Mourners held a heartbreaking vigil for the victims of the Lake Tahoe avalanche on Sunday night.
Volunteers set up the poignant memorial in the historic downtown of Truckee for those who perished in the devastating Castle Peak disaster.
Nine were killed when the snow slide last Tuesday, marking California’s worst avalanche tragedy since official records began.
The victims have been identified as six moms — Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt and Liz Claubaugh — along with three tour guides, all employees of Blackbird Mountain Guides: Michael Henry, Andrew Alissandratos and Nicole Choo.
Bolyn Hubby, a close friend of Morse opened up to the California Post at Sunday’s candlelit vigil about her grief.
“We were colleagues first at Vir Biotechnology and then friends,” revealed Hubby as she fought back tears.
“She was just the most wonderful person, the most wonderful friend, the most wonderful wife, the most wonderful mother. It was just such a tragedy, she loved her friends so much that she was with.”
Earlier Sunday nine “mercy hearts” bearing the names of those who died in the tragedy were installed under an eagle statue by the site of the vigil.
James Crasner, 72, a volunteer with the Lutheran Church Charities, told the Post: “It’s a place for them to focus their grief and maybe even share with other people who are grieving at the same time.”
The non-profit, based in Northbrook, Illinois, often helps out in times of tragedy and has a team of comfort dogs for support.
Crasner spoke of the “huge sense of loss” and the massive search for bodies and highlighted “the value of the people that were out there that were lost in the avalanche, and the families that are hurting.”
The hearts on display, with pens for people to write condolence messages, aim to “bring them a little comfort, a little compassion during a very bad time, a very sad time.”
He said: “This is kind of my community. I grew up around here. I was born in Grass Valley, just down the hill. But I’ve been up here many times.”
The group has been on-scene following countless disasters nationwide – including shootings, tornadoes, hurricanes and other events – such as the Monterey Park mass-shooting in 2023 at Star Ballroom Dance Studio when gunman Huu Can Tran, 72, killed 11 people and injured 19 others.
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Members of LCC and their support dogs were also in Uvalde, Texas, in the wake of the 2022 mass-shooting at Robb Elementary School by Salvador Ramos, a former student at the school, who fatally shot 19 students and 2 teachers, while injuring 18 others
“A lot of times it winds up being a focal point for the community – they bring flowers and candles,” added Crasner, a retired Army veteran.
“We’re here anytime somebody could use a little comfort, compassion and mercy during times of crisis or when they’re hurting or in need.” The wooden hearts are then given to families of the deceased.
Leaders of the Church of the Mountains in Truckee reached out to LCC for support as the shocked community processes the shocking loss of life.
Volunteer Bobby Moore, 52, escorted by comfort canine Rahab, a seven-year-old Golden Retriever, drove from Sacramento to help out.
“Our dogs are there usually within 24 hours,” Moore told the Post. “They were in Uvalde for five weeks altogether. We do hurricanes, tornadoes – anytime there’s a natural disaster or a man-made disaster, we get a call.”