Guide to Heli Skiing in BC
- Planning your First Heli Ski Vacation
- Tips for Skiing and Boarding in Deep Powder
- Safety and Equipment
- Choosing a Heli Ski Operator
- When are Where to Go
Winter 2023 and 2024 On Sale Now! Mountain Lodge Open for Summer 2022 Bookings. Plan Your Summer Adventures!
Heli Skiing vs Cat Skiing: Which Winter Vacation is Best for You?
What is mechanized Skiing?
Mechanized skiing is a type of skiing that uses either a helicopter or snowcat to take skiers and snowboarders up remote slopes in the backcountry, to untouched mountains, with deep powder, stunning views, and terrain features not found on-piste. This is very different from a ski resort, which may use a chairlift, gondola or T-bar to take skiers up marked and groomed slopes.
Base Depth vs Ski Depth
Why Early Season Delivers the Goods for Deep Powder Heli Skiing
At Northern Escape, one of the questions we’re often asked is, “When is the snow the deepest?” And here’s where a bit of an explanation is in order. The snow ‘base’ is almost always deepest in late April, after it’s been piling on all season. However, the ‘ski depth’ is often deepest in December.
It sounds counterintuitive, so let’s explain further. At your local ski hill, you might have 2m (6’) of snow base, but it’s pure groomer, and nothing on top, so the ski depth is literally Nada.
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2022 and 2023 Heli Skiing Bookings
Last Chance to Save on 2022 Heli Skiing Trips
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.
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What Is Heli Skiing?
A Brief History of Helicopter Skiing
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
Best Time to Go Heli Skiing in Canada
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.
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Heli Skiing Helicopters
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’
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Cat Skiing For Families
Why Cat Skiing is the Perfect 2021 Family Winter Staycation
2020 has felt like a long year, which is why you should kick off 2021 with a well-deserved family staycation in the Canadian mountains. Avoid the crowds of popular ski resorts and escape this winter season for a secluded mountain retreat at Northern Escape Heli-Skiing (NEH), located in the picturesque Skeena Mountains in northwest British Columbia. Northern Escape offers a wide-variety of adventure skiing and snowboarding activities, all-inclusive stays in its newly-renovated lodge and unlimited ski terrain that will help you create memories you will cherish for a lifetime.
The remote BC ski outfitter has launched a new cat skiing product specifically designed for families and small groups. The family package includes winter-vacation perks, such as starry nights in a hot tub, sommelier curated wine list, Red Seal chefs and of course the safety equipment to ensure you have a worry-free stay. Enjoy the crisp mountain breeze on your face and your own private runs with fluffy pillows of powder while feeling safe in your family circle. If you are a confident intermediate resort skier or boarder, catskiing is a perfect family-bonding activity for you! Read more
Planning Your First Heli-Ski Trip? Everything You Need to Know
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.
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Mountain Heli Skiing Lodge Building?
For most people, building a new house is a big project. Building a Lodge might seem a little more daunting. But, put that lodge at the end of a remote logging road in the middle of some of the most remote mountains in BC, and it takes it up a notch. Building a remote mountain Heli Skiing lodge is not for the faint of heart, and I can speak to that from firsthand knowledge now. The journey is fraught with obstacles and hurdles impeding success at every turn, but with success, just around the corner, I can now say, without hesitation, it was worth the effort.
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New Remote Mountain Lodge
Northern Escape Heli Skiing, in its 16th year of operations, is pleased to announce the construction of its new remote mountain lodge opening for the upcoming 2020 season. Construction began in the spring of 2018 and the completion date is scheduled for the fall of 2019.
Northern Escape Heli Skiing offers a variety of exclusive packages to choose from, including the Classic, Elite and Private, with guest accommodation currently at both Yellow Cedar Lodge and Pioneer Lodge. The company has seen steady growth due in part to their immense terrain, huge alpine and incredible tree-skiing, as well as their renowned deep, reliable snowpack. Guests also very much appreciate their easy access, saving travel time and expense, as well as their industry leading snowcat backup, which will keep everyone skiing/riding in all but the most extreme weather.
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The New Lodge Will be Ready for this Season!
New Lake Front Heli Skiing Lodge!
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.
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Long Range Forecasts
Introducing the Blizzard Rustler 11
for 2019!
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
for 2019!
My Town Heli Skiing Region
Located 38km North West of Yellow Cedar Lodge
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!
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Our New Year’s Classic is Back!
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!
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K2 Pinnacle 118 Review
In this K2 Pinnacle 118 review our heli ski experts will explain why we love them here at Northern Escape Heli Skiing in British Columbia Canada.
We offer K2 Pinnacle 118 fat skis to our heli skiing guests along with the Kastle BMX 115 fat skis we reviewed in an earlier post. We highly recommend both to our heli skiing guests.
K2 Pinnacle 118 fat skis are excellent all-around deep powder skis that can handle any of the 12 heli ski zones in our 5,500-km terrain.
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Heli Skiing FAQ & Answers
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:
Does Northern Escape Heli Skiing have Wi-Fi?
Yes! Both of our lodges include free Wi-Fi.
Will I be able to get cell phone reception?
Yes. It may be spotty at certain places but we will show you the best spots to make a cell phone call.
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Fjordland Heli Ski Zone
Location – 45km NW of Yellow Cedar Lodge
Fjordland Heli Skiing Zone from the air!
Our Fjordland heli skiing zone is another favorite and one of the 12 exceptional heli skiing zones in our 5,500 sq. km terrain here at Northern Escape Heli Skiing.
Fjordland is the ideal place to make your first decent when heli skiing in British Columbia Canada. This heli skiing zone is 50% glaciated, which makes it an amazing place to spend a day.
Essentially, the surface has only been scratched in this far off limitless destination. The view from the top says it all! And, like the name implies, the Fjordland heli skiing zone offers perfect alpine skiing that leads you down over 3200 vertical feet through steep trees and avalanche paths to the valley bottom.
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Prior Snowboards & Skis Whistler BC
Our Go To Ski & Snowboard Fleet at NE Heli Skiing
Prior Snowboards and Skis
For go-to powder specific heli skiing gear, our Northern Escape Heli Skiing experts here in British Columbia Canada like Prior snowboards and skis.
Prior is an award winning Canadian snowboard manufacturer out of Whistler, BC. For nearly three decades they’ve been making exceptional, hand crafted, premium quality Canadian snowboards and skis.
At NE Heli Skiing, we believe that having the right heli skiing gear will help you make the most of your vacation when snowboarding or heli skiing in Canada.
No one wants to have to go in early due to having back leg fatigue, or because you are tired of tomahawking down the mountain. That’s why we offer two coast mountain powder specific snowboards as part of our complementary rental fleet.
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Heli Skiing Food at NE Heli Skiing
It gives me pause to think that most people are unaware of the finely orchestrated process by which heli skiing food arrives on their plate.
From food menu writing to product sourcing, ordering, transport, and the preparation of your final gourmet meal, a long chain of people have had a hand in the heli skiing food we serve on the hill and at our lodges.
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