Emotional Vigil for Lake Tahoe Avalanche Victims Captures Heartfelt Tributes and Tears

On Sunday evening, a deeply moving vigil was held to honor the victims of the tragic avalanche near Lake Tahoe.

Dedicated volunteers organized the heartfelt memorial in the historic center of Truckee to remember those lost in the catastrophic Castle Peak incident.

The avalanche, which occurred last Tuesday, claimed nine lives, marking it as California’s most severe avalanche tragedy since records started.

The victims included six mothers—Carrie Atkin, Kate Morse, Danielle Keatley, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt, and Liz Claubaugh—and three tour guides who worked for Blackbird Mountain Guides: Michael Henry, Andrew Alissandratos, and Nicole Choo.

At the candlelit vigil, Bolyn Hubby, a close friend of Morse, shared her sorrow with the California Post.

“We began as colleagues at Vir Biotechnology and then became friends,” Hubby shared, her voice heavy with emotion.

“She was just the most wonderful person, the most wonderful friend, the most wonderful wife, the most wonderful mother. It was just such a tragedy, she loved her friends so much that she was with.”

Earlier Sunday nine “mercy hearts” bearing the names of those who died in the tragedy were installed under an eagle statue by the site of the vigil.

James Crasner, 72, a volunteer with the Lutheran Church Charities, told the Post: “It’s a place for them to focus their grief and maybe even share with other people who are grieving at the same time.”

The non-profit, based in Northbrook, Illinois, often helps out in times of tragedy and has a team of comfort dogs for support.

Crasner spoke of the “huge sense of loss” and the massive search for bodies and highlighted “the value of the people that were out there that were lost in the avalanche, and the families that are hurting.”

The hearts on display, with pens for people to write condolence messages, aim to “bring them a little comfort, a little compassion during a very bad time, a very sad time.”

He said: “This is kind of my community. I grew up around here. I was born in Grass Valley, just down the hill. But I’ve been up here many times.”

The group has been on-scene following countless disasters nationwide – including shootings, tornadoes, hurricanes and other events – such as the Monterey Park mass-shooting in 2023 at Star Ballroom Dance Studio when gunman Huu Can Tran, 72, killed 11 people and injured 19 others.

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Members of LCC and their support dogs were also in Uvalde, Texas, in the wake of the 2022 mass-shooting at Robb Elementary School by Salvador Ramos, a former student at the school, who fatally shot 19 students and 2 teachers, while injuring 18 others

“A lot of times it winds up being a focal point for the community – they bring flowers and candles,” added Crasner, a retired Army veteran.

“We’re here anytime somebody could use a little comfort, compassion and mercy during times of crisis or when they’re hurting or in need.” The wooden hearts are then given to families of the deceased.

Leaders of the Church of the Mountains in Truckee reached out to LCC for support as the shocked community processes the shocking loss of life.

Volunteer Bobby Moore, 52, escorted by comfort canine Rahab, a seven-year-old Golden Retriever, drove from Sacramento to help out.

“Our dogs are there usually within 24 hours,” Moore told the Post. “They were in Uvalde for five weeks altogether. We do hurricanes, tornadoes – anytime there’s a natural disaster or a man-made disaster, we get a call.”