Featured Picture: Steve Shannon / Skier: Jason Remple / Location: Stellar Heli Snowboarding, Kaslo, BC
It’s with extremely heavy hearts that we report the deaths of three business staples—Jeff Keenan, Jason Remple and Alex Pashley.
On Monday, March 24, 2025 at roughly 12:30 p.m., the group of riders, together with Clay Mitchell of CK9 Studios who was critically injured within the slide, have been awaiting pickup at a staging space beneath treeline on the east facet of Kootenay Lake with a second group of Stellar Heli Snowboarding company when a transport heli pilot approaching the Clute Creek zone noticed the slide and alerted the teams beneath. Solely one of many teams was capable of transfer out of the slide path in time.
Regardless of a fast rescue response—Kaslo Search and Rescue acquired a name at 12:45 p.m. and made it to the scene shortly thereafter with all 4 riders on high of the snow—three of the 4 victims have been unresponsive.
“By the point our group had bought there, there had been 4 individuals who have been buried within the avalanche, all 4 of the topics have been faraway from the snow and have been on high of the snow,” Supervisor of Kaslo Search and Rescue Mark Jennings-Bates informed the Vancouver Solar, including that “one was responsive and three had no very important indicators.” Mitchell was instantly transported to the hospital and stays in essential situation.
Whereas you will need to word the avalanche ranking for the day, which was excessive throughout all features and elevations because of important warming, it’s simply as vital to notice that each one 4 of those riders have been veterans of the business with many years value of data and expertise underneath their belts. It is a tragic story of merely being within the unsuitable place on the unsuitable time.
The incident, which occurred close to Kaslo, is underneath investigation by the B.C. Coroners Service. Stellar has suspended all operations and extends its deepest sympathies to all affected.
Remembering These We Misplaced
Jason Remple, 53, was the proprietor and lead information of Stellar Heli Snowboarding because the operation first opened its doorways in 2005. Remple is survived by his spouse and co-owner, Kerry Luckey. The 2 bought the Kaslo Resort in 2022 for lodging to their operation.
Jeff Keenan, 44, was knowledgeable snowboarder out of Whistler and founding father of Dinosaurs Will Die snowboards. Keenan is survived by his companion of over 20 years, Leanne Pelosi, and their son Khyber. Regardless of should you rode sideways or forward-facing on two sticks, Keenan is remembered as being a confidant to many within the mountains.
Alex Pashley, 45, was the worldwide sports activities advertising and marketing supervisor (snow) for The North Face. Beforehand, Pashley had labored for Salomon, Rossignol, Dragon, Slash, and Smartwool. He was a marquee member of the Driggs, Idaho snow group and is survived by his spouse, Erin, and two Bernese Mountain Canines, Dale and Rainer.
FREESKIER extends its deepest condolences to everybody affected by this devastating loss. It is a growing story, and FREESKIER will replace this text as extra particulars emerge.
