Overview
- Crews recovered all nine bodies Saturday using California Highway Patrol and National Guard helicopters after avalanche mitigation that included controlled explosives and water releases.
- The slide struck Tuesday near Castle Peak during a guided three‑day trip from the Frog Lake huts with 15 skiers, leaving six survivors.
- Tahoe National Forest closed the Castle Peak area through March 15 to safeguard operations and public access.
- The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is examining possible criminal negligence, and Cal/OSHA opened a workplace-safety investigation into Blackbird Mountain Guides.
- Families named six close friends—Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt—and authorities identified guides Michael Henry, Andrew Alissandratos and Nicole Choo.