Canada Helicopter Skiing with Seth Morrison at Last Frontier Heli-Skiing

I know the title sounds sexy.  I actually met him at the lodge helicopter skiing Canada ,and we had a couple of meals together.  He and his Oakley film crew were off in their own chopper (and I can’t believe he poached my line!).    I also met Kazu Kokubo, an amazing Oakley team rider and nice guy.

 

I saw this video on the Last Frontier Heli-Skiing Helicopter Skiing Canada site, and it reminded me of that great trip.   It was the second half of a heli-safari, having spent the first week at Ripley Creek with Team Salomon – but that’s the subject of another blog post.

 

Last Frontier Bell 2 is all about small groups, excellent terrain, high-speed tree skiing runs and cabins with a wood-burning stoves.   I have  been there a couple of times.  What’s not to like?!

Back to Seth Morrison.  He is one cool dude.  Unassuming, soft spoken and genuinely friendly.   We screened his life-documenting video, Ordinary Skier, one night while he provided narration.  It’s a “Documentary about Seth Morrison’s journey from middle class suburban kid to world famous skier, and his struggle to stay on top of a rapidly evolving sport.”   Very interesting journey….and he really pushes the limits.

 

He is no ordinary skier, but he’s a pretty ordinary guy.  Very refreshing on a Canada helicopter skiing trip.

 

At the end of the trip I gave him a HELISKI.com hat, which I am sure he wears daily….Thanks, Seth!

 

Best,

 

tj

Helicopter Skiing Canda Advice for over twenty years.

 

 

last frontier heliskiing bell 2 heliskiing lodge

Last Frontier Heliskiing challenges Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing and CMH

Boutique Canadian Heli Skiing by Last Frontier Heliskiing Canada

The evolution of heliskiing continues with Last Frontier Heliskiing.  Smaller operators are offering alternatives to CMH Heli-Skiing and Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing.  This series will give a brief summary of the operators in the Coast Range of British Columbia Canada.

The Coast Range of British Columbia is home to some of the heliski industry innovators:  Bella Coola Heliskiing, Northern Escape Heliskiing, TLH Heliskiing, Skeena Heliskiing and Last Frontier Heliskiing.  Coastal weather patterns provide copious amounts of powder, and travel is usually MUCH easier than the more famous operators to the East.   How do they compete with the big boys (CMH and Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing) and deal with the huge amounts of snowfall?

Check Our Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing

Glad you asked.

Each of these BC coast range heli-ski destination operators have a strategy, or two, to differentiate their offerings.

Today, we take a closer look at Last Frontier Heliskiing and their two lodges.

wiegele heli ski, last frontier heliskiing

Last Frontier Heliskiing takes you WAY North to get good snow.   Last Frontier is situated on the edge of the Alaskan Panhandle in Northern British Columbia.  It may take a little longer to get up there, but you will be rewarded with the largest single heliski area in the world, record-breaking snowfall and some of the most varied terrain found anywhere. They have two unique bases of operation.

last frontier heliskiing, last frontier heli skiing area

Last Frontier Bell 2 Lodge is a self-contained heliski village featuring luxurious log chalets, each complete with wood burning stoves.  The area offers a great combination of tree skiing and high alpine terrain.   I have been there a couple of times, and these cabins are great.     So is the skiing!  The cabins remind some of the chalets at Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing, eh?  Check out the location of Last Frontier Heliskiing Bell 2 Lodge.

last frontier heliskiing cabins, crush mike wiegele helicopter skiing

Last Frontier Heliskiing Ripley Creek, where the lodging is a hotel in an old gold mining town, has incredible long glaciated runs of up to 5,000 feet!    It’s like a combination of BC and Alaska heliskiing.  Not fancy, but very cool.  The trip includes one border crossing to Hyder, Alaska to get Hyderized by downing a huge, mysterious shot that will not be memorable…..

last frontier heliskiing vs mike wiegele helicopter skiing, last frontier heli skiing

Last Frontier Heliskiing also offers a unique Heliski Safari option, which involves skiing from one lodge to the other, half-way through the week.  The 60 mile trip offers spectacular heliskiing and unforgettable scenery with countless glaciers.  I did this trip last season, and it is phenomenal!   It is truly a safari, taking advantage of whatever looks good along the way.  It sells out fast, so let us know if you want to make a reservation.

ripley creek heliskiing, last frontier heli skiing safari

Each of these operators has figured out a way to offer something unique and very appealing to help compensate for the occasional down day.  Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing and CMH Heli-Skiing have some hungry competitors, including Last Frontier Heliskiing……which is good.

