” and that what troubled him most was that the skiers were experienced.
The group had been making their way back from a hut trip near Frog Lake when an avalanche swept through the steep and isolated area. Nine deaths were later confirmed, and the bodies were eventually recovered after storms made it difficult to access the area, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Conditions were hazardous for rescue workers, with unstable snow and severe weather that at times forced a halt to recovery efforts.
Among the dead were six friends Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Kate Vitt who were remembered in public statements by their families as “mothers, wives, and friends.” They issued a statement saying that the women were “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains,” and asked for privacy as children and family members coped with the loss. The families also noted that the women were experienced backcountry skiers who “deeply respected the mountains,” and were trained and equipped for travel in avalanche terrain, with full safety gear.
The names of the three guides were also made public: Andrew Alissandratos, Michael Henry, and Nicole “Niki” Choo, who were described as guides for Blackbird Mountain Guides by officials. The company later stated that it was mourning the loss of colleagues whose lives were centered on sharing the mountains with others, as well as the clients who died with them.
Even in well-organized excursions, avalanche terrain can condense decision-making into minutes while weather changes by the hour. Snowfall, wind-loading, and layer changes in the snowpack can produce unstable slabs that fail with little warning. The fact that such conditions exist, together with the emotional appeal of a well-planned excursion with friends, goes a long way in explaining why experienced skiers rely so heavily on cautious route selection, constant evaluation, and a willingness to turn back. The families’ press release emphasized that the group had carefully planned the professionally guided excursion well in advance and trusted the guides’ judgment on route and timing.
There were several investigations that followed, including an independent workplace safety investigation of the guides who were on the excursion. Cal/OSHA confirmed that it had opened a workplace safety investigation related to the guide service, while local officials stated that they were also looking into the circumstances of the incident.
Newsom’s message remained focused and personal: “Warnings are important, storms are a game-changer, and experience doesn’t eliminate risk.”
