MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. OKAY, MARICELA, THANK YOU. AND WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A 3D VIEW HERE TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE. AS WE ZOOM IN, THIS BACKCOUNTRY AREA IS JUST NORTH OF 80. IT IS THE CASTLE PEAK AREA, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT HERE. THEY DON’T GROOM THIS AREA BACKCOUNTRY THIS TIME OF YEAR. AND WE KNOW FROM BLACKBIRD, THE COMPANY THAT GUIDED THE TRIP. THE GROUP STAYED HERE AT THE FROG LAKE BACKCOUNTRY HUTS. THEY’VE BEEN THERE SINCE SUNDAY. IT’S REALLY TOUGH TO GET RESERVATIONS HERE THROUGH THE TAHOE DONNER LAND TRUST, BUT ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY SAY THE WAY TO GET THERE IS BY HIKING THROUGH HERE. THIS AREA RIGHT THROUGH HERE. AND WE DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S THE PATH THEY TOOK BECAUSE THEY WERE CAUGHT IN A STORM. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THESE ARE THE COORDINATES OF WHERE THAT AVALANCHE HAPPENED AND PRESUMABLY WHERE WE HAVE NINE SKIERS THIS HOUR WAITING TO BE RECOVERED. LISA. ALL RIGHT. WE WANT TO BRING IN KCRA 3’S BRIAN HICKEY RIGHT NOW. TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AS AN EXPERIENCED BACKCOUNTRY SKIER YOURSELF IN THIS RESCUE OPERATION THAT WE KNOW IS NOW A RECOVERY OPERATION. BRIAN? YEAH. LISA, I’VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OUT IN THIS AREA. I’VE NEVER STAYED AT THE FROG LAKE HUTS, BUT HAVE SKIED UP AND DOWN ANDESITE PEAK. CASTLE PEAK AND THE BACKSIDE OF THIS AREA WHERE IT’S CALLED PERRY’S POINT, BUT JUST NEVER DOWN INTO FROG LAKE. AND WONDERFUL AREA TO GO BACK COUNTRY SKIING WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT. AND WE KNOW YESTERDAY THE CREWS MADE IT OUT THERE. THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE EIGHT OF THE NINE VICTIMS IN THIS AVALANCHE. AND AS THEY CONFIRMED THIS MORNING USING AVALANCHE BEACONS, A TRANSCEIVER, ANYTIME YOU GO INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY, JUST LIKE A BICYCLIST WOULD WEAR A HELMET OR A KAYAKER WOULD WEAR A LIFE JACKET. WHEN WE GO INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY, WE ALWAYS WEAR OUR BEACON, WHICH IS HERE. I’LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE. WE BRING A PROBE WITH US AND A SHOVEL. THIS STUFF NORMALLY LIVES IN MY BACKPACK. I PULLED IT OUT FOR TO KEEP THINGS QUICK HERE FOR YOU. BUT HERE IS MY BEACON. I KEEP IT DOWN ON MY LOWEST LAYER SO THAT IF I HAVE TO SHED A LAYER TO STAY COOL, I’M NOT GOING TO LOSE MY BEACON. RIGHT NOW. I’M IN SEND MODE. I’M GOING TO SWITCH THIS TO RECEIVE. I HAVE A BEACON BURIED IN THE SNOW PILE BEHIND ME, SO WE’LL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS. NOW I’M IN SEARCH MODE. WE’RE GOING TO WAIT FOR IT. IT’S PICKED UP A SIGNAL. THIS IS ACTUALLY PICKED UP THREE BEACONS. THERE’S FOLKS NEARBY THAT ARE BEEPING RIGHT NOW. NORMALLY ON A DAY LIKE THIS, I WOULD SKI WITH MY BEACON IN THE RESORT AS WELL. I KNOW THAT MINE IS THE CLOSEST, SO I’M GOING TO FOLLOW THESE ARROWS STRAIGHT AHEAD RIGHT NOW. NOW IT’S LEADING ME TO THE RIGHT. IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE BEACONS SEND THE SIGNAL OUT IN A CURVED PATTERN. IT’S A MAGNETIC WAVE. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MAGNETICS. SO I’M FOLLOWING THAT WAVE IN. IT CIRCLED ME TO THE RIGHT. OKAY, NOW WE’RE GETTING CLOSE. LISTEN TO THE BEEP. IT’S OVER HERE. 1.6, 1.6. SO AT THIS POINT, I’M WITHIN THREE FEET. NOW I CAN JUST START AIMLESSLY DIGGING. BUT THIS IS THE POINT WHERE YOU START PROBING. YOU’RE LOOKING IN THE SNOW RIGHT HERE. NOW THAT’S NORMALLY WHAT YOU WOULD DO. I KNOW THAT I BURIED THE BEACON RIGHT HERE. SO THIS IS KIND OF A GIVE ME. BUT THE ARROW DID LEAD ME RIGHT TO THE BEACON. AND THIS COULD BE OUR OTHER VICTIM RIGHT HERE. AND SO THAT’S WHY THESE ARE THREE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT CRUCIAL FOR BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL AND WHAT THEY USE TO LOCATE THOSE VICTIMS. LAST NIGHT, THEY DID HAVE TO LEAVE THEM. THEY DID SAY THAT THEY LEFT THEIR PROBES THERE. AND THEY MARKED THOSE VICTIMS. YOU CAN SEE HOW TALL THIS IS. SO ANY NEW SNOW THAT COMES IN, ONCE THEY’RE ABLE TO SAFELY GO BACK OUT THERE, THEY’LL BE ABLE TO LOCATE AND RECOVER THOSE VICTIMS IN THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. BUT THIS PILE, OBVIOUSLY PUT HERE BY A SNOWPLOW IS NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAPPENS IN AN AVALANCHE. THAT SOFT, FLUFFY POWDER, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE HILL, AS SOON AS IT STOPS, IT SETS UP. IT’S VERY DENSE, VERY DIFFICULT TO DIG WITH YOUR HAND. ONCE YOU GET DOWN INTO SOME OF THOSE ICIER LAYERS. SO IT’S CRITICAL TO HAVE A SHOVEL AND THE NECESSARY TOOLS. AND THAT’S WHAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH IN WHITEOUT GALE FORCE WINDS LAST NIGHT. SO AGAIN, A TIP OF THE HAT TO THOSE RESCUERS THAT WENT OUT IN THOS
