The identities of three of the eight backcountry skiers killed in a deadly avalanche at Lake Tahoe’s Castle Peak have been revealed.
Kate Vitt, a former Sirius XM radio executive and mother of two from Marin County, was the first avalanche victim identified Thursday.
Sisters were also identified as victims in the catastrophic event — Caroline Sekar, 45, and Liz Clabaugh, 52, were on a trip with friends from Stanford University when they got caught in the avalanche.
Kate Vitt
Caroline Sekar
Liz Clabaugh
The tragedy happened on the final day of a three-day excursion led by Blackbird Mountain Guides north of Lake Tahoe.
Four guides and 11 clients were struck by the avalanche around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.
The snowslide prompted a desperate rescue mission, with nearly 50 first responders heading to the scene using snowmobiles, snowcats and personal skis. Six of the 15 people were rescued — five women and one man — aged 30 to 55.
While eight people have been confirmed dead, a ninth is still missing and presumed dead.
Additional reporting by Matt Troutman