3 ‘Very Proficient’ Skiers Killed in British Columbia Avalanche

Three skiers were killed and a fourth was critically injured after they were swept away by an avalanche in British Columbia, Canada.

The deadly incident happened just before 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 24, reports The Canadian Press, The Vancouver Sun and CTV News.

The British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the skiers killed were a 53-year-old guide from nearby Kaslo, a 44-year-old man from Whistler and a 45-year-old man from Idaho, per The Canadian Press. The sole survivor, whom authorities said was a 40-year-old man from Nelson, B.C., was in critical condition and airlifted to a hospital.

Heli-skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing or snowboarding where the skier reaches the top of the mountain by helicopter, instead of a ski lift, per Wikipedia. It is often done in remote areas.

“A transport helicopter was nearing the group when the pilot observed an avalanche and sounded the siren,” the B.C. RCMP said in a statement Tuesday, March 25, per CTV News. 

“One group of skiers was able to run out of harm’s way, while the other group of four was swept away into the tree line,” the statement continued. 

According to reports, the group of skiers had just finished in a bowl area on the east side of British Columbia’s Kootenay Lake and were waiting at a staging area below when the avalanche. 

Mark Jennings-Bates, manager of Kaslo Search and Rescue, described the skiers as “very, very proficient,” per The Canadian Press.

“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,” Jennings-Bates said. “One was responsive and three had no vital signs.”

The skiers were with Stellar Heli Skiing, which confirmed the tragedy in a statement.

“At approximately 12:30 PST on March 24, 2025, a fatal avalanche occurred within the Stellar Heli Skiing tenure in the Clute Creek watershed near Kaslo, British Columbia,” the company said. “The incident involved a guided group of skiers who were caught in the avalanche while heli-skiing.”

“The entire team at Stellar Heli Skiing extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement concluded.

The North Face identified the 45-year-old Idahoan as employee Alex Pashley. A veteran snowboarder, Pashley was the Global Sports Marketing Manager (Snow) for the athletic apparel and equipment company, Ski Magazine reported.

The other victims as Stellar Heli Skiing owner and lead guide Jason Remple, 53, and professional snowboarder Jeff Keenan, 44, per Ski Magazine. The Vancouver Sun also confirmed all three deceased skiers’ identities.

On Monday, a High (Level 4) avalanche danger rating was issued by Avalanche Canada for all elevations in the Kootenay Lake region, per Ski.

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The investigation remains ongoing and is led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.