Best BC Heliskiing Series: Best Short BC Heliski Trips

by with 3 Comments Best Heli-SkiingExperience Premier Resort-Based Heliski TripsExplore Short Trips: HeliskiingHeli-Skiing Canada

Best BC Heliskiing Series: Best Short Heliski BC Trips

The Best Short Southeast BC Heliski Options

This is the third in our series on the best heliski BC trips.  Heliski.com clients often ask us to put together the best short BC heliski trips.  This usually includes 3 or 4 days of BC heliskiing with minimal travel time and minimal risk.  For some, it is more about getting the best deal.   Others want to combine heli-skiing BC and resort skiing.

Also check out our previous articles on Revelstoke’s Best Short Heli Ski BC Trips and Best Short Heliskiing BC Trips – Coast Range   

Here we discuss the best short BC heliski trips in the mecca of BC heliskiing- Southeast British Columbia.
In future posts, we will offer advice for the best heliskiing in the US and the best BC heliskiing combined with resort skiing and riding.

SE BC Heliskiing Travel Time / Convenience

Southeast British Columbia is where the majority of BC heli-skiing is found.  It is remote.   But paraphrasing Hans Gmoser, Founder of CMH Heliskiing, ‘Beautiful places are not always easy to reach, but it is worth the effort.’  Most heliskiers fly into Calgary, then drive or take a bus or shuttle to the lodge or to the helipad.   Flying into Kelowna is also becoming more popular, with direct flights from these airports:

Edmonton, Victoria, Kamloops, Prince George, Red Deer, Abbotsford, Cranbrook and Whitehorse, LA, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.A couple of lodges, including one mentioned below, are accessed through Spokane, Washington in the US.

SE Heliski BC Cost

SE BC heliskiing operators offer the best deals in the early and late season.   Unlimited vertical packages may be worth it, especially in the Spring when days are longer.  More traditional pricing, including a specified number of vertical feet, allow guests to decide when to pay to continue skiing.

BC Heliskiing Down Day Risk

Down day risk lessens as one moves North in SE British Columbia.   The North is typically colder, and the snow can be drier and lighter.  And surprisingly, the South can be influenced by Coastal weather patterns.   That means tons of snow, but can ground the chopper.   This is one of the  reasons why we like Snowwater Heliskiing’s catskiing backup.

The Best Short Heliski BC Trips – Southeast BC Heliskiing

And the winners for Best Short SE BC Heliski trips are:  Great Canadian Heli-Skiing, CMH Kootenay and Snowwater Heliskiing

Great Canadian Heliski BC

Great Canadian Heli-Skiing BC runs a great operation in Golden, BC.It is only 4 hours from Calgary.  Great Canadian Heli Skiing offers a shuttle, but only on Saturdays.  And it is on the East side of Rogers Pass – the most frequently closed highway in Canada.  So a rental car in a good option.  One of the best features for short trips BC Heliski trips is that Great Canadian Heli-Skiing allows guests to begin and end visits on any day, which is unique, and very cool.

All trips at Great Canadian Heli-Skiing BC are small group and unlimited vertical.   It is not the least expensive option, but guests can rack up the vertical.  Some of their best terrain is very close to the lodge.  So guests heliski / heliboard early and often.   Great Canadian Heli-Skiing BC is also on the leeward side of the Pass, so they enjoy lighter drier snow and fewer down days. Great Canadian Heli-Skiing BC boasts just two down days per season!

The Great Canadian Heli-Skiing lodge accommodates 24 guests.  Heli-Skiing is in six groups of four.  So if you do not bring your own group, Great Canadian Heliskiing can always match you with other like-minded heliskiers with compatible abilities.

Check out our Interview with one of the BC Heliski winners, Great Canadian Heli Skiing

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Great Canadian Heli-Skiing’s famous Burnt Forest offer high-speed tree skiing.

CMH/Kootenay BC Heliskiing

Canadian Mountain Holidays has 12 BC heli-skiing lodges. The best kept secret may be CMH Kootenay, formerly known as K2.  It was a join venture between the two companies, with obvious symmetry, but now it’s just CMH.  The trips are usually pretty good deals.  Kootenay BC heliskiing is famous for tree skiing.

