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4w ago

Three Heli-Skiers Killed in British Columbia Avalanche as Investigations Continue

The Clute Creek disaster highlights ongoing avalanche risks in the region, with unstable snowpack and rising temperatures posing significant dangers.

The RCMP logo shown in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A naturally-triggered persistent slab avalanche in the Kootenays is shown in an undated handout photo. Avalanche Canada has issued a special warning covering much of northwestern and southwestern British Columbia as well as the Rockies stretching into Alberta, as "dangerous" conditions have developed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Avalanche Canada, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Image
Alex Pashley, left, and Jeff Keenan, right, were killed in an avalanche in B.C. on March 24.

Overview

  • An avalanche on March 24, 2025, in the Clute Creek watershed near Kootenay Lake claimed the lives of three heli-skiers and left one critically injured.
  • The victims included Alex Pashley, a North Face employee, Jeff Keenan, a professional snowboarder, and Jason Remple, a guide and owner of Stellar Heli Skiing.
  • The group was swept away while waiting in a staging area below the tree line; a transport helicopter pilot’s siren allowed another group to escape.
  • Avalanche Canada had issued a high-danger warning for the region, citing unstable snowpack and rising temperatures as key risk factors.
  • Authorities, including Kaslo RCMP and Search and Rescue, are investigating the incident as part of broader concerns over backcountry avalanche safety.