Six backcountry skiers, including a San Francisco mother, identified among deadly Castle Peak Tahoe avalanche victims
What is confirmed so far
Authorities in Nevada County are continuing recovery operations following a fatal avalanche in the Castle Peak area near Donner Summit that struck a professionally guided backcountry ski group on February 17, 2026. Officials have said eight people are confirmed dead, with one additional person still missing and presumed dead. Six people survived.
Families have publicly identified six of the victims as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt. The families described the women as experienced backcountry skiers and mothers who were equipped with avalanche safety gear and traveling as part of a close-knit group of friends.
San Francisco connection and community impact
Caroline Sekar, identified by family members and others as a San Francisco resident, was among those named. The wider group had ties across the Bay Area, the Truckee–Tahoe region and Idaho, deepening the ripple effects across multiple communities with strong connections to Sierra winter sports.
The loss has been felt acutely within regional youth ski circles, where several of the victims had family links through children’s programs. Schools and local organizations connected to the Donner Summit ski community have been supporting families and students affected by the deaths.
The trip, the terrain, and what remains unknown
The avalanche occurred as the group was returning from an overnight hut-based backcountry itinerary centered on the Frog Lake area outside Truckee. The trip involved multiple guides and more than ten clients, and it was organized in advance as a multi-day backcountry outing. The guiding company involved has confirmed it is cooperating with the sheriff’s office and has paused field operations while official work continues.
Key details about the avalanche itself—including the precise path, contributing snowpack factors, and the sequence of decisions immediately before the slide—have not been fully established publicly. Any formal reconstruction will likely depend on field observations, rescue reports, weather and snowpack records, and interviews with survivors once conditions and investigations allow.
Weather delays and the response effort
Recovery and investigative efforts have been slowed by dangerous winter conditions in the central Sierra, including heavy snowfall, strong winds and high avalanche danger. Regional travel disruptions have compounded the challenges for responders, and officials have indicated that safe access to the site has been intermittent.
Search-and-rescue teams from multiple agencies participated in the initial response and survivor assistance under hazardous conditions. Officials have continued to emphasize safety constraints for crews operating in or near active avalanche terrain.
Date and location: February 17, 2026, Castle Peak area near Donner Summit.
Confirmed toll: Eight dead; one missing and presumed dead; six survivors.
Identified victims (six): Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt.
Families of the victims have asked for privacy as recovery efforts continue and more details emerge through official processes.