Avalanche survivors tried to dig friends out of giant snow pack, went into ‘frantic mode’

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 told CBS 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.”

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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.

He added: “We sent two teams in from two directions. We needed a rescue team for those teams, in the event that an avalanche was triggered.”

The families of six of the women killed in the avalanche broke their silence on Thursday night, revealing their devastation at the news.

A statement read: “We are devastated beyond words. 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. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains. They lived in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee–Tahoe region.”

While the families said they still have many unanswered questions surrounding the shocking deaths, they laid out some more details on what happened leading up to the fateful trip.

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They said: “Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake Huts outside Truckee, California.

“The trip had been organized well in advance. They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains.

“They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.

“We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted.”

Heartbreaking tributes online from friends also referred to the women as a group of “supermoms.”

Rescuers said conditions on the mountain on Thursday prevented them from recovering the bodies of those who were killed.