Heli-skiing company owner and two veteran snowboarders die in Kootenays avalanche​on March 26, 2025 at 1:33 am

An avalanche north of Kaslo on Monday afternoon killed two accomplished and veteran snowboarders and the owner and lead guide of the heli-skiing company involved in the tragedy.

Jason Remple, 53, from Kaslo, Jeff Keenam, 44, from Whistler and Alex Pashley, 45, from Idaho were in a group of four that was hit by an avalanche as they waited to be picked up by a Stellar Heli Skiing helicopter at around 12:30 p.m. The fourth man, from nearby Nelson, is in critical condition. The accident occurred within Stellar’s tenure in the Clute Creek watershed.

Remple and wife Kerry Luckey started the operation in 2005 and in 2022 bought the Kaslo Hotel for accommodations.

The North Face, with 5.5 million followers on its Instagram account, reported Pashley’s death on Tuesday afternoon. He was The North Face’s global sports marketing manager (snow) and had worked for Salomon, Rossi, Dragon, Slash, and Smartwool.

“Pashley was an explorer to his core. As a photographer, he captured the nuances that transform a good story into a great one, and was celebrated and showcased across major snowboard publications. And he loved being on a board just as much as being behind the lens, building community through deep powder and big lines,” the post read in part.

“Alex Pashley’s curiosity and kindness left a mark on everyone who had the privilege of working, riding, and running alongside him.”

An Instagram post from Mount Seymour identified Jeff Keenan as an avalanche victim. 

According to the post, Keenan was a huge part of the Seymour and wider snowboarding community.

“His younger days were spent here as part of the Skids (Seymour Kids), a crew of snowboarders that helped define snowboarding in the 90s and ’00s,” the post read. “He was one of the most genuine, inspiring souls I’ve had the privilege of meeting on this planet.”

dcarrigg@postmedia.com