Featured Image: Steve Shannon / Skier: Jason Remple / Location: Stellar Heli Skiing, Kaslo, BC

It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we report the deaths of three industry staples—Jeff Keenan, Jason Remple and Alex Pashley.

On Monday, March 24, 2025 at approximately 12:30 p.m., the group of riders, including Clay Mitchell of CK9 Studios who was critically injured in the slide, were awaiting pickup at a staging area below treeline on the east side of Kootenay Lake with a second group of Stellar Heli Skiing guests when a transport heli pilot approaching the Clute Creek zone spotted the slide and alerted the groups below. Only one of the groups was able to move out of the slide path in time.

Despite a quick rescue response—Kaslo Search and Rescue received a call at 12:45 p.m. and made it to the scene shortly thereafter with all four riders on top of the snow—three of the four victims were unresponsive.

“By the time our team had got there, there had been four people who were buried in the avalanche, all four of the subjects were removed from the snow and were on top of the snow,” Manager of Kaslo Search and Rescue Mark Jennings-Bates told the Vancouver Sun, adding that “one was responsive and three had no vital signs.” Mitchell was immediately transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

While it is important to note the avalanche rating for the day, which was high across all aspects and elevations due to significant warming, it’s just as important to note that all four of these riders were veterans of the industry with decades worth of knowledge and experience under their belts. This is a tragic story of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The incident, which happened near Kaslo, is under investigation by the B.C. Coroners Service. Stellar has suspended all operations and extends its deepest sympathies to all affected.

Remembering Those We Lost

Jason Remple, 53, was the owner and lead guide of Stellar Heli Skiing since the operation first opened its doors in 2005. Remple is survived by his wife and co-owner, Kerry Luckey. The two purchased the Kaslo Hotel in 2022 for accommodations to their operation.

Jeff Keenan, 44, was a professional snowboarder out of Whistler and founder of Dinosaurs Will Die snowboards. Keenan is survived by his partner of over 20 years, Leanne Pelosi, and their son Khyber. No matter if you rode sideways or forward-facing on two sticks, Keenan is remembered as being a confidant to many in the mountains.

Alex Pashley, 45, was the global sports marketing manager (snow) for The North Face. Previously, Pashley had worked for Salomon, Rossignol, Dragon, Slash, and Smartwool. He was a marquee member of the Driggs, Idaho snow community and is survived by his wife, Erin, and two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Dale and Rainer.

FREESKIER extends its deepest condolences to everyone affected by this devastating loss. This is a developing story, and FREESKIER will update this article as more details emerge.