This is a post from Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing.  

It’s OK, but they leave out the most important advice for skiing in the trees….

Ski the Spaces, Not the Trees!  Seriously, look at the spaces, not the trees.  Your body will take you there.  It’s like driving in a car.  If you look at something, you steer toward it.

Now from the Wiegle Newsletter:

“Everyone should get a chance to ski these runs. Yes, everyone. Being comfortable tree skiing should be the goal of all powder skiers. In the trees, the snow lasts longer (less wind and sun), we can ski a little steeper (better anchors with the trees) and the terrain offers natural features and challenges you just can’t find in more open terrain.

The problem is a lot of skiers find tree skiing intimidating. Being forced to turn (tree avoidance is a good idea) can be daunting. The increased gradient and added obstacles can cause good skiers to lose their composure.

To increase your tree skiing comfort level there are a few tips that will help you along the way.

1.     Practice short radius turns. This will enhance speed and direction control and allow for athletic, dynamic skiing.

2.     Think of an aggressive down hill pole plant, pinching at the waist on your down hill side while stretching on your up hill side to create good angulation. This will help produce force on your down hill ski and augment pressure and edge control.

3.     Practice ski hops. Starting on lower angle groomed runs, try hopping as you traverse the slope. Don’t worry about how high you hop just that you maintain good stance and balance, returning to this position between hops. As you improve increase slope steepness.

4.     Relax between turns. Control your centre of mass to maintain balance and keep your skis in contact with the snow. Create un-weighting by retracting and extending your feet not moving your arms and upper body.

5.     Get in the trees. Practice makes perfect so venture into some safe, easy tree skiing and give it a shot. Always tree ski with a partner and don’t forget a helmet and goggles to protect your head and eyes.

Try to make incredible powder tree skiing your goal. With some experience and practice you will learn to love the challenges and incredible snow tree skiing has to offer. Come to Blue River and we will prove it.”

Check out this video (it looks like someone learning to ski the trees)

There are still places left at Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing for 2012.

Call us if you want information or reservations:  866-HELISKI or 925-648-3243

Best,

tj

Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)

HELISKI.com

HeliskiingReview.com

WhistlerHeliski.com

HELIBOARD.com

866-HELISKI

(866-435-4754)

50,000 Heliskiers Can’t Be Wrong!

1.  Is it true that heli-skiing started in the Purcell Mountains?

Yes – the birthplace of heli-skiing was only 50 km south of our operation, in the Bugaboo range of the Purcells. Golden and the surrounding area boasts an impressive legacy in mountain guiding and heli-skiing. This year we’re celebrating 100 years of adventure tourism in Golden. Heli-skiing has been part of that since the 60′s.

2.  Purcell Heli-Skiing has been around for 35 years!   50,000 people have heliskied with you – that’s amazing!   What has changed since you started?

In fact, 2012 will be our 38^th year in operation, all under the same ownership and leadership. We’ve certainly seen a lot of smiling faces over the years. The technology has changed the most. From the beacons, the skis and the helicopter itself, the tools we use to do the job have evolved substantially, and I’m sure will continue to evolve.

Consumer choice, too, has expanded. There are so many different ways to enjoy heli-skiing now, with different group sizes, customized programs, in-lodge week-long trips or daily tours. Guests want to learn more about being in the mountains, be more involved. Education and insider information really adds to the experience – it’s a great change to see.

3.  What has remained the same?

That’s easy – our outlook. From day one, it’s been about the guest experience. That has meant starting small, staying small, and devoting ourselves to quality customer service, even as standards and expectations have fallen elsewhere. It’s not just chasing vertical records here; we want to give our guests an adventure they’ll remember forever. We pay attention to people, and it’s a satisfying job to help people’s dreams come true!

When in Golden, Do Drop In

4.  You are the closest heliski operator to Banff, and right next to Kicking Horse (the Jackson Hole of Canada, eh?).  Are most of your clients adding heliskiing to a resort ski vacation?

Yes, and it’s really a perfect combination. Kicking Horse attracts all kinds of skiers and riders, but it’s definitely known as a mountain with lots of advanced terrain to offer. The big vertical and powder stashes in the chutes are a great warm-up for heli-skiing. A day in the heli is the icing on the cake, and a must-do for many international travelers ticking off the Canada bucket list.

5.  What one-day packages do you offer?

As part of the Classic program, guests can choose between a 3 or 5-run package. We ski as a group of 10 with 2 guides in a 205 helicopter. The Classic combines unforgettable adventure and superior value, making it a great choice all around.

 The Semi-Private is another single-day program, where a group of 5 or more friends share the cost of all 10 seats in the 205 helicopter. It’s a chance to hand-pick your fellow heli-skiers and riders to match everyone to the same pace and ability.

 Finally, the Private Program can be done for a single day and provides the ultimate small-group experience. With room for up to 4 guests, everyone rides in a private A-Star helicopter with their private guide. [Schwing!  and Cha Ching!]

 No matter what program you choose, we create a welcoming environment for you to feel comfortable and enjoy everything that heli-skiing has to offer – untouched terrain, incredible snow, and breathtaking views. All programs include a full safety briefing, safety equipment, packed lunch, après-ski platter and souvenir pins and stickers.

