Survivors tried to dig their friends out of deep snow when a deadly avalanche struck near Lake Tahoe, it has been revealed.
The group managed to pull three victims out of the giant pack, but they did not survive, Nevada County Undersheriff Sam Brown said on Thursday.
California was in mourning after eight people were killed in the Tuesday slide, with another still missing and presumed dead.
Six women have so far been identified, named as Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt and Liz Claubaugh.
Six people were rescued from the mountain after the avalanche, which included five women and one man aged 30 to 55.
Brown revealed harrowing new details of what happened during the disaster, and said the group appeared to go into “frantic mode.”
He toldCBS News: “They went into, I think, frantic mode of trying to find their friends and partners. And they were ultimately able to unbury three individuals who did not survive.”
He continued: “Uncovering people who are deceased, that they know and probably cared about, is just horrible.”
Brown said Castle Peak had been hit with eight feet of snow and 90mph winds which had taken the backcountry skiers and their guides by surprise.
He also outlined how the rescue operation was progressing, saying a skeleton team is staying up on the mountain and trying to make a path for additional rescuers.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
