Six mothers who were close friends were among the eight people killed in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, officials announced.
Their families have shared their names, identifying them as: Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt.
The group of skiers and guides was returning to the trailhead from a three-day trip when the avalanche happened, according to astatementfrom Blackbird Mountain Guides. The company said it was responding to the incident and working to support the rescue operation.
In a statement, the families said the women were passionate, experienced backcountry skiers who lived in the Bay Area, Idaho and the Truckee-Tahoe region.
They explained that the eight friends were on a guided tour and were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
They said they are "devastated beyond words" about the loss of their loved ones and thanked first responders for their extensive rescue efforts.
The ski group involved has deep ties to the alpine recreation community in Lake Tahoe, including the elite Sugar Bowl Academy, which issued a statement late Wednesday mourning the loss of victims with "strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community."
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"We are an incredibly close and connected community," Sugar Bowl Academy executive director Stephen McMahon was quoted as saying in the statement. "This tragedy has affected each and every one of us."
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office said the rescued skiers were evacuated by the Truckee Fire Department, and two of them were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Conditions Before The Avalanche
TheSierra Avalanche Centerissued an alert on Tuesday, warning of a "widespread" cycle that could produce large avalanches. Anavalanche warningfrom the National Weather Service is in effect until Thursday morning.
A huge winter storm blasted the region with feet of heavy snow and dangerous wind gusts. That rapid snow accumulation, combined with gusty winds, weakened the snowpack, causing Tuesday's avalanche.
Persistent weak layers are the cause of mostavalancheaccidents, according toAvalanche.org.Their experts say it's because they can trigger avalanches long after the immediate danger of a storm has passed.
Several ski resorts around Lake Tahoe were fully or partially closed due to the extreme weather. The resorts along highways have avalanche mitigation programs and were not expected to be at as high a risk as the backcountry, where travel in, near or below the avalanche terrain was strongly discouraged, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.