6.  What does it cost to buy extra runs?

Extra runs are sold at $85 per person per run. If guests choose to upgrade straight from 3 to 5 runs, we simply charge the difference in the package rates.

Thank you Sir, May I Have Another?!

7.  How about multi-day packages?

Flexibility is the name of the game here. Guests may select our Classic, Semi-Private or Private program, or any mix of the three, and book any number of days, consecutive or with breaks in between. Then you just multiply the daily rate by the number of days you’d like to heli-ski.

8.  HELISKI.com and HeliskiingReview.com have sent many satisfied clients to Purcell.   Thank you!  What percentage of your guests are repeat offenders?

It seems like more every year. We often warn first-time guests that heli-skiing is a very addictive sport! Although we see plenty of new faces each year, a good third of our business comes from repeats. Our guests really like the convenience of access Purcell provides, plus the personal touch that makes a small, family-owned business hard to beat.

9.  I spent a week in Golden one night.  What do your clients do on ‘down days’?

The beauty of our setup is down days don’t keep guests trapped in a remote lodge, with only board games, napping or beer to fill the day (not to knock beer, of course). Because our operation is right in Golden, guests can have access to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, which is typically in great shape if the weather is too heavy for flying. You never have to worry you’ll miss a day of skiing.

10. Purcell’s owner, Rudi Gertsch, was an early advocate for heliski safety.   Didn’t he help found what is now HeliCat Canada?

He did, yes. Rudi was part of the earliest seasons at CMH Bugaboos, when heli-skiing was brand new. When he was ready to start an operation of his own, he and other early operators saw the potential for promotion through cooperation. In 1978, the British Columbia Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing Operators Association (later renamed HeliCat Canada) [wonder why BCHASSOA never caught on....]  was formed to define safety standards and operational guidelines. British Columbia has since become a leading destination of heli-skiing, recognized worldwide.

11. The Purcells are famous for light, dry snow.   Can you compare and contrast with some of the other famous mountain ranges like Selkirks, Monashees, Cariboo and Coast?

Within the Interior ranges, you generally see a deeper snowpack as you trend from East to West, from the Rockies to the Monashees. With increased precip. comes more moisture and more overcast days, too. The Purcells fall right in the middle, or even East of middle. Our snowpack isn’t often as deep as what the Monashees may have, but our geography brings us drier conditions and more sunny days. That keeps our snow light and fast – that notorious Champagne Powder.

The Coast ranges are a different beast altogether, and have incredible skiing too. What you don’t see as often on the Coast is the nice dry, fluffy conditions we get here. The snow quality in the Interior is hard to beat, and explains the high density of heli-ski, cat-ski, and other backcountry operators.

12. How many of your guests are heli-boarding?

Probably about 25% are riders, but they’re 100% welcome.

100% Welcome

13. When does the Purcell Heli-Skiing season open and close?

The actual open and close dates change each year, as we get underway and shut down according to client interest. Anywhere from December 1 to May 1 is good to go. People are often surprised that we still heli-ski into April, but some of the best days we can remember have happened in the spring. We still have killer snow to enjoy, so don’t take out your golf clubs/bike/kayak too early!

14. Do you offer deals to groups?

If you’re a group of 6 to 10 people, we offer a percent discount based on the number of participants. So a group of 6 gets 6% off, a group of 7 gets 7% off, and so on. With a group of 10, you can choose between 10% off for everyone, or a free seat for the group leader. For some larger groups, one person does all the organization, so there’s an option for that person to get a free trip.

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

It’s a simple formula that has persisted all these years: love what you do, do it well, share it with others. Experience is what matters – ours and yours. Let it snow!

Setting Sun, back to Calgary......

Call if you want to learn more or book your trip!

866-HELISKI

tj

Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)

HELISKI.com

HeliskiingReview.com

WhistlerHeliski.com

HELIBOARD.com

866-HELISKI

(866-435-4754)

Powder Mountain Heli-skiing and Heli-boarding is one of the three operators heliskiing Whistler-Blackcomb.

Powder Mountain just announced that you can Heli Ski from down town Vancouver B.C.!   They did their first recon trip last week, and the first run is 12 minutes from the harbour heli port.

If you live in Vancouver and want to go HeliSkiing but don’t want to fight the traffic to Whistler, there is now an option.

Or, you can heliski your way to Whistler.  Your bags will go by ground and meet you at your hotel!

Fly In....from Vancouver!

Call if you want to learn more or book your trip!  866-HELISKI

tj

Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)

HELISKI.com

HeliskiingReview.com

WhistlerHeliski.com

HELIBOARD.com

866-HELISKI

(866-435-4754)

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

Conditions in the US suck, bad.  BC conditions may be the best ever!

Heliskiing dates are going fast.  Call us for availability and to hold seats – 866-HELISKI  (866-435-4754)

The No Snow Report

Vail 18″. Can I borrow your skis. Kidding….A Patroller friend of mine ads, “Worst skiing I have ever done.”  And he has been skiing Colorado almost 60 year!

