TRUCKEE — Six of the eight people confirmed dead in an avalanche earlier this week in the Sierra Nevada were identified Thursday afternoon.
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They were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, according to a statement released by their families.
“We are devastated beyond words,” the statement read in part. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women.
“They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors,” the statement read. “They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”
Authorities have said they would not publicly confirm the identity of anyone killed until after the bodies had been brought down the mountain, an operation that was still delayed Thursday due to blizzard conditions.
Check back for updates.