Heli-ski guide, Christian Cabanilla, passed away yesterday in the mountains near Haines, Alaska.
Christian was leading two clients for Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) when a cornice gave way beneath him. The two guests sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Christian was a good friend of UnofficialNetworks.com who loved flying helicopters, snowboarding, traveling the world and the great state of Alaska. He had over a decade of guiding experience in Alaska, Patagonia and Antarctica. He will be deeply miss by all who had the pleasure of spending time in the mountains with him.
Christian Cabanilla was 34 years-old.
Rip Christian, The dangers of doing what we all love! thoughts and prayers to his family!
such a bummer, thoughts out to friends and family.
So sad to hear, this is a great loss. Rest in Peace Christian.
RIP, best wishes to friends & family.
This is the first heli-ski, client or guide death, in AK in quite a long time, right? Anyone know the last one? There are such obvious hazards up in the AK that all those operations have very high safety standards
No, unfortunately. One client in Cordova last year and client and guide in Haines.
2 in Haines alone last year one guide one client
RIP…. and best wishes to my Friends of Unofficialnetworks!
RIP Christian. My memories guiding with you will last for the rest of my days. Your positive energy and dedication to guiding others will be remembered. Your spirit lives on.
A quote from christian himself-
The path less traveled is less traveled for a reason – it requires courage to march to the beat of a different drum. Sometimes it can be a lonely trek – because very few will understand why you don’t walk the popular well-trodden path like everybody else. But you know you can’t. Your heart won’t let you. You must be true to yourself. And your regrets will be few. For at the end of your life you will look back at your short journey and with a satified smile, quietly acknowledge that it could never have been any other way.
-Christian Cabanilla
Christian was our guide in Cordova and then a good friend from that point on. Can’t tell you how this hurts. Going to miss my friend. Definately remember the great times we had. Enjoy heaven Christian.
Christian was not lead guiding that day if you read more about the accident you will read that he was free riding that day. And it was not an avalanche.
It was an avalanche. The company is denying it for liability reasons.
It wasn’t an avalanche….he wasn’t the guide….it was a cornice release.
http://www.heatherlende.com/dark-news-bluebird-day