Squaw 12″….not enough to keep beer cold!  Let’s go heliskiing and heliboarding where it’s DEEP – Canada!  Call us for availability

Aspen 14″ base?!? Let’s go heliskiing in BC where the base is ahead of 2011 La Nina!

The only good news about skiing out west is you can get the best deals on hotels as people faster than you bail.

Blowing Smoke, photo: Randy Lincks

The contrast with heli-skiing in British Columia, Canada is amazing.

See our recent post BC is Getting Tons of Snow – Read Operators’ One-Liner Comments

And this just in from Mike Wiegele:  ”Holy moly we have had an unbelievable start to our season. The powder had been over the top and the tree skiing phenomenal!”

The hits keep coming at Great Canadian:  ”The guides just radio’ed the office to make us jealous “The skiing was AAAAAWESOME today, temps were a bit cooler, so snow was drier than normal!”

Northern Escape Heli-Skiing adds:  ”More snow and it’s still snowing!!   More digging today! The fuel caches were totally burried and they are over 4 m (12 feet) high… We’ve never seen so much snow up here before!”

Crescent Spur Heliskiing says:  ”Our Guides have come back from their first day in the field with huge smiles and reports of the best overall coverage in the MacLeod Creek area for this time of year!”

Mica Heli Guides said Saturday,  ”‎160cm this week and counting ”

AK rules the Lower 48, too, Alaska Powder Descents adding, “150″ at Eaglecrest so far this year!”

My friend Mike adds this from Snowwater Heliskiing, “12-16″ of cold Kootenay cold smoke in the Valhallas yesterday followed by some sweet STEEP tree skiing today in the Bonningtons … the Sherpas are here this week getting footage for their next film and Team Black Diamond & Northface atheletes Callum pettit and Angel Collinson have been going off huge rock features and skiing some awfully sweet pillow lines … snowing right now so just going to get better and better …”

Call us!  866-435-4754

tj

Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)

HELISKI.com

HeliskiingReview.com

WhistlerHeliski.com

HELIBOARD.com

866-HELISKI

(866-435-4754)

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

“Go North Heliskiers and Heliboarders.”

Happy Holidays, especially in British Columbia.  It is dumping like crazy.  Better than last season’s epic La Nina!!

The lower 48 are sucking hind tit, as my dad used to say.  So bag your trip to Colorado, Utah or Tahoe and go helicopter skiing in Canada!

We asked some Canadian heliskiing operators to give us a one line comment……

Great Canadian:  ”We’re swimming on the landing pads!”

Northern Escape:  ”New snow total to near 2m since Christmas. To put it in prespective, we have more snow already than we did most of last season…. and last season was EPIC!”

NEH: “It’s Deeper Up Here! Honest!”

Coast Range Heliskiing:  This winter was a little dry and a little slow in coming but the fervent snow dances of the powder hounds have paid off and the white stuff is coming down fast and furious! Get up here!

Last Frontier Heli-Skiing:  Don’t need a sentence 3 words will do it:  ”Sweet and Deep”

Mica Heliski Guides:  Oh snow is awesome, probably the bestskiing on the planet right now 50cm of fresh -5 blower.

Bella Coola Heli Sports:  An absolute record start. We have more snow in the mountains then we have ever had before at this time of year!

Give us a call, we can still get you into some great heliskiing and heliboarding.

866-HELISKI

Best,

tj

Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)

HELISKI.com

HeliskiingReview.com

WhistlerHeliski.com

HELIBOARD.com

866-HELISKI

(866-435-4754)

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

Put your rock skis back in the closet, Mike

Last Frontier Digs It

Eagle Pass Heliskiing and Heliboarding offers small group heli experience in Revelstoke, BC.

New Areas

CMH Heli-Skiing is offering a variety of specialized trips from powder intro to big trees to film school.  Details below:

Check it out and let us know if we can help you book one.  866-HELISKI

Higher learning is also on the agenda at CMH Heliskiing Powder University!    We are delighted to introduce five exciting trips under the all-new Powder U syllabus. View the entire Powder U Curriculum and let the shreducation begin.

Powder 101 – Intro – Girl’s School With all due respect to our friends with the XY chromosome, it is probably not a bad idea to forgo the male presence while learning to rip powder in the Heli-Ski Canada environment. It’s been our experience that when it comes to supporting and encouraging one another, a tight group of female adventurers is living, skiing proof that sisterhood is powerful.

Avi Skills 201 – Backcountry Skills: This course will focus on building a decision-making framework based on the latest in snow and terrain assessment. Graduates will earn their CAA Avalanche Skills Level One, a prerequisite for further professional-calibre training.

