Heli-Skiers Killed in Massive Alaska Avalanche Identified

Victims Were from Minnesota, Montana, and Florida

Three heli-skiers lost their lives in a devastating avalanche in Alaska’s Chugach National Forest on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The slide happened in a popular backcountry zone operated by Chugach Powder Guides (CPG) and was huge, reportedly running nearly 3,000 vertical feet and stretching half a mile.

As victims were buried under an immense debris field—ranging from 40 to 100 feet deep—recovery efforts were impossible.

Victims Identified

The Alaska State Troopers have identified the three skiers as:

• David Linder, 39, of Florida
• Charles Eppard, 39, of Montana
• Jeremy Leif, 38, of Minnesota

All three were guests of Chugach Powder Guides and were skiing a regularly used heli-ski run when they were caught. Witnesses report that all three skiers deployed their avalanche airbags, but the sheer size and power of the avalanche left them with no chance of survival.

The Minnesota Star Tribune identified David Linder as the owner of Sub Arctic Media, parent company to more than 20 radio shows across Minnesota.

Charles Eppard, from Big Fork, Montana, is survived by his wife, Brittany, and their young daughter, Belen.

Jeremy Leif was the CEO of Leif Consulting Group, a company he founded in 2023, according to POWDER.

GoFundMe pages: Charles Eppard and Jeremy Leif.

This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the inherent risks of backcountry skiing and importance of good risk assessment, even when equipped with proper safety gear. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the families, friends, and community affected by this heartbreaking loss.

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It all began with a dream and a little cash scraped together from fishing in Alaska... Since 1995, we've been an action sports media company committed to fueling progression through our ground-breaking films (37 and counting) and online content.