Six Women Killed in Lake Tahoe Avalanche Identified as Close Friends, Skilled Skiers

 The Lake Tahoe region is reeling after a deadly avalanche claimed the lives of six women on February 17, 2026, all identified as close friends and experienced backcountry skiers. The victims—Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Kate Vitt—were part of a guided group returning from Frog Lake Backcountry Huts near Castle Peak when a massive slab avalanche, roughly the size of a football field, swept through the area. 

Sisters Liz Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar were among those killed. The tragedy marks the deadliest avalanche in California’s modern history, with a total of eight fatalities and one person still missing and presumed dead.

The group consisted of 15 people—11 clients and four guides from Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides—on the final day of a three-day ski trip amid heavy snow and gusts reaching 60 mph. Families described the women as “mothers, wives, and friends” bonded by their love for the mountains, emphasizing privacy as they mourn their sudden loss.

Rescue teams braved near-whiteout conditions, skiing two miles to reach six survivors. Those survivors had already discovered three of the bodies before help arrived. Two were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Recovery efforts have been slowed by hazardous weather, with another foot of snow forecasted through Friday. Crews are marking burial sites using avalanche poles, but the slide path has “reloaded” with fresh snow, creating dangerous conditions for rescuers. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon warned that recovery operations could extend into the weekend.

The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued a high-risk warning that day, noting that both natural and human-triggered slides were likely to bury skiers. Some victims were affiliated with Sugar Bowl Academy, a prestigious ski program.

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health has launched an investigation into Blackbird Mountain Guides. The guides involved were certified by the American Mountain Guides Association, underscoring the professionalism and experience of those leading the trip.

The Lake Tahoe community and skiing world are uniting in grief, honoring the women’s passion for the mountains and the tight-knit friendships that made their lives so profoundly connected.