Powder 203 – Big Trees: Conducted amidst the world’s finest old-growth-forest skiing terrain, you’ll get hands-on instruction of a set of skills from line selection to turning technique that will have you slaying trees like Paul Bunyan. More info »

Powder 215 – Film School: Your professor will teach you a raft of shooting and editing tricks that will change the reaction of your ski-video audience from Boo to Boo-yeah! More info »

Powder 401 – Steep Shots: Designed for advanced skiers who want to learn how to maximize the use of just about any kind of terrain: it could be finding the steeper, big lines in huge open features, or it could be finding the sweet zone in a glade with the ability to trampoline from one snow mushroom to the next in total control. If you want to find the best line in every run, this is the course for you. More info »

One of the best parts of school is absolutely – family vacations.   CMH has some great options for you to come and explore:

Holiday Heli-Skiing & Heliboarding: No plans for Christmas or New Years’ yet?  How about the best Family Vacation ever? Designed for Heli-Skiing parents and children between 12 and 17. Families ski together until the kids get tired…the kids head back to the lodge for tons of fun activities while mom and dad stay out skiing. More info »

Next Generation Trips: are all about skiers 12-25 years old: ½ price for ½ of the guarantee! This week is open to any skier but if you have someone between the ages of 12-25 who wants to join you on your trip. No need for intra-generational translation services with you are skiing untracked powder!  More info »

CMH Heli-Skiing has lots of great trip options this season!  Let us know if we can help you book one!  866-HELISKI

Best,

tj

Tom Jackson

CPO (Chief Powder Officer)

HELISKI.com

HeliskiingReview.com

WhistlerHeliski.com

HELIBOARD.com

866-HELISKI

(866-435-4754)

Expert Advice – Knowledge is Powder

Re-posted with permission from CMH Heliskiing

Last season I was lucky enough to be a guinea pig for CMH Adamants new small group heli-skiing program.  So it seems like the right Canadian Mountain Holidays Heli-Skiing lodge to start with for the HELISKI.com 15 Question Interview, alphabetic order not withstanding.

1.  Adamants CMH has an amazing lodge, for starters.  I use this picture a lot!  How does this lodge compare to the other 10 CMH Heli-Skiing lodges?

This lodge is very similar in style to several of our other backcountry helicopter ski lodges including the Bobbie Burns, Bugaboos, Cariboos, Monashees, Gothics and Galena.  All feature comfortable bedrooms, spa facilities and a stretch room, and super-comfortable living and dining spaces for relaxing after an epic day of heli-skiing.

2.  It is remote (fly-in only).  It can be rough.   For example, notice the location of the hot tub on the deck in the lower right corner.  Consider how far it is away from the bar!  How about a fridge or mini-bar out there??!

We don’t have to have a mini-fridge – we have the biggest fridge going: Mother Nature!  We are happy for our guests to take drinks out to the hot tub in plastic cups and extra drinks stay really cold in the snow.

3.   How did you pick the Adamants to pioneer your new small group initiative?

The Adamants offers a great mix of terrain – from big mountain glaciers to well-pitched, naturally spaced tree skiing. It is a tenure that offers the best of all worlds, which makes it ideal to support small groups zipping around all kinds of interesting terrain.

4.  What other Canadian Mountain Holidays lodges offer small group helicopter skiing packages?

For many years now we have been welcoming guests to CMH Kootenay with a small group program, so it is fantastic that we are adding to this line-up with small groups in the Adamants.  We also have a few small group options at CMH Monashees.  Check them all out!

5.  How does small group differ from CMH’s classic trips?  What will be the big changes for the guest?  The staff?

The beauty of the Small Group program is that guests are utilizing a Bell 407 helicopter, which is a fast and nimble machine.  This allows groups to access smaller landing areas in tighter terrain – so the options for skiing are more varied.  With smaller groups, guests are able to load and unload more quickly, so the pace of skiing automatically increases.  Small group heli-skiing is perfect for guests who wish to maximize their skiing time – it is also great for a group of 5 friends who want to ski together in what feels like your own private group.

6.  How would you describe the terrain at the Adamants?

Located 350 kilometres west of Banff, the Adamant Lodge is situated at the confluence of four major alpine valleys. Named for the surrounding diamond-hard peaks in a sub-range of the Selkirks, the Adamants are famed for long glaciers, deep valleys, and rugged vistas.  Classic tree skiing and huge, open glacier terrain are the main reasons why skiers come to the Adamants.

[I can vouch for both.  We skied great trees while it dumped a meter of new.  Then we skied the high alpine when the weather cleared.  Hundreds of perfect turns in a row!]

7.  During my trip, it snowed for the first three days and we skied some epic powder.  How does Adamants weather/snow compare to the other CMH areas?

The Columbia Range, where the Adamants are located, is renowned for deep, dry powder snow. Combine that with perfect mountains which feature high peaks, well-spaced trees, and deep valleys and you can’t ask for any better geography for a heli-ski area.  All of CMH’s areas are located within the Columbia Range because of these exact factors.

8.  What skill level does CMH recommend for Adamants heliskiing and heliboarding guests?

We suggest that in order to enjoy heli-skiing you should be at least a strong intermediate skier or boarder who can tackle black diamond runs at big ski resorts, even though you might lack some style doing so.  It really comes down to fitness – the more fit you are the more fun you will have. We will ask you in advance what type of skiing you enjoy so you are matched up with other skiers of similar ability.

9.  Adamants has a great deal of tree skiing and ‘cut blocks’ from logging very close to the lodge.  Does that proximity allow for flying more often in marginal weather?

The key for a great heli-ski area is the ability to access skiable terrain in snowy winter conditions. When the clouds are low we ski in the trees – in valleys close to the lodge. Cut blocks make perfect heli-skiing terrain because they create great features when covered with feet upon feet of fresh powder snow.  Even when the clouds come in we get lots and lots of skiing.

