A tragic heli-skiing trip in the mountains near Girdwood, Alaska, ended in disaster on March 4, 2025, for 39-year-old John Linder and his two childhood friends. Linder, along with Jeremy Leif, 38, and Charles Eppard, 39, were caught in a massive avalanche at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the west fork of the Twentymile River drainage. The three men, who were on a guided excursion, were buried under an immense volume of snow, with initial estimates suggesting they were trapped between 40 and 100 feet deep. Guides with the skiing operation were able to quickly locate the skiers' positions using their avalanche beacons, but the sheer depth of the debris made an immediate recovery impossible.
The scale of the avalanche, which ran for about half a mile, and the persistent danger of further slides severely hampered search and rescue operations. The Alaska State Troopers were notified of the incident around 5:10 p.m., but the considerable risk and approaching darkness prevented any recovery attempts on the first day. In the days that followed, poor weather conditions, including a lack of visibility, grounded helicopters and prevented troopers and avalanche experts from safely assessing the scene. It was clear to authorities early on that the chances of survival were grim, and the focus shifted from rescue to a long-term recovery effort. The hazardous and unstable conditions meant that recovery teams would have to wait for months for the snowpack to stabilize and melt.
Official reports later confirmed the devastating outcome of the avalanche. In early October 2025, after months of waiting for safer conditions, recovery teams were able to return to the site. The remains of John Linder were discovered on October 3rd in a log jam in a river that flows beneath the avalanche area. The following month, on November 2nd, a second set of remains was recovered from the avalanche zone and was later identified as Charles Eppard. The body of Jeremy Leif has yet to be found, with search efforts continuing as conditions permit. The incident involved three lifelong friends from Minnesota who were experienced skiers on an adventurous vacation. The tragedy underscored the immense and unpredictable power of nature in the Alaskan backcountry, leaving their families and communities to mourn a profound loss.
Last Seen: Mar 04, 2025
