All Nine California Avalanche Victims Recovered After Five-Day Operation

Tragedy Strikes Sierra Nevada Backcountry

The bodies of all nine backcountry skiers caught in a massive avalanche near Castle Peak, north of Lake Tahoe, California, have been recovered, concluding a challenging five-day search and recovery operation. The avalanche, which occurred on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, claimed the lives of six clients and three professional mountain guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides. This incident has been described by authorities as the deadliest avalanche in modern California history.

A group of 15 skiers, including four guides, was on a three-day backcountry tour when the avalanche struck. Six individuals from the group were rescued shortly after the event.

Challenging Recovery Efforts

The recovery operation, led by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, faced severe obstacles due to the powerful atmospheric river storm that triggered the avalanche. Deep snowpack, high winds, and whiteout conditions significantly hampered initial efforts.

Numerous agencies collaborated in the extensive search, including the California Highway Patrol, National Guard, California State Parks, Placer County Sheriff's Office, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Truckee Police Department, United States Forest Service, and the Pacific Gas and Electric utility company. A Black Hawk helicopter was instrumental in the final stages of the recovery.

Eight bodies were initially located on Tuesday, but treacherous conditions prevented their immediate retrieval. The final bodies were recovered on Saturday, February 21, 2026, bringing the difficult operation to a close.

Victims Identified

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon formally identified the nine victims. The three guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides were:

• Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada
• Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, California
• Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs, California

The six clients who perished were:

• Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California
• Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho
• Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California
• Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California
• Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California
• Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California

Sheriff Moon extended her condolences to the families, stating, 'There are no words that truly capture the significance of this loss and our hearts mourn alongside the families of those affected by this catastrophic event.'