10. One of our guides, Christian Ladurner, (pictured here) is also a professional photographer.  He took pictures on a couple of days that we later purchased online.  Cool idea.  Has CMH ever done that as other lodges or CMH empire-wide?

Lots of our guides take great pictures and post them to our CMH website, where guests are welcome to download and share with their friends. There are already some amazing snow shots taken this season – take a peek and it will convince you this is the year to come heli-skiing.

11. The bus ride in can be long.  Any plans to shorten travel to Adamants?

Great places can take time to get to – especially when it comes to heli-skiing.  Our goal is to transfer our guests to their CMH lodge as quickly, safely, and conveniently as possible so we include ground transfers from Calgary directly to the heli-pad or lodge (excluding CMH Kootenay).  Some guests choose to fly into Kelowna and drive to the helipad, which can shorten the transfer time slightly.  For the 2013 season – we will be providing our Adamants guests ground transportation from Calgary to Golden and then a heli-transfer from Golden, BC to the Adamants. This will reduce the bus ride significantly.

12. On the last night we had a rockin outdoor party in a snow amphitheater built by the staff.  Does that happen every week?

Each week is a little bit different based on the guests who are staying at that lodge and the staff that are working. Each week something special usually happens – but we like to mix it up and keep things fresh!

13. My buddy Harry fell in love with a hot French woman named France (pictured above) who is half his age.   He wants to know if you can make any guarantees that it will happen again?

Ha – lucky him, glad he enjoyed his holiday!

14. Do you think you will ever have anyone back from HELISKI.com or HeliskiingReview.com?

All guests become family, and family is always welcome – let us know when you want to come back.  [Schwing!]

15. Is there anything else you would like to our heliskiing and heliboarding subscribers?

Bring on the snow – and we look forward to welcoming you to the Adamants or any of our other CMH lodges.

Thanks, CMH!

Best Regards,

tj

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

Reprinted with permission from CMH Heli-Ski Blog.

The news of the most epic early season snowpack ever in the Canadian Rockies is getting entirely over the top.  Over the last week I have received several reports of ski conditions that are unbelievable for this time of year, even in the deep powder heliskiing paradise of Western Canada.

The first was from CMH Bugaboos manager Dave Cochrane, who spent a couple of days ski touring above the CMH Cariboo Lodge near his home in Valemount, BC.  After the first day, here’s what he had to say:

“This is Dave Cochrane, back in my old stomping grounds in the Cariboos.  I just had the pleasure of joining Doug Dowling on a ski tour up the ever daunting Neckroll ski run. We skied from the Lodge up the switchbacks on the Neckroll road,  to the avalanche path which is the main part of the run.

We started with 50 cm on the ground at the lodge, very supportive snowpack, with about 15 cm of ski penetration in fluff.  At the top of the logging road where it meets the chute at 1450m there  is 70-80 cm of well supported snow. We skied to the top of the slide path to the “low heli landing” on the skier’s left of the slide path. There, at 1780m we had 120 cm.  Lower down in the chute @ 1680m. there was 100 cm  At the heli landing the ski penetration is 25 cm and the boot penetration is about 35 cm.  The boot penetration tells a good story for early season snowpack, not much penetration and the boots don’t go any further in since the snowpack is so supportive.

The downhill run was truly outstanding in an average of 25 cm of super powder with a great support, no breaking through in weak snow anywhere. If I had to open heli skiing today here, based on my limited observations, the skiing story on Neckroll would certainly make it a good opening.

I am hoping to return here tomorrow for some more skinning up and great shredding going down. Since 10:00 this morning it has been snowing steadily at just less than 1 cm an hour, with thick overcast skies.”

The next day, Dave sent this follow up:

“I skied up Neckroll again today. I just couldn’t get enough yesterday. Where I took my skins off at 1780 m. the same high point I went to yesterday, there was 25 cm. of new overnight snow, making for spectacular skiing on the way down.  The storm today was very intense with strong winds all day and while I was skiing there this morning it was snowing 2 cm. an hour.  We had warm temperatures and rain in the town of Valemount, but as soon as one left town for the mountains it was snowing hard. Keep it coming!”

Then I received a note from a long time CMH guest who forwarded me an email from Rob Rohn, the Director of Mountain Operations at CMH Heli-Skiing:

“Hello everyone – We’ve had a really great start to the winter with a snowpack that’s well above average.  There’s a meter and a half to two meters at tree line with a very solid base already.  Konrad went for a ski tour today in the Adamants and had good skiing to the lowest pick up on Bungee at 1200 m.  We’re all wishing we were open now!  So spread the word that the best skiing on the planet is out there waiting for our first guests to show up.  Anyone who’s been contemplating an early season trip should get off the couch – winter has arrived! 
See you on the slopes!”

Just this morning, I received this note from Rob, who is just finishing up CMH Guide Training at CMH Monashees:

“It’s snowing again and we’re expecting a substantial accumulation over the day.  I was just talking to the long time Monashee guides this morning and none of them can remember a year with this much snow and such a solid snowpack this early.  It’s like mid-winter out there.  A couple of days ago we skied Come Again to the bottom at 950 m and it was really good all the way.  Some winters it doesn’t get that good that low ever!  All the big tree runs in Soards Creek are in prime condition.  It really is a phenomenal start to the season and our first guests are going to enjoy some incredible skiing.”

