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Deadly Sierra Avalanche Claims 9 Skiers
19 Feb
Summary
- Nine skiers, including a SiriusXM executive, died in a California avalanche.
- Rescue efforts were hampered by hazardous weather conditions for days.
- Guides were alerted to avalanche warnings hours before the incident.
Nine skiers, identified as seven women and two men, perished in a catastrophic avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Among the deceased was SiriusXM executive Kate Vitt, a mother of two. The victims were on a guided backcountry ski trip when a severe storm hit, triggering the deadly avalanche.
Rescue and recovery operations were significantly challenged by hazardous weather conditions, preventing the immediate extraction of the deceased from Castle Peak mountain. Officials anticipated the mission would extend into the weekend.
Investigations are underway into the circumstances surrounding the trip, including whether guides were aware of avalanche warnings issued by the Sierra Avalanche Center. The warnings indicated high avalanche risk in the 24 to 48 hours preceding the incident.
The guided tour was organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which has launched its own investigation and temporarily suspended operations. The company stated that guides were trained and certified, and communicated with senior guides about conditions.
Many of the victims were reportedly mothers with ties to the Sugar Bowl Academy, an elite ski school in the Lake Tahoe area, compounding the tragedy for the close-knit community.
