The bodies of nine skiers killed in the deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe will remain on the snowbound mountain due to hazardous weather conditions, authorities said Thursday.
“Avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today,” the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday morning. “Recovery efforts are expected to carry into the weekend.”
The bodies of nine skiers killed in the deadly avalanche will remain on the mountain near Lake Tahoe due to hazardous weather conditions. REUTERSHere are the latest stories on the California Avalanche:
- First photo from site of deadly Lake Tahoe avalanche — as rescuer speaks out from snowed-in huts
- Mom from wealthy Bay Area enclave identified as victim in horrorific Tahoe avalanche
- Anatomy of the avalanche tragedy: how a ski trip turned into a deadly descent
- Ski academy rocked as ‘multiple’ Tahoe avalanche deaths linked to youth school parents
Authorities have not released any additional details beyond saying the nine victims were seven women and two men between the ages of 30 and 55. Three of the victims were ski instructors.
“Until the recovery mission is completed, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is unable to confirm the identifications, ages, affiliations, or cities of origin for the victims,” officials said.
One one of the victims was identified as a mother from the wealthy Bay Area enclave of Mill Valley, the city’s Mayor Max Perrey announced, adding that others in the ski group were also believed to be from Mill Valley.
“Our heart in Mill Valley goes out to the families that have been impacted,” Perrey said. “It’s a huge tragedy and a huge loss.”
Authorities have not released any additional details beyond saying the nine victims were seven women and two men Instagram/John Robert Gilchrist 380 postsNeighbors described the dead mother as having a “zest for life.”
“It’s devastating, I mean it’s Ski Week, she’s got two adorable little kids and we watch them just for the past couple of years walking back and forth from school,” Kim, a neighbor, told NBC Bay Area. “She has so much verve and zest for life and she was just a lovely neighbor.
The Sugar Bowl ski academy, an organization based near the avalanche site that trains skiers, confirmed that a group of mothers were among the victims. The connection between the Mill Valley group and the academy wasn’t immediately clear.
On Tuesday, a group of 15 skiers set out on a backcountry trip when they were struck by one of the deadliest avalanches in modern California history. REUTERSThe sheriff’s office said it was grateful to its “mutual aid partners” who helped “save the six lives and have continuously worked in adverse weather conditions in an effort to bring loved ones safely home.”
On Tuesday, a group of 15 skiers — 11 clients and four guides — set out on a backcountry trip when one of the deadliest avalanches in modern California history struck the group, killing nine and injuring six.
The group was on a private tour lead by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which is facing criticism for leading the group despite severe avalanche warnings.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said it was looking into the tour group after it chose to venture out in snowy conditions.
“Those are the decisions that the guide company clearly had made,” Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said. “We’re still in conversations with them on the decision factors.”
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