Photo of ski touring on Rogers Pass near Revelstoke by CMH Guide Marty Schaffer during November 2011.

There are still a few spaces left in the helicopter for the most epic early season heliskiing ever.  Call 866-HELISKI to talk to an expert about the best heliskiing trip for your group!

Alaska Heliskiing is widely varied.   Geography, snow, travel, pricing models, accommodations, weather and more.

HeliskiingReview.com represents them all, and we are often asked to compare and contrast Haines and Valdez.  So we asked each of the Alaska heliskiing operators to summarize how their areas compare to the others.   This post focuses on comparing and contrasting the locations for heli-skiing Alaska.

On the map:

A:  Alyeska Resort, (Chugach Powder Guides)

B.  Valdez, H2O Guides,  Valdez Heli Experience (formerly ‘Camps’)

C.  Juneau  / Haines, (Alaska Heliskiing, Alaska Powder Decents Heliskiing and South East Alaska Backcountry Adventures - SEABA)

D.  Cordova (Points North Heli-Skiing)

E.  Thompson Pass (Valdez Heli-Ski Guides and Alaska Rendezvous)

So Heliskiing Review asked the operators to compare and contrast the heliskiing and heliboarding in the Chugach vs. Haines.  Below are the highlights:

Sean Dog, owner Alaska Heliskiing (Haines):

“Last year was a prime example of the difference between Haines and Valdez, they were mostly wind hammered while we had powder snow for most of that same time period.  The mountains here are stacked closer together so we have better protection from the wind and more terrain per square mile.  The terrain in both areas are certainly similar because it’s all AK and super sweet.  I just believe Haines can be more reliable and consistent due to its location and tighter valleys offer better wind protection and hold better snow, less wind can hit the surface and more shade from tighter valleys keep the snow cold and in good shape.”

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From Aaron Karitis, H2O Heli Guides (Valdez)

“Valdez is the best option for public/private heli skiing in the state of Alaska.  With film segments over the past 7 years, Haines has been well represented and marketed.  However, Haines is a toned down version of Valdez.  With a priority on film crews, there have been rumblings from higher paying public and private clients and their priority when in the field.  Valdez and the surrounding Chugach offer the biggest ridgelines, glaciers and runs in all of Alaska.  This allows for more options and give guides the ability to find better snow quality, snow stability and terrain.  That combined with the longest runs in the state, Valdez offers the best public and private heli skiing option in the state of Alaska.”

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From Sunny, owner, Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) (Haines)

“Valdez vs Haines?

This is a tough question that gets asked often.

At any given point the snow can be better, worse or the same. So, I think it comes down to terrain and the ability to access the terrain, especially considering weather patterns.

Haines averages 68-70% fly-able to Alpine terrain, and it averages 80% fly-able to tree terrain, Valdez does not have any trees, unless you include brush.Our tree terrain has top Landing Zone’s of 3200 feet and bottom Pickup Zone’s at 1,000 feet.

We get a lot of skiing done here in Haines because of these percentages, and our tree options. The only operation in Valdez that can really compare is Rendezvous Guides because of their location on the interior side of Thompson Pass, giving them high fly rates as well, but with very little vegetation.

Also our terrain in Haines is really stacked together, meaning we can get many combinations of runs in a short window of flight time.This includes different terrain and aspect because of the proximity of runs to each other. The Tahkinsha and Chilkat Ranges have an east/west strike so that much of our terrain is protected from direct sun, especially in mid April.

We have huge vertical, 5,000 foot descents, on average we can ski 4 groups of 4 around ten runs each a day. Our record with four groups in the field per heli is 16 runs in one day by one of the groups with 3 of those runs being first descents, for a total of 53,000 vert. This is possible because of SEABA’s knowledge of the terrain in Haines, as well as sticking to our policy of not overloading  our public ship.

Haines Rocks, so does Valdez, but we do have a little better weather because we are inland and if the weather is in, then we have tree terrain to work until it clears. This limits the amount of sit time for people, which they like.

All said I would choose Haines based on just that.

Ski you here!”

Sunny

Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

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Cedar Dumont, co-owner Alaska Powder Descents (Junea/Haines)

As far as Southeast AK ( Haines & Juneau) vs Valdez, I first have to say that we at APD have a lot of respect for all of the heli-ski operators in Alaska.
When we started APD Heliskiing, we wanted to change a few things in the industry and one of them is to not get into our op. is better than your op.
What we believe is that all of the ops have a lot to offer it just really comes down to personal preferences and finding what suits you best.