Lodging is a hotel.   The best feature is the outdoor hot springs.  So if you are looking for a deal, consider Kootenay BC Heliski as an option.  CMH runs both small and large group trips at Kootenay BC Heli-Skiing.   Special weeks include Steep Shots and Pillow Drops.3, 4 and 5 day trips offer great flexibility. Guests need to find their own way to the lodge in Katsup.  This usually means flying to Kelowna, BC or Spokane, WA and renting a car. The drive is 4 and 5 hours, respectively.

Check out our Interview with CMH Kootenay 

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Snowwater Heliski BC

Another gem of SE BC heliskiing is Snowwater Heli-Skiing BC.  It is an intimate setting, hosted by the owners, husband and wife Patric and Maria.

Snowwater Heli-Skiing BC is also exclusive, catering to 12 guests at any one time.  The food and wine are excellent.

Snowwater Heli-Skiing BC offers 3, 4, 5  and 7-day trips with Unlimited Vertical.   Three groups of four heliski BC groups share an A-Star.  And if the weather does not cooperate, catskiing backup is on the ready.  I have had the good fortune (I think) of experiencing this first-hand.   Our group switched back and forth seamlessly a few times during one day.  In my experience, Snowwater does it better than any operators.

Snowwater also offers a combination Resort, Cat, Heliski BC Trip called the Kootenay Sampler.   Although it is not a short trip, it is a very cool week of powder skiing at a very attractive price.

Guests usually fly to Spokane, WA, rent a car and drive 4 hours North.   It is possible to fly to Castlegar, BC and take a cab to Nelson.

Also check out our Interview with Snowwater Heli-Skiing BC

heliski BC, snowwater bc heliskiing, Image: Bryan Ralph

Cheers from Maria and Patric, Married Owners & Guides – Snowwater Heliskiing BC.

Let us know if we can assist with recommendations for the best BC heliskiing trip
tj

coast range heli-skiing, heliski coast range

Coast Range Operator Profile: Skeena Heliskiing. Don’t go postal, go coastal

by with 3 Comments Coast Range Heli-Skiing BC CanadaHeli-Skiing CanadaHeliskiing Reviews

Coast Range Operator Profile: Skeena Heliskiing. Don’t go postal, go coastal

The evolution of heli-skiing continues.  Smaller operators are offering alternatives to Canadian Mountain Holidays and  Wiegele Heli-Skiing.  This series will give a brief summary of the operators in the Coast Range of British Columbia Canada.

coast range heli-skiing, heliski coast range

The Coast Range of British Columbia is home to some of the heliski 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 they compete with the big boys and deal with the huge amounts of snowfall?

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 Skeena Heliskiing.

skeena heli-skiing, helicopter skiing bc canada

Skeena Heliskiing is a boutique operator, with one of my favorite lodges,  catering to fast, fit skiers (read Europeans).  Jake is a tremendous host, even to an American like me.   But Skeena books up well in advance.  Think 2014.  Jake skies in just two groups of 5, so they really turn the laps!

skeena heli-skiing, heli-ski skeena mountains

Skeena boasts one of the best heliskiing lodges in the business.  It is a prototypical BC log lodge.  The dining/living space has an amazing cathedral ceiling.  Each guest has a huge bedroom.  Great place, better skiing.

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Skeena Lodge is Awesome

heliski lodge interior, skeena heliskiing

skeena heliski lodge day, BC heli-skiing lodge

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Travel to Skeena Heliskiing by flying Vancouver to Smithers.  just three hours from Vancouver to their incredible lodge.