Email or call and we will help you find available trips with Last Frontier HeliSkiing, including the Heliski Safari.  866-HELISKI or Skype HELISKI.com

Best Regards,
tj
Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)
HELISKI.com
866-HELISKI
(866-435-4754)

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

There are many aspects to consider for your ideal heli-skiing Canada trip. Some of the things to ask yourself, and to tell HELISKI.com, will allow us to narrow down the dozens of destinations for your heli-skiing in Canada.

  • Do you prefer an intimate heli-ski lodge or ‘the more the merrier?’
  • Do you want to heli-ski in a group of four or are you OK in a group as big as eleven?
  • How many days or dollars can you spend heli skiing Canada?
  • Do you prefer heliskiing trees, bowls, glaciers and high alpine or all of the above?
  • Do you want unlimited vertical, or do you want a base amount with the option to pay for extra heli-skiing Canada? (We are happy to do the math for you.)
  • Do you want to get to and from your heliski Canada lodge as quickly as possible, or do you have time to burn?
  • When do you want to schedule heliskiing Canada?
  • Do you want to try heliskiing Canada during or after a resort skiing vacation?
  • Where are you originating travel?
  • Do you want a remote, rustic lodge from which to heliski Canada?
  • Do you want catskiing or resort skiing options in case the helicopters cannot fly?

Canadian Mountain Holidays or CMH Heli-Skiing offers more Canada for over 50 years! Most CMH Heli-Skiing lodges are remote. Some require a helicopter ride to access the lodge. Different lodges serve different terrain, snow qualities, group sizes and trip lengths. We are happy to recommend those that fit your group best. choices than any other operator, and they have been heli-skiing.

Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing is the second largest operator, and has been heli skiing Canada almost as long as CMH Heli-Skiing. There are two lodging options at Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing – Blue River and Albreda. They offer different lodging and heli-ski Canada options that also vary throughout the season. HELISKI.com can help you choose.

There are dozens of smaller operators for your heliskiing Canada pleasure. Do you want a great, classic lodge like Skeena or Mica Heliski Canada? Do you want easy access so you spend your time heli-skiing Canada like Northern Escape Heli-Skiing? Do you want unlimited vertical, like Great Canadian Heli-Skiing and Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing? Love trees? Consider Bearpaw Heliskiing, Last Frontier Heliskiing Bell 2 Lodge, or one of the CMH Heli-Skiing areas that specialize in trees. If you want your own food and lodging, check out RK Heli-Skiing. How about one group per helicopter at TLH Heli-Skiing Canada.

There are myriad choices. Email or call 866-HELISKI so we can get started putting together the best fit for your heliskiing Canada trip!

Don’t Go Postal, Go Coastal: British Columbia Heli Skiing Operators with Unique Offerings, like Bella Coola Heli-Skiing

 

BC Heli Skiing Operators – Going Smaller at Bella Coola Heli Skiing BC

The evolution of Canadian heli skiing continues.  Smaller BC heli skiing operators are offering alternatives to CMH and Mike Wiegele Heli-Skiing.  This series will give a brief summary of the operators in the Coast Range of BC Canada, and what they do to earn your business.

The Coast Range of BC is home to some of the Canadian heli skiing industry innovators:  Bella Coola Heliskiing, Northern Escape Heliskiing, TLH Heliskiing, Last Frontier Heliskiing and Skeena Heliskiing.  Coastal weather patterns provide copious amounts of powder, and travel is usually MUCH easier than the more famous operators to the East.   How do the Coast Range BC heli skiing operators compete with the big boys and deal with the huge amounts of snowfall?

Glad you asked.

