Friends of an Alberta man who was killed in an avalanche Friday while snowboarding out of bounds near Kicking Horse Mountain Resort are remembering him as a free spirit and passionate snowboarder.
Shane Schroeder, 29, was snowboarding in the backcountry with friend Alex Lee when the avalanche hit.
“Yesterday was probably the hardest day in my life. I was with Shane when the avalanche occurred but was helpless to do anything,” Lee posted on Facebook.
Search and Rescue officials responded to the avalanche and were able to locate Schroeder, but he did not survive his injuries.
“They were able to find him quickly but had to bring in resources such as multiple heli drops of ski patrollers, rescue dogs, and equipment,” Lee said.
The Edmonton man is being remembered as a passionate member of the snowboarding community who “lived life to the fullest everyday and taught others the importance of laughter through his passion for snowboarding.”
“He’s always been very sensitive, big heart. We lost our cousin about a year and a half ago and she was also only 29, and when that happened it really hurt him. And he said from then on he was going to live his life to the fullest because you just don’t know. And that’s what he did,” Schroeder’s sister, Sarah Janzen, said over the phone Sunday, her voice breaking.
“Once he found something that he loved, he was all in,” she said. “He was always telling a joke, making someone laugh. And he would always find the good in people.”
Janzen says her family has spent the past two days together, telling stories and sharing memories of Schroeder.
“I’ve never known anyone to say anything bad about him. He could turn anybody’s day upside down.”
Janzen says her brother did not like funerals, so her family will be planning a celebration of life for him instead.
“He always said when he got to the top of the mountain he looked around just to see the view,” she said. “He said it was just a breath of fresh air.
“We keep saying he went from heaven to heaven, because heaven to him was there.”
Friends are starting a campaign to raise money for avalanche awareness in Schroeder’s honour.
“A free sprit who always saw the best in everyone and everything. My heart goes out to your family and friends. You will be greatly missed,” Pam Hyshka wrote on Facebook.
For more information visit Schroeder’s Facebook memorial page.
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