family are able to track you out there in case something were to happen. >> january 2006, heather and ben are joining their friend, ben sparling, to help shoot some footage in a pristine area of the back country called jones pass. >> jones pass is kind of the vision of a skier, snowboarder has of big mountain skiing. >> it involved us just being riders and just taking our turns and being filmed. i was all for it. >> the day gets off to a great start. >> it was beautiful. it was sunny. >> the day was perfect. it was great. unbelievable powder turns, fresh snow all day, sunshine. couldn't be any better. >> but when the time comes for heather to take her turn on the mountain, everything changes. at about 1:00 in the afternoon, heather takes off from the top of the mountain with her husband looking on. suddenly the mountain cracks, and there's an explosive sound.