Each of these operators has figured out a way to offer something unique and very appealing to help differentiate their offering.  Email or call and we will help you find available trips with easy travel and plenty of deep snow.  866-HELISKI or Skype HELISKI.com

Best Regards,
tj
Tom Jackson

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

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

Interview: Great Canadian Heli-Skiing – Great Canadian Heliski

by with One Comment Heli-Skiing CanadaHeliskiing ReviewsOperator Interviews

Great Canadian Heliskiing and Heliboarding

Small Groups, Unlimited Vertical, Flexible Dates and Easy from Calgary

1. How did you come up with your name – Great Canadian Heli-Skiing? [tongue firmly in cheek]

The name comes from the experience people get from skiing/riding with Great Canadian Heliskiing!

2. You are known as a boutique operator. What is different about Great Canadian Heliskiing?

Back in 2003 our owner, Greg Porter, first coined the term “boutique heliskiing” to describe the format in which Great Canadian Heliskiing uses.   Great Canadian Heliskiing has been around since 1988 and now a few others have also started using the same term. In 1988 Great Canadian Heliski was the 1st Canadian heliskiing company to heliski exclusively in small groups of 4, then in 1994+1995 we tried out Unlimited Vertical Heliskiing, then in 2006 we became the 1st company to incorporate it full-time all -inclusive heliskiing packages.

What really separates us from the rest now is our FLEXIBILITY. Without doubt, we have the most flexibility in the Canadian heliskiing industry. With our location being the closest multi-day operation to an international airport (Calgary), most people can arrive mid-day and be eating dinner in our lodge that night and heliskiing the very next day. Our guests can start ANY day of the week. And for ANY duration! We are the only company that offers this level of flexibility. This is a big advantage for time-sensitive people. We are here to accommodate our guests schedule!

great canadian heli-skiing canada, heli skiing canada

3. Tell us about your format at Great Canadian Heliskiing – 3 groups of 4 per machine and unlimited vertical, right?

Without doubt, the Small Groups format with Unlimited Vertical is the best way to heliski. People are now catching on that skiing in a group of 4 is much more fun than a large group, plus you get more skiing done and it’s easier to match up people of similar abilities.

4. What’s your average vertical for a week at Great Canadian Heliskiing?

Our AVERAGE vertical in a week (6 days of skiing) is 141,000 ft!  And note I said AVERAGE. So stronger skiers can ski more than that.

5. You are way to the East in BC. Compared to other British Columbia helicopter skiing, does that mean you get less snow, but it’s lighter?

It’s much lighter! And we get 46 feet of it every winter which is a huge amount. I think most people would prefer to ski dry, light, fluffy snow than a few more feet of heavier, wet snow. In addition, because of this we have WAY fewer down days. At Great Canadian, we average just 2 down days ALL SEASON long, so there’s more skiing and no need for snowcat backup….we’re here to heli-ski!

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Eastern British Columbia Snow – Light and Dry

6. Describe the travel  to Great Canadian Heliski from the Calgary airport?

Getting here is super easy. Arrive into Calgary around lunch time, take the major highway in Canada (the TransCanada) and in 4 hours you have checked into our lodge. This saves you money as no extra city hotel nights are necessary, and most importantly, it means few travel days and more days you get to skiing!

7. Great Canadian Heli-Skiing is a little pricey compared to some Canada heliski options. How do you justify it?

So is a Porsche!…. you get what you pay for!  [I should never have told him what I drive]

The same with heli-skiing Canada. When comparing Canadian heli-skiing operations, it is important to compare apples with apples. It’s illogical to compare us, with small groups, to an operation that has 12 people in a group, as our operational costs per person are much higher, however the experience is so much better. We want to provide a more personalized, intimate and tailor-made experience to each of our guests.

Great Candian Heliski Canada, Great Canadian Helicopter Skiing Canada

8. That is a cool lodge.  How many guests can you accommodate at Great Canadian Heli-Skiing at any one time?

We cap numbers at 24. We feel this is a perfect number. It also allows us to run 2 helicopters, each with 3 groups of 4 people.

great canadian heliski canada, great canadian heli-skiing bc canada

9. Compare and contrast January, February and March at Great Canadian Heli-Skiing.

If you want super deep pow and steeper terrain, join us Dec to early Feb. If you prefer high alpine and glaciers, come in mid-March to April. If you are after a mixture, join us in February. Having said that, you can get any of those conditions at any stage of the season!

great canadian heli-skiing canada, great canadian heliski BC canada

1, 2, 3, 4….plus Guide = 5

10. How many down days do you average per season at Great Canadian Heliski?

Only 2 ALL SEASON LONG! We’ve even had a couple of winters when we have had ZERO down days!

