Heli Skiing booking guide
Guide to Booking your Heli Ski Vacation with Northern Escape Heli Skiing
1) Which month should you choose?
We get that question often and the answer is very simple: every month is the perfect month to go heli skiing. Mother nature is unpredictable and we take what we can get but to help you understand the average kind of weather we get here, we have come up with a brief description: January tends to be the stormiest and the deepest. We’ll spend about 70% of the time in the trees and 30% in the alpine.
February tends to stabilize some, the skiing and riding is still quite deep and we spend about a 50/50 split between trees and alpine. March starts to see the weather stabilize even more. The skiing is deep, but just a little more settled. We tend to spend about 70% of the time in the alpine and 30% in the trees at this time.
2) Which package and how many days should I book?
At Northern Escape, we offer 3 different packages: The Classic Heli Skiing Package , The Elite Heli Skiing Package and The Private Heli Skiing Package. Our Classic package skis in a Koala Helicopter with 3 groups of 6 skiers. The lodge for this pkg accommodates a max of 18 guests. Our Elite package is a Semi Private package in a Bell 407 Helicopter and skis with only 2 groups of up to 5 skiers. The Lodge accommodates a max up to a max of 10 people.
Our Private package offers the exclusivity and flexibility of having your own helicopter waiting on only you and your group while maximizing your value by sharing the lodge, its amenities, and the dining experience with the Classic Package Heli Ski guests at Yellow Cedar Lodge. You fly in a group of 4 guests plus 2 guides in a Bell 407 or a group of 5 guest plus 2 guides in a Koala helicopter. Take a look at our comparison chart for more details.
We offer 3, 4, 5 and 7-day packages. If you are looking for a quick trip, we definitely recommend 3 or 4-day packages. This a great choice if you want to explore the mountains of British Columbia and fit in some heli skiing. If you want to spend a little longer hanging out with us to maximize your heli experience, then a 5 or 7-day package is perfect for you. Are you interested in skiing longer than 7 days? Give us a call and we will make it happen! The ultimate question is how many days can you handle?!
3) Unlimited Vertical or no Unlimited Vertical?
Add the Unlimited Vertical Option, to either the Classic Ski package or the Elite Ski package, and you’ll not only get unlimited helicopter skiing or boarding, but also your minimum vertical guarantee is increased.
There are never any extra vertical charges, and if you are unable to ski/ride at least the increased minimum guarantee due to poor weather or mechanical breakdown, you are credited the balance toward your next Heli Ski trip with us.
4) What type of insurance is right for me?
At Northern Escape, we are always working on bringing the best products to our clients. Two seasons ago we introduced Medical Emergency Coverage and Medical Emergency Coverage plus Trip Interruption. This season, we are introducing Cancellation Insurance. Check out our insurance options to decide which one is best for you.
Enjoy your Heli Skiing experience to the max, while having that peace of mind knowing that you have all bases covered.
5) Paying for your heli ski vacation:
Once you have decided on the details of your heli ski vacation, it’s time to confirm your seat. In order to do so, we require a deposit ($1,500.00 CAD per 3 or 4-day package, $2,000.00 CAD per 7 or 5-day package). Once your seat has been secured, it’s up to you how you would like to pay for your trip. Would you like to make small payments every month? We can sure accommodate that. Or if you would prefer, you can make a one-time payment, 12 weeks prior to the commencement of your package.
At the moment the Canadian dollar is at an all time low, so it may make sense to pay for your trip now so you can save over 30%. That is some seriously discounted heli skiing!
6) Skis and Snowboards:
You’re welcome to bring your own skis or snowboard but if you would like to travel light, skis/ snowboards and poles are included in all of our packages. We have a wide variety of brands to choose from. Each ski and snowboard has been selected to match our mountain conditions and our ski techs can point you in the right direction upon your arrival. Our main brands are Prior, K2 and Kastle, but we also have a few demo’s from some smaller companies. If you have any questions about our fleet, please contact us directly and we can help you out.
7) Pre-season Heli Ski Exercise:
Now that you decided to tick that box off your bucket list, it’s time to start preparing for your trip. After all, you do want to make the most out of it. We put together a few exercises to help you get in heli skiing shape for that trip of a lifetime.