Nine Victims Identified After Fatal Avalanche at Castle Peak in Tahoe National Forest

Authorities have confirmed the identities of the final three victims killed in the catastrophic avalanche that struck near Castle Peak in the Tahoe National Forest on February 17, bringing the total death toll to nine.

In an official statement, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office announced that all nine bodies have now been recovered following a complex two-day effort hampered by dangerous weather conditions and unstable snowpack.

Five victims were recovered on the evening of February 20, and the remaining four were located and recovered on the morning of February 21.

The final three victims were identified as professional mountain guides affiliated with Blackbird Mountain Guides.

They are Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, California; and Michael Henry, 30, of Soda Springs, California.

All three were experienced backcountry professionals leading or assisting the ski expedition at the time of the avalanche.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon expressed condolences in a public statement, saying the magnitude of the loss has deeply affected families, friends, colleagues and the broader mountain community.

She emphasized that the grief extends far beyond the immediate circle of loved ones.

Earlier in the week, six other victims had been identified. They 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; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California.

Family representatives described the six women as mothers, wives and close friends who shared a deep bond rooted in their love of the outdoors and backcountry skiing.

According to statements released on behalf of the families, the group had carefully planned the three-day backcountry skiing trip in advance and were experienced, well-equipped and trained for mountain travel.

They were traveling with professional guides and carried avalanche safety gear.

The avalanche struck as the group was concluding their trip near Frog Lake Huts in the Castle Peak area.

Six members of the larger party survived, enduring hours buried or stranded in snow and extreme cold before rescue teams reached them.

Authorities initially confirmed eight fatalities, while one skier remained missing and presumed dead until recovery operations concluded.

Search and recovery efforts were conducted by Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and multiple regional agencies.

Crews faced severe weather conditions and unstable terrain, which delayed access to the avalanche site.

The families of the six mothers released a joint statement expressing both gratitude and heartbreak.

They thanked rescue teams and the Tahoe community for their support while acknowledging the profound grief and unanswered questions left in the wake of the disaster.

They stated they are now focused on supporting the children and loved ones affected and honoring the lives of those lost.

The February 17 avalanche is being described as one of the deadliest in the United States in decades.

Officials continue to review the incident, while the mountain community across California, Nevada and Idaho mourns the loss of nine lives taken in a single catastrophic event.