VIENNA, Feb 20 (Agencies): Six women killed in the deadliest avalanche in the US in decades were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced backcountry skiers and understood the dangers of the wilderness of California's Sierra Nevada, their families said Thursday.
Two of the friends got out alive and were rescued along with four others, including one guide, after Tuesday's avalanche. The three others who are dead or presumed dead were guides.
"We are devastated beyond words," the families said in a statement released through a spokesperson. "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 six killed lived in the Bay Area, Idaho and near Lake Tahoe. They are Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, the families said, asking for privacy as they grieve. They added that they "have many unanswered questions."
The families said the trip was well organized in advance and the women were equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
"They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains," the statement said. "They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip."
What the guides and their tour company knew about the warnings and risks from a powerful winter storm that blasted the mountains during the trip and why they pressed on is now part of investigations.
It will be at least another day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies and continue the search for the ninth person, said Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.
Meanwhile, Massive snowstorms caused power outages and transport chaos in Austria on Friday, forcing the Vienna airport to temporarily halt all flights.
Flights departing from the capital, a major European hub, were cancelled or delayed, and more than 230 arrivals were similarly disrupted or rerouted.
"Passengers whose flights have been delayed are asked not to come to the airport," the facility said in a statement.
The area received 20 centimetres (nearly eight inches) of snow, national news agency APA reported.
The main highway south of Vienna was closed for several hours, and other sections of highway were temporarily inaccessible because of snowdrift, stranded lorries or poor visibility, said the national automobile association, OAMTC.
