Three experienced skiers were killed, and a fourth was critically injured, after being caught in an avalanche in British Columbia on March 24. The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. in the Kootenay Lake region, as reported by several outlets, including The Canadian Press, The Vancouver Sun, and CTV News.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the victims were a 53-year-old guide from Kaslo, a 44-year-old man from Whistler, and a 45-year-old man from Idaho. A fourth skier, a 40-year-old from Nelson, B.C., survived but was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
The avalanche was spotted by a transport helicopter near the scene, and the pilot immediately sounded the siren. While one group of skiers was able to escape the danger, a second group of four was swept into the tree line, the RCMP said in a statement. The group had just finished skiing in a bowl area on the east side of Kootenay Lake and was waiting at a staging area when the avalanche struck.
Mark Jennings-Bates, manager of Kaslo Search and Rescue, described the skiers as “very, very proficient.” His team arrived to find all four buried in the snow. “One was responsive, while the other three showed no vital signs,” he said.
The skiers were part of a guided group with Stellar Heli Skiing, a company that confirmed the tragedy. In a statement, the company said the avalanche occurred in the Clute Creek watershed near Kaslo. “The entire team at Stellar Heli Skiing extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy,” the statement read.
The victims have been identified as Jason Remple, 53, owner and lead guide of Stellar Heli Skiing; Jeff Keenan, 44, a professional snowboarder; and Alex Pashley, 45, an employee of The North Face and a veteran snowboarder. Pashley was the Global Sports Marketing Manager (Snow) for the company.
The avalanche occurred on a day when Avalanche Canada issued a High (Level 4) avalanche danger rating for the Kootenay Lake region, warning of potential risks at all elevations.
This tragic event highlights the inherent dangers of backcountry skiing, even for the most experienced athletes.