Bodies of 9 people caught in deadly California avalanche recovered
Nine bodies have been found during recovery efforts for the deadly Tahoe-area avalanche that took place earlier this week in California. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office hosted a news conference Saturday to provide updates on the Feb. 17 tragedy. Prior to Saturday, officials had said eight skiers were confirmed dead and a ninth was missing. Video above: Where the deadly Tahoe avalanche happened, how to use a probe and beacon in the backcountryShannan Moon, the Nevada County sheriff, identified the nine victims during the news conference: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, NevadaMichael Henry, 30, from Tampa Bay, Florida Carrie Atkin, 42, from South Lake TahoeLiz Clabaugh, 52, from Boise, IdahoDanielle Keatley, 44, from Marin CountyKate Morse, 45, from Marin County Caroline Sekar, 45, from San FranciscoKate Vitt, 43, from Marin County Alissandratos and Henry were guides at Blackbird Mountain Guides. The six women named were identified by their families on Thursday. One other person was identified during the news conference, but Hearst sister station KCRA is working to confirm the spelling of their name. The avalanche was the deadliest in California’s recorded history. Moon said she will not declare the recovery process complete until the responders have returned from the mountain. Watch the full news conference in the video player below. “We are devastated beyond words,” a statement from the families said Thursday when six women killed in the avalanche were identified. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”The statement said all were “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”They lived in the San Francisco Bay area, Idaho and the Truckee-Tahoe region.
Nine bodies have been found during recovery efforts for the deadly Tahoe-area avalanche that took place earlier this week in California.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office hosted a news conference Saturday to provide updates on the Feb. 17 tragedy. Prior to Saturday, officials had said eight skiers were confirmed dead and a ninth was missing.
Video above: Where the deadly Tahoe avalanche happened, how to use a probe and beacon in the backcountry
Shannan Moon, the Nevada County sheriff, identified the nine victims during the news conference:
- Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, Nevada
- Michael Henry, 30, from Tampa Bay, Florida
- Carrie Atkin, 42, from South Lake Tahoe
- Liz Clabaugh, 52, from Boise, Idaho
- Danielle Keatley, 44, from Marin County
- Kate Morse, 45, from Marin County
- Caroline Sekar, 45, from San Francisco
- Kate Vitt, 43, from Marin County
Alissandratos and Henry were guides at Blackbird Mountain Guides. The six women named were identified by their families on Thursday. One other person was identified during the news conference, but Hearst sister station KCRA is working to confirm the spelling of their name.
The avalanche was the deadliest in California’s recorded history.
Moon said she will not declare the recovery process complete until the responders have returned from the mountain.
Watch the full news conference in the video player below.
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“We are devastated beyond words,” a statement from the families said Thursday when six women killed in the avalanche were identified. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”
The statement said all were “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”
They lived in the San Francisco Bay area, Idaho and the Truckee-Tahoe region.