What we have to offer is:
We are the closest heli-ski operation to the lower 48. With direct flights from Seattle you don’t have to worry missing a connecting flight or ferry.
We have the sole use of a 1 million acre US Forest Service permit for the Southern Chilkats and the Juneau icefield, no crowds or competition for lines here!
We have a rich ski community that goes back to the 1930′s that included a commercial snowcat to transport skiers. In the mid 70′s the community got together and started Eaglecrest ski area that is owned by the city of Juneau. Eaglecrest  is an amazing backcountry oriented, open boundary area we utilize on weather days.
We are Juneau locals, we have built incredible relationships in our hometown and we know how to give guests the experience of a lifetime and we don’t take it lightly. Most of our guides are local as well and are proud to show off their home!
We operate out of a pristine 10 acre private waterfront lodge with heli’s out the door . No shuttles or van transfers to skiing.
When the weather does not cooperate with heli-skiing we  do alternative activities with our guests. Besides skiing at Eaglecrest, we sea-kayak, whale watch, ice-climb, indoor & outdoor rock climbing, museum  tours, movie theatres, bowling ect. There is always something to do and friends to do it with!
We get a little bit less sunny days, Valdez gets more windy days.
We offer the longest season of all AK heli ops. Our helicopters and pilots/mechanics are based in Juneau and fly these mountains year around. We do not have to charter a helicopter to come to our location, they are based here. We offer custom trips starting in late December up until our main operating season of February 15th- April 15th.
We offer a FULL refund on any heli time not used. You only pay for what you use!
We operate 4 groups to one helicopter. No lengthy wait times.
That is what comes to me let me know if you have any questions, hope it helps.
Talk to you soon, Cedar

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Melanee Stiassny of Chugach Powder Guides (Alyeska):

“A lot of people go heli skiing for a variety of reasons.  Some totally want to go somewhere remote and are willing to sit out the storm in the Lodge and wait.  Others just want to ski until their legs are too tired and pray that the majority of the time spent in AK is in the helicopter… but definitely want good backup options for storms – they look for resort skiing and snowcat backup options.  We have both options available (TML LODGE, WINTER LAKE LODGE, SEWARD are remote locations, Girdwood has resort and snowcat backup options for storm days)

There are a few ways that other operators (those in Haines included) that sell heli skiing by the run or flight time.  Chugach Powder Guides sells skiing by the vertical feet skied.  This is an advantage to the customer since it guarantees their skis on the snow vs. airtime looking around for skiing, or short ski runs.

Another advantage here is our location in Girdwood.  For our package guests we provide transportation from the Anchorage International Airport to our location.  We base our operation at the Hotel Alyeska / Alyeska Resort.  So on storm days there are options to ski at the resort or ski with us in the Snowcat for the day (snowcat leaves right from the Hotel).  It is very easy to stay skiing no matter what the weather is doing outside.  Other places may not provide transportation.  They also may be more costly to get to with airplane… so although the package price they sell looks nice the cost of getting there may be higher.  We are located 33 miles south of the Anchorage International Airport where all major airlines arrive.

Our mountains are world-famous and they are dramatic and large.   We are the ONLY operator in our permit area…. NO OTHER HELI OPERATORS are out there skiing the same terrain nor at the same time.  There are usually competing operators in the same terrain permit area with other heli operations.  Our way makes it simple for progressing through zones efficiently and making fresh ski powder runs available to each guest.

Hope this information helps you out!  Please let me know if you have more questions regarding the operational differences.

See you in the Chugach”

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From Kevin Quinn, co-owner, Points North Heli-Skiing (Cordova)

Alaska helicopter skiing has a lot of options. If the customer does there diligence prior to booking a trip they will find the operator that suit there needs best. The heli ski market in Alaska continues to grow each year with new operators showing up each spring. Currently there are now 14 different options to choose from. South East Alaska has several while most are in the South Central region.

Back in the late 80′s early 90′s Alaska helicopter skiing started in the Juneau.  It ended up in Valdez do to the endless opportunities that the Chugach held. Coombs and others put the place on the map and now I can say confidently, there is no place on the planet like the Chugach. Whether you’re in Girdwood, Valdez or Cordova, it’s the Chugach. The holy grail of helicopter skiing!

Snow is the very similar in all of the locations.  Just about all of the operators have a maritime snowpack.  As you work your way in from the coast, you start to see more of a Continental type pack but still influenced heavily by the maritime conditions.

Bottom-line, if folks do their research properly, read forums, etc., they will find the operation that fits there needs best. Hopefully people can see through the other stuff and make and educated choice on their operator they wish choose.  Personally, Cordova has been a gem for us given we are away from the 5 heli operations and 2 snowmobile operators in Valdez. We have the entire east end of the Chugach all to ourselves.  Thankfully we have a very loyal following with an 85% return rate. Cordova is pretty special to us, not to mention we have a chair lift. It’s actually the oldest chairlift in North America.  Additionally, PNH is a member of the United States Heli Ski Association. The US Heli Ski Association’s mission is to continue establishing (the highest) operations, guide and safety guidelines for Helicopter Skiing in the United States. Currently there are only 4 members from Alaska. PNH, CPG, VHSG and APD.

We hope to see you join us in Cordova this spring!

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Aaron Ollivier, (New) Owner

Valdez Heli Experience (formerly Valdez Heli Camps)

I’ll focus on two main aspects of the two, terrain and accessibility/ease.

