Heli Skiing in North America
"If you are looking for your ultimate ski moment then heli-skiing will be it.....As the helicopter leaves you on a remote peak, you know that the adventure is about to begin. Looking down all you can see is virgin powder and it's yours to play in...."
Our expert Rupert Hatfield
Heli Ski Options
Please see our most popular heli ski options below. More will be added shortly, please check back again in a few days.
About Heli Skiing
Heli-skiing is unquestionably the ultimate ski experience. The helicopter ride is a thrill in itself and once it has dropped you on a high peak you are left to the silence of the wilderness with a whole mountain of fresh snow before you. There is nothing quite like it.
However, it does not come cheap and to get the most out of it you need to be a strong intermediate skier at least and used to skiing powder. Also, it is pretty physical and you need to be fairly fit – the fitter the better really.
Heli-skiing can either be done on daily basis whilst you are staying in a ski resort – or on a multi-day basis whilst staying in a heli-ski operators’ accommodation, whether that be lodge, hotel or boat!
Daily heli-skiing is a fantastic introduction. However, it is very much an introduction and if you want to experience heli-skiing properly we recommend booking a 3 or 4 day package.
It helps to get fully acclimatised before you heli-ski and make sure the legs are working properly, so our recommendation for those looking to see what heli-skiing is all about is to do 5 or 6 days skiing at Whistler and then go to Tyax Lodge for a 3 or 4 day heli-ski package. This is a superb combination.
Heli-skiing means dealing with many variables, notably wind and weather, snow conditions and safety, and skier ability. This means that you need to approach heli-skiing with a fairly flexible outlook! For example, if the weather is bad the helicopter may not be able to fly and you may not be able to go skiing.
This also applies to the costs of heli-skiing. Typically you book a package at a certain price based on skiing a number of vertical feet. However, if the weather is good and your group skis quickly, you may well ski more vertical feet than the number you have booked – in this case you will normally have to pay for the additional vertical feet you have skied.
That being said, the feeling of skiing run after run of deep powder in a pristine mountain environment is frankly, priceless!
Above you can see our selected heli-ski options. These we have either skied with ourselves, or know personal contacts that have – this experience and knowledge helps us advise you on the best option for you.
Heli-skiing - not just for experts!
You may think heliskiing is the sacred domain of advanced skiers and riders. While there is plenty of steep and deep out there for experts, there is a lot of not-so-steep-and-deep too.
Heli-ski groups are formed according to skier ability. Advanced skiers get the steeps they crave, and the intermediates go to easier slopes where they don’t have to stress about holding the group up. The fat skis that are now available enable skiers of all abilities to float more easily through the powder.
You should be at least an intermediate skier with a reasonable fitness level and, in your own style, be able to handle all kinds of snow conditions - other than that it's all about enjoying the planet’s most scenic wilderness terrain and having the chance to ski perfect, untouched slopes. For many it’s a once in a lifetime experience.