Heliskiing, essentially, is described as off-trail or off piste skiing involving helicopters to reach the site. Though the sport has been around for some time now, competition to provide quality services in terms of luxury accommodation, transportation and bigger, more exciting snowfields to ski on, have taken heliskiing and snowboarding vacations to an altogether different level. Gone are the days when you had to grunt up a steep slope to enjoy the pleasures of skiing. Not only is the climb up made simpler; there is the added luxury of finding more than one perfect slope every day. As the zest to find bigger, higher snowfields and slopes takes heli-ski operators to some of the most beautiful snowlines in the whole world, an increasing number of adventure enthusiasts are enrolling to experience the excitement of reaching those high alpine peaks and skiing through striking mountain slopes.
Ski retreats have sprouted across some of the most beautiful mountain regions in the world and are providing basic and exclusive services that suit different budgets. While most heliski operators prefer to take larger groups, there are some that provide more exclusive and luxury versions of heliskiing to heliski enthusiasts in smaller groups. These entire gamut of specialized services these organizers provide include luxury mountain lodges set against stunning backdrops, gourmet meals, top of the line ski gear and clothing, professional guides, in-door spa facilities and access to some of the best slopes in the world. Combined with such world-class services, the effortless access to superb skiing conditions, the excitement of flying in a helicopter in alpine terrain and breathtaking scenery makes heliskiing the ideal vacation and the best way to leave the crowds behind.
Heliskiing started way back in the 1960s. The idea was conceived by a Swiss mountain guide based in Banff who was looking for a way to reach remote areas that had the potential to offer incomparable powder skiing. He however wanted to devise a way to reach these areas without having to take arduous treks for days on end. This started the idea of using fixed wing aircraft to fly skiers into otherwise hard-to-reach mountain slopes- the very first version of heliskiing. With lumber camps and cabins as their base, skiers would then set out each day to climb one of the surrounding peaks to experience the exhilaration of skiing down. The idea to fly out to these camps gave ski enthusiasts opportunities to ski on more mountain slopes than was previously possible.
Soon enough, fixed wing aircrafts were replaced by helicopters. These made it possible for skiers to get to even more remote slopes, giving skiers the opportunity to make many different descents in one day.
Today, Heliskiing is a serious sport with a huge fan following. There are many specialists and highly organized heli-ski operators who provide state-of-the art support for amateurs and professionals alike. Specialized mountain rescue and policing has also emerged as a consequence and has opened up many more opportunities for those looking for an adventurous profession!
Where do enthusiasts go to heliski?
Heli-ski sites have come up rapidly over the past decade. They cover almost all the major snow-bound regions of the world. British Columbia, Canada though, is considered one of the prime regions for those eager to snowboard and heli-ski. It gets a consistent and ample supply of light, dry snow that is considered ideal for skiing. BC (short for British Columbia) boasts of the best conditions possible required for heli-skiing. With just about the perfect snow conditions and minimum down days BC heliskiing is considered the best in the world. In fact, heliskiing BC is perhaps the most searched keyword amongst BC heliskiing enthusiasts! Information is abundant about areas like the northern Cariboo Mountains, central Coast Mountains, Whistler, Blackcomb and the Canadian Rockies that seem to acquire the ‘legendary' status within the heliskiing fraternity and snowboarders.
Unlike the abundant BC heliskiing opportunities, most countries in Europe and US have banned heliskiing. Yet, few operators do arrange ski vacations. New Zealand, Argentina and the Indian Himalayas are other options, though high altitude in the Himalayas does prove to be a problem. For the ultra-adventurous, Alaska can provide challenging terrain. Host to the World Extreme Skiing Championships every year, Alaska is a haven for the adrenalin junkie, however poor visibility and bad weather can make the heliskiing hit and miss.
Mica Heliskiing is quickly becoming very popular as the location is prime for the best snow quality in BC heliskiing. Higher elevations and cooler temperatures combined with five minute flight times to world class steep tree heliskiing, Mica heliskiing has far less weather related down days than any other BC heliskiing operation. The combination of snow quality, variety of terrain and 100% small groups makes Mica Heliskiing the best choice for your heliskiing adventure. |
