Crews hope to resume recovery of 8 bodies from California avalanche after days of dangerous weather

SODA SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Crews anticipation to resume efforts Friday to retrieve the bodies of 8 radical killed and 1 inactive missing successful an avalanche successful California's Sierra Nevada aft days of unsafe upwind that has hampered harmless entree to the area.

Six of the radical who died were portion of a close-knit radical of friends who were experienced backcountry skiers and knew however to navigate the alpine wilderness, their families said Thursday. The 3 others who are dormant oregon presumed dormant were guides.

“We are devastated beyond words,” the families said successful a connection released done a spokesperson. The women were mothers, wives and friends who “connected done the emotion of the outdoors,” they said, and were carrying avalanche information instrumentality and prepared for backcountry travel.

The six were identified arsenic Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, and they lived successful the San Francisco Bay Area, successful Idaho and successful the Lake Tahoe area. The families asked for privateness portion they grieve.

The names of the different victims person not been released.

Two from the radical of friends survived and were rescued on with 4 others, including a guide.

Avalanche warnings were acceptable to expire aboriginal Friday, and dryer and milder conditions were predicted for the weekend, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

The descent is the deadliest successful the U.S. since 1981, erstwhile 11 climbers were killed connected Mount Rainier successful Washington state.

The 15 skiers began their three-day travel Sunday conscionable arsenic warnings astir the tempest were intensifying. By aboriginal Tuesday, officials cautioned that avalanches were expected.

What the guides and their circuit institution knew astir the warnings and wherefore they pressed connected is present portion of investigations by section authorities and a authorities bureau that regulates workplace safety.

Avalanche information experts accidental it is not uncommon for backcountry skiers to spell retired erstwhile determination is an avalanche ticker oregon adjacent a warning.

Blackbird Mountain Guides, which was starring the expedition, said the guides who were connected the trek were trained oregon certified successful backcountry skiing and instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. While successful the field, guides “are successful connection with elder guides astatine our base, to sermon conditions and routing based upon conditions,” laminitis Zeb Blais said successful a statement.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said immoderate of his wife's “old household friends” were connected the trip. The Newsoms person a location successful Marin County, wherever immoderate of the radical connected the travel lived. His bureau did not instantly supply much details.

“These were immoderate experienced guides that were retired there, and that’s what’s adjacent much concerning and disturbing,” helium said astatine a quality league Thursday.

Sekar and Clabaugh were sisters, their brother, McAlister Clabaugh, told The New York Times. Sekar was a parent of 2 who lived successful San Francisco, and Liz Clabaugh worked for St. Luke’s Health System successful Boise, Idaho, according to her LinkedIn page.

Vitt lived successful San Francisco and worked antecedently astatine SiriusXM and Pandora, according to her LinkedIn page. The Kentfield School District sent an email to families Wednesday saying that her 2 sons “are harmless and are with their father, Geoff, arsenic they navigate this profound loss,” according to The New York Times.

Atkin lived with her hubby and 2 children and was a erstwhile firm enforcement and Division I Track & Field athlete, according to her enactment coaching website.

Some members of the radical had ties to the elite Sugar Bowl Academy, a backstage boarding and time schoolhouse for competitory skiers and snowboarders whose erstwhile students see aggregate Olympians.

One of the victims was joined to a subordinate of a backcountry hunt and rescue squad successful the area, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said.

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Watson reported from San Diego, and Golden from Seattle. Associated Press writers John Seewer successful Toledo, Ohio; Matthew Brown successful Billings, Montana; R.J. Rico successful Atlanta; and Christopher Weber successful Los Angeles contributed.

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