11. Describe the terrain you heliski and how it compares to other heli skiing Canada areas.

We have hundreds of heli ski runs, offering every type of terrain – glaciers, open bowls, gladed trees, pillow lines – and every slope angle and exposure.  Great Canadian stands out in the industry because of the quality and accessibility of our terrain above our base at Heather Mountain Lodge (our heli-pads are at the lodge and the closest runs are just 60 seconds away!).   One of our greatest assets are the burnt forests. This is where a forest fire has come through and destroyed all the undergrowth and small branches, leaving beautifully spaced tree trunks. This terrain often has the best snow conditions and it’s steeper. Even guests who don’t normally like tree skiing really enjoy our burnt forests.

great canadian heli skiing canada, great canadian heliski Canada

Best Use of a Burnt Forrest!

12. What do you do to accommodate heliboarders at Great Canadian Heliskiing?

I’m one of them! Also, our owner Greg Porter used to be on the Canadian National Snowboard team….although that was back when if you could do a 540 you’d get sponsored! [Oh, nice dis on the boss. Better give him credit for the photos at least]

Our guides are snowboard-aware, so they will avoid flat spots where possible and if there is a tricky transition, they will forewarn boarders.

We carry the Burton Fish, Malolo and Supermodel in our rental fleet. Fat skis and snowboards are included for free in our packages.

13. How many of your clients are fist timers at Great Canadian Heli Skiing?

We have quite a few first timers joining us. They are attracted to our Small Groups. It’s much less intimating than holding up a large group! And Advanced skiers/riders needn’t worry about being in a group with people of much lesser ability, as with the small group format it is much easier to group people of similar abilities…..and people often come with friends or family to make up their own private group of 4!

great Canadian heli-skiing location, Great Canadian heli skiing canada

Great Canadian Heliskiing, Kicking Horse Resort, Calgary BC

14. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is nearby.  Is it really the Jackson Hole of Canada?

Yes! Kicking Horse rocks! I’ve skied both extensively and the terrain difficulty breakdown is very similar. Kicking Horse has 4,131 feet of vertical, just 8 feet shy of Jackson’s. And like Jackson, what is designed as a blue run is often a black run elsewhere! We can create combination packages for our guests who want to combine a few days of resort skiing with a few days of heli-skiing.

15. Anything else you would like to add about Great Canadian Heli-Skiing?

This winter is shaping up to be another BIG SNOW year. Reputable meteorologists are saying we are heading into another La Nina like last year….and last year was AMAZING!  You will not want to miss heli-skiing this coming winter! Thanks TJ!

Thank you, Deane.  I’m looking forward to taking you up on your invite.
Best,
tj

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

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heli-skiing canada, helicopter skiing bc canada

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

Heliskiing in April? Yeah, April Heliskiing

by with No Comment Alaska HeliskiingHeliskiing Reviews

Heliskiing in April

Does it get too warm to go heliskiing in British Columbia in April?    No.

Is the heliskiing season over in Alaska?  Not. It’s prime time up there. The days are twice as long in April as in February.

Does it quit snowing?   Nope

Why does heliskiing wind down?

We all get out our golf clubs, tennis rackets, mountain bikes and boats.

What does this mean?

There are great deals and great heliskiing in April.

Why is this blog post about heliskiing all questions? I don’t know. Why not?

Is it irritating? Sorry. Maybe I have listened to too many lame Bowl Game announcers this week.

What do I recommend for heliskiing in April?

great canadian heliskiing British Columbia Heliskiing

Great Canadian Heliskiing offers unlimited vertical during the first week of April for $8,820. You can rack up the vertical!

