The families of six women killed in the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. in over 40 years say all of them were married mothers who “connected through the love of the outdoors.”
In a statement send to USA TODAY on Thursday, Feb. 19, the families identified their loved ones as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt. They were among eight killed when an avalanche struck their party of 15 in the backcountry of California’s Sierra Nevada just outside Lake Tahoe on Feb. 17. A ninth person has not been recovered and is presumed dead, while there were six survivors.
“We are devastated beyond words,” the family members said. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women … They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”…