A few weeks ago, the team at Icicle TV followed local ski ambassadors Jim Jack and Michael “Bird” Shaffer around for a day of skiing at Ski Hill in Leavenworth.  The biggest storm of the season dumped 30″ of pure fluffy powder in town and the guys hit it up.

We were actually working on releasing the piece yesterday, February 19th, when we received word that an unprecedented tragedy had occurred.  In one foul swoop, we lost three of the most amazing, nicest people we’ve ever known.  Jim Jack, Johnny Brenan, and Chris Rudolph were caught in an avalanche in the Tunnel Creek area in the Stevens Pass backcountry. Today, we have no words to pay proper tribute to these men that meant so much to our community.  To lose a hero is hard enough but to lose three is incomprehensible.  Until we find the words to express our love for Jim Jack, Johnny, and Chris, the only thing we have to share is our  memories and prayers.

We’ve put a lot of thought into whether we should release this video and decided that the world would want to see Jim in his final few weeks, doing what he loved most-skiing powder and spreading the love.

As always, we invite your contributions.  If you have photos or memories of Jim, Chris, and Johnny that you would like to share, please send them our way and we will post them up.

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