Each of these Canadian heli skiing coast range  destination BC heli skiing operators have a strategy, or two, to differentiate their offerings.  Today, we take a closer look at Bella Coola Heli-Skiing (BC Heli Skiing, get it?), and their three locations.

 

BC heli skiing, heli ski canada, heliskiing bc canada
Coast Range BC Heli Skiing – Bella Coola Heli-Skiing

 

Bella Coola Heliskiing bookends your trip with TWO half days.   They fly you up from Vancouver in the morning (literally, your round trip flight is included in the price), feed you lunch, conduct your safety briefing, then take you BC heli skiing, right from the airport hangar!

The same is true on your departure day; heliski your way back to the airport, land next to the plane, then fly back to Vancouver in the early afternoon.  Tim, Canadian heli skiing marketing dude, says that people on a 7 night trip actually get the opportunity to ski on 8 days, 6 full days and 2 half days (same format with other durations e.g. 5 nights, has 6 ski days etc). This reduces the damage from a down day. Even if it is dumping pow and there’s 2 down days, guests would still be able to ski on 6 days.  It is also a nice way to warm up, with a half day on arrival.  Getting to Vancouver the night before has some travel advantages, too.

Bella Coola has three different programs, depending on your group size and your budget, including an EXPERTS ONLY tour for true advanced skiers, a Heli-Assist Ski Touring program as well as a Private BC heli skiing lodge (and helicopter) which can be exclusively for you and 7 friends.  All this in the biggest tenure in the Coast Range at 2.64 million acres!

To find out what dates remain for your BC heli skiing Coast Range powder trip,

Call or email tj@HELISKI.com or Tim at BCHS (604.932.3000, tell him tj sent you).  866-HELISKI

Check out this video to get stoked.

 

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Heliboard.com
866-HELISKI
(866-435-4754)

Skype  HELISKI.com

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

Last Frontier Heli-Skiing Special Feb 3-7

4 day Special for February 3 to 7, 2012. Save $800 and spend 4 days with La Nina of the Deep!

I will be there the following week!

Book by the middle of December and receive $500 off your package price plus a $300 lodge credit, which can be applied to extra vertical, gift shop purchases, massages etc.

We’d hate to see you miss out on another epic LaNiña snow year.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, give us a call at 1-866-HELISKI (435-4754) or Email Us.

Package Details – February 3 to 7, 2012

•4 days heliskiing at Last Frontier Heliskiing – Bell 2 Lodge, $6370 Can. before discount
•makes this one of a few, rare February heliskiing budget holidays.
57,500 vertical feet of skiing guaranteed
•Only 3 groups of 5 guests in an A-Star B2 or Bell 407 helicopter
•Accommodation and meals at Bell 2 Lodge or Ripley Creek $5210 Can. before discount
Guide Services (ACMG and/or UIAGM certified)
•Use of powder skis and poles
•Use of avalanche transceivers and ABS Airbags
•Ground transfers between Smithers and Bell 2 Lodge

Why LAST FRONTIER HELISKIING?

– the largest single heliskiing area on the planet – over 9500 square km

– 100% small group heliskiing

– 3 groups of just 5 guests per helicopter

– located in northern British Columbia on the border with Alaska

– massive snowfalls = epic conditions

– unrivalled terrain – that means world class tree skiing and huge alpine terrain

– 4, 5 and 7 day tours offering you the ultimate in flexibility

Give us a call or email if you have questions or want to hold seats.

Best Regards,

tj

Tom Jackson
CPO (Chief Powder Officer)
HELISKI.com
HeliskiingReview.com
WhistlerHeliski.com
HEIBOARD.com
866-HELISKI
(866-435-4754)

 

Knowledge is Powder!

 

Heliskiing with Your Kids

Ever seen a kid heliskiing? It’s rare, but possible – and so are deals, all the way up to college-age.

The folks at Last Frontier Heliskiing not only allow it, they offer discounts to kids who are skiing with their parents. This can include college age ‘kids’, so check it out!

For smaller kids, they should be over age 12. Of course the ankle-biters have to be able to make turns in powder. And hopefully the kid is taller than last night’s dump….but I digress.

You can get a great deal and an amazing, unique memory for you and your kids

Heli-Skiing with your Kids