Partially redacted coroner's reports confirm all nine people killed in the Feb. 17 Lake Tahoe avalanche died of asphyxiation after being buried five to six feet under snow. The 15-person backcountry party — including clients and guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides — was struck by a large slide near Castle Peak during a historic blizzard despite severe avalanche warnings. Rescuers recovered eight victims the same day and located the ninth on Feb. 20. The Nevada County Sheriff's Office has closed its probe and forwarded its findings to the county prosecutor for standard review.
Coroner: All Nine Killed in Lake Tahoe Avalanche Died of Asphyxiation; Sheriff's File Sent to Prosecutor
Authorities this week confirmed that all nine people who died in the Feb. 17 avalanche near Castle Peak in the Lake Tahoe backcountry suffocated after being buried beneath roughly five to six feet of snow, according to partially redacted coroner's reports released Thursday.
The nine skiers killed in a horrific avalanche near Lake Tahoe in February all died of asphyxiation — as police wrapped their investigation into the devastating disaster. Sierra Avalanche Center
Incident and Immediate Response
The avalanche struck a 15-person backcountry party during a historic blizzard. A roughly 100-foot-wide slab broke loose and traveled about 400 feet down the slope, burying all but two members of the group. The party included clients and guides associated with Blackbird Mountain Guides; five members of the group — one guide and four clients — survived.
Danielle Keatley was identified as one of the victims of an avalanche in the backcountry of Lake Tahoe. Six of the nine people killed in the avalanche were among a group of outdoor-loving mothers who regularly traveled together. Facebook/John Gray Writer
Snow forecasters had issued severe avalanche warnings that day, urging the public to stay out of the backcountry because of extreme avalanche danger. Despite the advisory, the group was near Perry's Peak, a slope that was actively shedding snow when the large slide occurred.
Liz Clabaugh, who died in a Tahoe avalanche. Facebook/LizClabaugh
Survivors immediately attempted companion rescue, digging through debris and freeing four people before the worsening blizzard forced them to prioritize their own safety and tend to two injured skiers.
Guide Mike Henry. Henry teaches and guides splitboarding in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range. (blackbirdguides.com/) blackbirdguides.com/
Search, Recovery and Coroner Findings
Search-and-rescue teams were notified around 11:30 a.m. and reached the scene at approximately 5:36 p.m. Rescuers recovered eight victims on the first day; heavy snowfall and deteriorating conditions led crews to place bodies beneath a tarp, mark their locations with GPS and probe poles, and suspend full recovery for the night. Teams returned on Feb. 20, located the ninth victim, and airlifted all nine bodies to Frog Lake Huts, the backcountry lodging where the group had stayed prior to the avalanche. The remains were later transported by snowcat to a Truckee mortuary.
Carrie Atkin is pictured in connection with the Tahoe avalanche. Facebook/Carrie Atkin
Partially redacted coroner's reports list asphyxiation due to snow burial as the cause of death for each of the nine victims. Sections describing the condition of the bodies were redacted in the public releases.
AMGA Splitboard Guide Andrew Alissandratos. blackbirdguides.com/
Investigation and Next Steps
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office has closed its criminal investigation into possible negligence and forwarded its findings to the county prosecutor for review. A prosecutorial review is a standard next step and does not mean charges will necessarily be filed.
This photo shows Kate Vitt, a victim of the deadly avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada, on Saturday, June 24, 2023. (Courtesy Of The Vitt Family) AP
An incident report by the Sierra Avalanche Center — the agency that issued the avalanche warning — concluded the group violated established avalanche protocols while attempting to exit the backcountry. The report highlights the risk environment that day, including extreme danger forecasts and rapid snow movement on the slope.
Named in reporting and public records are victims Danielle Keatley, Liz Clabaugh and Kate Vitt. Guides and instructors associated with the region and the guiding community, including Mike Henry and AMGA splitboard guide Andrew Alissandratos, have been referenced in coverage; official files identify guides and clients but do not ascribe specific culpability beyond the investigative findings now with prosecutors.
Note: Officials continue to stress the importance of heeding avalanche forecasts and following established backcountry safety protocols, especially during severe weather and high-danger avalanche conditions.
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