In general, Haines is not as steep as the terrain you can find around Valdez.  To be able to get to the more extreme terrain, you have to “punch in” a little further, if you really want to scare yourself and test your ability.  In Valdez, to get on terrain that you really want to test your “pucker factor” there is more variety and it is located all over.  You can go from skiing on a nice wide open 30 degree pow run on one side, and be picked up and pop over one ridge and you’re on 55 degree ramp that will make you do the pee pee dance before you drop in.  I personally like the variety that Valdez has to offer a bit more, just because it’s nice to be able to have a wide spectrum of stuff to ski depending on a number of factors.

Valdez was a small fishing town before the pipeline was built.  Once construction began on that, it became a boom town and experienced a lot of growth.  With that came better access and generally better options to get to Valdez.  After the oil spill, things have fallen off for Valdez in terms of tourism.  In a recent Nov. 2011 Skiing Magazine issue, there is an article about ‘skiing could save Valdez.’  Basically, they examine the possibility of turning it into a ski town from an oil town and establish itself in that industry for the future of Valdez.  Valdez’s growth has been stumped since the oil spill, and even with the town building a multi-million dollar dock to handle large cruise ships finished two years ago, only one ship has made the stop.  Regardless of all that, because of the industrial activity that grew Valdez, there is better access, more heli operators, more options, more competitors and thus better deals for the skiers.  In terms of skiing, Valdez has had heli-skiing longer than Haines, which means more knowledge on skiing locations/snow quality, better landing zones, etc.

Haines hasn’t been established as long and hasn’t had the infrastructure built like Valdez has.  Thus, getting there is harder, having your pick of 5 different operators (like Valdez has) isn’t available, and the overall experience is typically limited to picking one heli ski company and you hope you picked the right one.  Also, because the variety is more limited in Haines, you might have to fly further to find something that works for your group, which means more flying, less skiing and more money, typically.  The good part about having only a couple of operators in Haines is that you have less heli’s flying around, more of a “pristine” and solitude trip.  Also, you will probably find more options for first ascents because of it…pretty cool to name a run when you’re the first person to ski it!

Cheers!!

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Theo Meiners

President/Owner Alaska Rendezvous Lodge and Heli Guides

Comparing Valdez to Haines

Valdez side of the Chugach and the Central terrain is the largest mountain chain of the coastal mountains of Alaska.  There are taller coastal mountains, Mt Fairweather, however the Chugach Range is 150 miles wide and 450 miles long.  It is heavily glaciated and outside Greenland and Antarctica has the longest Tidewater glaciers, and the most glaciated coastal mountains in the world.  Why? Well more snow falls in winter than can melt in the summer – the accumulation zones are enormous.

The Central Chugach are dissected by the mighty Cooper River.  This gigantic river drains the St Elias, The Wrangles and the Chugach Mountains.   The Cooper River canyon dissects the Chugach, but this river trench also allows the arctic air from the interior of Alaska to exit to the sea, to the gulf of Alaska.  This unique geography allows arctic temperature to seep down the deep cut valleys and to interact with the maritime storms that smash into the mountains from the gulf of Alaska.  As my Guides tell me the Glue!! Yes, that is the secret to steep snow stability.   This effect also slows the spring warming and gives us the deepest snow pack of any coastal range in the world.  My late friend Jesse Tol used to sing a jingle, he learned skiing as a child with his Dad John, on Thompson pass.   He never rode a chair and was great skier, he would sing

“Go away in world, ski and see the rest but when your done come back home , to the best, come back, come back to the best the original big mountains Valdez is the best”

Haines / Skagway, The Lynn channel

This area is the Chilakats and Chilacoots Mountains – the fantastic rampart of the South East Alaska Coastal Ranges.  This area is also blessed with great snow falls and steep runs with surrealistic spines and features.  True coastal snow pack with no arctic interface but unbelievable easy access to dreamy lines.  There are also trees, but you do not ski them.  That is  because it gets steeper and steeper with close-outs that drop straight into the water.  Use Google Earth and you will see the verticals are not as great as the Valdez.  Chugach and you are in the rain forest belt of Alaska, so you will experience longer periods of no fly days due to the intense storms and coastal fog.   But you will be rewarded for your patience with the do or die runs of a life time - shorter than Valdez (and that is relative), but intense. The helicopter that most companies use originates in Juneau.  It’s a very short flight to Haines, so the cost of transport is considerably less than Valdez.   This saving is passed on to the guest – which is a good deal!   It costs more to get aircraft to Valdez, which is another reason for so many film crews staging out of Haines.  It is cheaper to fly to Haines.  Valdez is hard to film because of the gigantic enormous scale of the faces and flutes.  Athletes tend to look like a fly on a wall, lost in the scale.  In Haines the film runs are short, dramatic and easier to get film crews closer to the action.  Also when the first thaws come,  it is over quick on the coast because of steeps and shed avalanches, and no arctic air interface.  So go early, be patient, and you will get it done.  But when you’re done come back, come back to the original, the best, Valdez –  the original, the king of locations .

God Bless

Warm Regards- Theo

Thanks to all of the owners and operators for their candor and enthusiasm for Alaska heliskiing!  Let us know if we can help you put together a trip.

Best Regards,

tj

Tom Jackson
CPO (Chief Powder Officer)
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