Safety is our Priority | Northern Escape Heli Skiing BC

Helicopter Skiing Safety

From Northern Escape Heli-Skiing's Vimeo Channel

Our expert heli-ski guides are focused on creating the ultimate helicopter skiing and boarding experience for our guests. We want everyone going home safe and sound at the end of the trip. Northern Escape Heli-Skiing guides will balance your desire for steep and deep boarding and heli-skiing terrain with the safety and enjoyment of the entire group. Our small group helicopter skiing programs offer low Guest To Guide ratios:

4:1 in the Yellow Cedar Lodge Package
5:1 in the Mountain Lodge Package
4 or 5:2 in the Private Heli-Skiing Package

Qualified Ski Guides

All our trained heli-ski guides are dedicated professionals with years of British Columbia mountain guiding experience. Each is a certified member and/or recognized by:

ACMG – Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
CSGA – The Canadian Ski Guides Association
UIAGM – International Mountain Guides Associations
HeliCat Canada – British Columbia Helicopter Skiing And Cat Skiing Operators Association, which sets the standard of care for heli-skiing safety in our industry.

Industry Leading Helicopter Pilots

Our heli-skiing helicopter pilots, like our guides, possess similarly impressive qualifications. Northern Escape helicopter pilots are leaders in the industry; vastly experienced and capable mountain pilots who are chosen not only for their skills and knowledge, but also for their friendly and outgoing personalities.

Heli-Skiing Safety Equipment

Northern Escape also has a comprehensive snow, weather, and avalanche safety management system. Our Heli-Ski guides are continually monitoring and collecting snow and weather information, assessing safety hazards, and choosing suitable terrain for each heli-skiing and boarding group. Each day, our guide team meets twice to evaluate and plan each day based on the information gathered and the information obtained during that day’s heli-skiing and boarding.

Each Northern Escape helicopter is equipped with GPS, a satellite phone, and a VHF radio (to maintain contact with the ski lodge and the guides), as well as first aid, oxygen, avalanche rescue, and survival equipment.

Included in all heli-skiing packages, Northern Escape is proud to provide each guest with the use of a state-of-the-art:

PULSE Barryvox Avalanche Transceiver
Snowpulse Avalanche Airbag Backpack (the latest in avalanche safety)
VHF Radio to for emergency communications

The Snowpulse Airbags have proven to significantly reduce the chances of being buried if involved in an avalanche. All guests are provided instruction in the use of these ski safety devices prior to skiing/boarding. In addition to the skiing safety equipment carried in our guides’ packs, each group will carry additional avalanche rescue equipment and a VHF radio capable of communicating with the guides and pilots. In the case of a medical emergency, Terrace BC has a fully equipped regional hospital and ambulance service located only 15 minutes by road from our heli-ski lodges.

safety and risk awareness

Before booking your trip, we strongly recommend reading the “Safety & Risk Awareness” information.

Northern Escape Heli-Skiing is an Accredited Member of the British Columbia Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing Operators Association, HeliCat Canada. This association sets strict standards for helicopter skiing safety. Only by skiing/boarding with a HeliCat Canada member are you assured of certified ski guides that follow a strict set of operating procedures.

View HeliCat Canada’s Safety and Risk Awareness Videos for a general overview of the risks, dangers and hazards you may encounter while helicopter or snowcat skiing or snowboarding, and to help you stay safe while enjoying these activities.

We are also a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and participate in the Industry Information Exchange (InfoEx). Together, with other leading helicopter skiing/boarding operators, we sponsor avalanche and heli-skiing safety research projects with the University of Calgary and HeliCat Canada.

To find out more about Northern Escape Heli-Skiing safety equipment and procedures, or to enquire about making a booking, please contact us online, send us an email, or call Toll Free at 1-888-209-6516.

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