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

Crews dream to resume efforts Friday to retrieve nan bodies of 8 group killed and 1 still missing successful an avalanche successful California's Sierra Nevada aft days of vulnerable upwind that has hampered safe entree to nan area.

Six of nan group who died were portion of a close-knit group of friends who were knowledgeable backcountry skiers and knew really to navigate nan alpine wilderness, their families said Thursday. The 3 others who are dormant aliases presumed dormant were guides.

“We are devastated beyond words,” nan families said successful a connection released done a spokesperson. The women were mothers, wives and friends who “connected done nan emotion of nan 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 nan San Francisco Bay Area, successful Idaho and successful nan Lake Tahoe area. The families asked for privateness while they grieve.

The names of nan different victims person not been released.

Two from nan group of friends survived and were rescued on pinch 4 others, including a guide.

Avalanche warnings were group to expire early Friday, and dryer and milder conditions were predicted for nan weekend, according to nan Sierra Avalanche Center.

The descent is nan deadliest successful nan 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 nan large wind were intensifying. By early Tuesday, officials cautioned that avalanches were expected.

What nan guides and their circuit institution knew astir nan warnings and why they pressed connected is now portion of investigations by section authorities and a authorities agency that regulates workplace safety.

Avalanche information experts opportunity it is not uncommon for backcountry skiers to spell retired erstwhile location is an avalanche watch aliases moreover a warning.

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

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

“These were immoderate knowledgeable guides that were retired there, and that’s what’s moreover much concerning and disturbing,” he said astatine a news convention Thursday.

Sekar and Clabaugh were sisters, their brother, McAlister Clabaugh, told The New York Times. Sekar was a mother 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 safe and are pinch their father, Geoff, arsenic they navigate this profound loss,” according to The New York Times.

Atkin lived pinch her hubby and 2 children and was a erstwhile firm executive and Division I Track & Field athlete, according to her activity coaching website.

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

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

___

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.