Demand has been extraordinarily strong for 2022 heli skiing and boarding trips and we are well over 90% sold out at this point. BUT, there are still some great dates left and now is the time to pull the trigger and book, before prices go up on April 30th. Yep, just 3 days left. Our Worry-Free Booking policy means you’ve got nothing to worry about if your travel is affected next winter.
Hans Gmoser usually gets credit for being the father of the sport of heli skiing. The enigmatic Austrian moved to Canada at a young age and began guiding in the Rocky Mountains, where he pioneered several challenging routes and first ascents. As a filmmaker, he produced highly acclaimed skiing and climbing films. He was also one of the founding members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG), Canada’s premier guide certification agency. In 1963, he first tried using a helicopter to shuttle skiers up remote slopes in the Bugaboo Mountains in the Purcell Range. He returned to the Bugaboos in 1965 to run the Read more
BC is the birthplace of heli skiing (or heliskiing or helicopter skiing as it’s variously known) and is home to more heli ski operators than anywhere else in the world. The rugged, majestic mountains, deep snowpack and world-class lodges have made it a mecca for those seeking the ultimate powder skiing experience. But it’s important to understand the different heli ski regions of Canada’s westernmost province, and the conditions in each throughout the winter so you know when to go heli skiing in BC.
Around the globe, many different types of helicopters are used for heli-skiing. In the Far East, you might find a Russian built Mi-8 helicopter, a beast capable of carrying 22 skiers. In Europe, the most common machines are the Eurocopter AS350 B2 and B3 ‘Squirrel’, both small single-engine helicopters capable of carrying 4-5 skiers. (In North America, the AS350 is known as the A-Star).
Eurocopter AS350 B3 ‘Squirrel’
The Bell 212
The Russian Mi-8 ‘Beast’
In BC, the most common machines used are the Bell 212 and Bell 205, both medium-sized helicopters capable of carrying 11 skiers. Most ‘small-group’ heli ski outfitters opt for the The Bell 407 and A-Star, both ‘small’ choppers, with room for 4 skiers in the back.
While these might be the most commonly used machines in the sport, in our opinion, one stands above the rest.
There are many reasons why we stand above others when it comes to offering the best experience for our guests. Our guests often notice the quality of food & service, how DEEP our powder is, and the amazing tree & high alpine terrain we offer. But there is one element that is often overlooked by guests- and that is how amazing our Koala Helicopters are. While other operations offer many different types of 4,5 & 10 passenger helicopters, no one can match the speed, power, comfort and overall experience of our 6-pax Italian designed Koalas. In our ‘Classic’ Package at Yellow Cedar Lodge- we fly a maximum of 3 groups of 6 and still fit in 6 guests, a guide, and a pilot very comfortably. And in our ‘Elite’ program with Accommodations at our Mountain Lodge- we only ski in two groups of 5. So no tight squeezes here. Everyone can fit into our Elite groups with plenty of extra leg, shoulder and arm room. Here is all you need to know about your sweet ride in the mountains.
The AW119 Koala is a ‘flying Ferrari’ for the Mountains of British Columbia
This guide is going to cover every detail of your heli-ski trip, so you get the most out of it.
It’s no surprise to say, heli-skiing has it all. It may feel like your first date, yeah it can excite the hell out of you.
Let’s start by breaking a myth… myth? You don’t need to be an elite skier for this to happen! Yes! You read it right. Contrary to what you might think, heli-skiing isn’t just for the world’s elite shredders. You don’t have to be an expert who leaps out of a moving chopper and falls straight into a powder bath to your knees. Yes, if you’re confident on an intermediate (or blue-square) ride on your local mountain in six inches of powder snow, you have all the skills you need to go for a heli-skiing blast.
We are very excited to see all the progress on the new lodge build. It is exciting to know that we will be getting the keys in time for the next winter season and that our guests will be welcomed into a new era of the Northern Escape journey. IDL Projects is chomping at the bit to get in there and start putting some hammers to nails. We have moved the snow from the summer access road and they will be in there next week!
The View of the Lodge Looking North.
Northern Escape Heli Skiing is excited to introduce the Blizzard Rustler 11 to our already stacked ski fleet. With so many amazing skis to choose from, let us help you make the right decision with some background information to get the best experience out of your heliski trip!
Blizzard’s Carbon Flipcore D.R.T technology reduces the torsional strength of the rockered tip and tail making these skis extremely playful in the deep North Coast powder and because of the camber underfoot, holding an edge on the steeps is a breeze. This award-winning ski is an all day, all conditions favorite of many freeride athletes and now, you, our guests can also enjoy the ride. Read more
The My Town heli skiing region is a great mix of alpine and tree skiing. My Town is an excellent destination to rack up some vertical on a little bit of everything circuit with loads of variety.
Northern Escape welcomes international heli skiing guests from all over the world. Our huge terrain (over 5,500 sq. km), easy access, amazing heli ski zones, and our small group heli skiing packages make for the perfect heli skiing experience!
At Northern Escape, over the years, the dates over the New Year have blessed us with some of the deepest, lightest powder ever and some of the best heli skiing we have ever had! Now throw in a New Year’s Eve party, fireworks and fantastic people from all around the world, and there is no better way to bring in 2019!
We offer 2 packages during the New Years week to accommodate varying budgets and personal holiday commitments. Choose the 5 day package to start the party off right and put a smile on your face for all of 2019. Choose the 7 day package to give yourself the gift of champagne powder to end 2018, and face shots to bring in the new one!
In this heli skiing FAQ blog, our expert guides have put together a Q&A to provide answers to many of the frequently asked questions we get asked about heli skiing in Canada.
25-min Shuttle Bus to the Lodge
This is the time of the year when our office starts getting busy. There’s lots of planning to do for the winter ski season and soon enough, we will be getting plenty of questions as you start getting ready for your heli skiing trip in Canada.
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
Yes! Both of our lodges include free Wi-Fi.
Yes. It may be spotty at certain places but we will show you the best spots to make a cell phone call.
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