CMH Revelstoke offers a 5-day heliskiing trip, April 2-7 for $4775. This location gets rave reviews and that’s a great price. Also March 28-April 2 for the same price.

CMH Galena has a one-week heliskiing special March 26 – April 2 for just $5900. There is a slight catch. Call or email for more details.

Always wanted to go heliskiingski the Bugaboos, the birthplace of heliskiing? How about a week April 16-23 at CMH Bugaboos for $6400?!

cmh bugaboos heliskiing lodge, heliskiing bugaboos
Bugaboo Lodge, Canadian Mountain Holidays

CMH Cariboos are still heliskiing April 9-16 for $6600.

OR, try Alaska Heliskiing. Long runs, crazy steep, bucket-list worthy experience. We work with most of the operators and can set up a great experience for your group. Check out:

H2O

Valdez Heli-Ski Guides

Chugach Powder Guides

Alaska Heliskiing

helicopter skiing alaska, valdez heliskiing
Alaska Heliskiing is Steep and Deep

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email or Call about Heliskiing in April.

 

We will send the best options.

Cheers,

tj

 

 

 

 

 

canadian heliskiing, heli-skiing canada

Half-Price Heliskiing, Mar 26 – Apr 2, $5900 at Galena, a Premier CMH Lodge

by with No Comment CMHHeliskiing Reviews

We just discovered an amazing deal at CMH’s Galena lodge, March 26 – April 2.  It’s designed for parents to bring a kid, but it is now open to anyone!

It’s $5900. Awesome deal if you don’t mind some kids in the lodge/chopper.  Galena trips are normally $10,770

Or bring your kid for half-price!!

 

canadian heliskiing, heli-skiing canada
CMH Galena is Known for Deep Powder

CMH is the largest heliski outfit, with 12 lodges/areas to choose from.  Some with more extreme terrain than others.   Galena, Bobbie Burns and Monashees are to most aggressive.

They invented heliskiing!  Forty-one years of accumulated experience allow them to claim ‘Our staff and guides, some of them veterans from the very early days, will proudly show you the friendliness, hospitality and great times in the mountains that bring 70% of our guests back every year.’

Galena is “best known for ultra-deep powder and varied, challenging tree skiing.”   This week they will cater to the group’s ability.

Travel is somewhat arduous, 7 plus hours, plus 2 to get in.  The ferry ride breaks it up.  This lodge has a cult like following and usually books up fast.

CMH Helicopter Skiing, Canada
Galena Terrain is Legendary at Canadian Mountain Holidays

Call me ASAP if you want to hold seats – 1-866-435-4754

A Heli-Skiing Down Day Will Make You Think

by with No Comment Heliskiing Reviews

A Heli-Skiing Down Day Will Make You Think

Years ago I was sitting in a remodeled gas station in a remote corner of British Columbia. Fog from the nearby river combined with low clouds to keep our helicopter grounded. Our hosts suggested a road trip to Alaska so that we could say we had been there……I passed.

I said to the person across from me, “I wish I could talk to someone who has been to these places before I book.” That was the genesis of the first helicopter skiing review site, HeliskiingReview.com. It offers objective reviews and advice, based on both my heli skiing experiences and those of many others.

From that modest beginning, Heliskiing Review has grown to be the biggest directory of heliskiing Canada operators. In later years, we added Alaska heliskiing, North America heliskiing and beyond.

Heliskiing is like other high-end all inclusive holidays – the experience must meet the expectations. That’s where we come in for helicopter skiing information.

This summer my partner Mike and I introduced Heliski.com, the ultimate resource for BC heliskiing and the Canadian heli ski community. It includes details on 95% of the heliskiing and heliboarding operations in the world. Heliski.com is also a community, facilitating communication and networking among those of us who love heliskiing and heliboarding.

We have added a store, newsletter, forum, pictures, videos and a Heli Finder utility to help visitors find the best trip for their group. Also new this season are partnerships with the two biggest operators – Canadian Mountain Holidays and Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing. Check it out, join Club Heliski.com and let us know what you think.

See you there,
tj