Guides led group into dangerous terrain prior to California’s deadliest avalanche, report says
By Kurtis Ming
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California (KCRA) — The Sierra Avalanche Center has released its final report on California’s deadliest avalanche, revealing that guides led a group into avalanche terrain during dangerous conditions on the Feb. 17 trip near Lake Tahoe.
Nine of the 15 people in the group died in the avalanche. The Sierra Avalanche Center’s final report states the slide occurred in an area that was “likely or very likely” to experience an avalanche that day.
For the first time, it has been revealed that some of the people caught in the avalanche had airbag backpacks that were not deployed. These backpacks are designed to create a space to breathe when trapped under snow.
The Sierra Avalanche Center said an equipment problem likely saved the lives of four of the survivors. Two fell behind the rest of the group and then helped dig out two other survivors.
Four guides with Blackbird Mountain Guides led the group on that backcountry trip near Frog Lake. Five guests and one guide survived.
The victims of the deadly avalanche were:
Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, Nevada Michael Henry, 30, from Tampa Bay, Florida Nicole “Niki” Choo, 42, from South Lake Tahoe 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
Since 1950, California has experienced 57 fatal avalanches.
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