Hundreds gather for vigil honoring Castle Peak avalanche victims

TRUCKEE, Calif. (KGO) -- A ample assemblage gathered Sunday nighttime successful Truckee, California, to retrieve the 9 radical who died successful Tuesday's avalanche astatine Castle Peak. Emotions ran precocious arsenic radical expressed their grief.

Voices were lifted successful grant of the 9 lives lost. The assemblage successful Truckee, a municipality known for its emotion of recreation, was rocked by the adjacent tragedy.

"Tonight we absorption our hearts connected those who are hurting most," said Courtney Henderson, Vice Mayor of Truckee. "Held by the hundreds of neighbors who showed up tonight. Because that is simply what we do. Because that is who we are."

MORE: Bodies of each 9 missing skiers successful deadly Castle Peak avalanche person been recovered, authorities say

Six friends who shared adventures successful skiing and motherhood, and 3 Blackbird Mountain Guides, were killed successful the deadliest avalanche connected grounds successful California.

"The families carrying those losses carnivore a value that is unbearable. What we cognize is that, nevertheless that grief is held tonight, it volition not beryllium held alone," said Henderson.

MORE: What we cognize astir 6 moms among 9 skiers killed successful Castle Peak avalanche

The 9 victims, respective of whom were from the Bay Area, were among a radical of 15 trapped successful the avalanche. Six others survived.

Blackbird Mountain Guides released a caller connection precocious Sunday night, mourning the 3 employees who died and speechmaking successful part: "We besides mourn the guests who mislaid their lives; individuals who shared a emotion of the outdoors and were portion of this close-knit upland community. We are heartbroken with everyone who is grieving during this profoundly hard time."

Dangerous upwind conditions delayed the hunt until Friday, erstwhile crews were yet capable to retrieve each 9 bodies and bring them home.