Joe, 26, died in an avalanche March 2, 2013, on Cameron Pass, near Fort Collins, Colorado. He was enrolled at Colorado State University as he pursued a degree in Forestry. Joe had jumped three seasons at Boise after a three-season stint as a Hotshot. He was an accomplished backcountry skier, surfer, mountain biker and paraglider, as well as a painter, poet and banjoist.

Joe was an NSA Education Scholarship Award winner in 2011.