By 1953, a mountain guide from Austria by the name of Hans Gmoser had saved enough money to move to Banff and begin a career as a guide in the spectacular wilderness surrounding 12,000-foot Mount Assiniboine, "Canada's Matterhorn." After a few years, he gained an intimate knowledge of the physical as well as spiritual aspects of the mountain. As Hans recalls of those early days, "I longed to share the natural beauty of the majestic mountains in Western Canada with everyone I could."
More than 50 years later, the helicopters look very different, but the mission remains the same: share the most thrilling snowboarding available anywhere in the world.
You're standing on the roof of the world, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. The views of the Rockies, plus the Monashees and Selkirks on the horizon are absolutely breathtaking. A million acres of deep, dry, Rocky Mountains powder lie beneath your feet and all around - waiting for just you, your three companions and your guide to ride.
Floating in waist-deep powder, you ride down a sea of pure virgin snow, grinning from ear to ear. A thousand metres down and you're in the trees. Riding in the trees the snow is just as deep, sheltered from wind or sun - unbelievable! Another thousand metres – and you spot your helicopter sitting in the snow, waiting to fly your small group to yet another run in snowboarding paradise.
Snow boarding with Mica Heli is bound to be the best riding you could ever imagine. Maybe it's beyond imagining - come and find out!
Mica Heliboarding has the goods - any terrain you desire and as much of it as you wish. Combine the greatest terrain on Earth with 12-18 metres per year (40-60 feet) of dry, light, Rocky Mountains powder and the result is absolutely the best snowboarding on the planet.
Mica Heliboarding has a diverse range of terrain for every level, from gently sloped glaciated runs in the high alpine suitable for first-time boarders, to genuine expert-level steep chutes, and huge amounts of challenging tree runs. You do not need to be an expert to snowboard with Mica Heli. Guests of every level of ability have come here and loved it.
And after a day full of snowboarding
Mica Heli lodge lies on a broad, open slope rising into the Rocky Mountains, with a spectacular view of huge Kinbasket Lake. Accessible in winter only by helicopter, the lodge can comfortably sleep 12 guests. Each of the six guest rooms have ensuite bathrooms and are double or triple occupancy.
As remote as the lodge may be, it's as comfortable as home, with self-generated power, satellite TV, wireless internet, and emergency telephone access. After each full day of snowboarding (or hiking or fishing in summer), the Mica Heli lodge becomes your personal haven to return, refresh, relax - and recount your great adventures.
Mica Heli's backcountry lodge is very close to the area where you board, and the helicopter will return for fuel at least once, enabling you to return to the lodge early if you wish. You can use unused vertical one day for extra boarding on another day; you pay only for the total additional vertical you've boarded above the combined package amount for your whole trip.
As for snowboarding tips, for riding deep light powder a longer, backcountry board is necessary. Step-in bindings are preferred, with your stance set to the farthest-back setting. Mica Heli's lodge is in the backcountry, so bring along spare parts. Mica Heliboarding has a very limited selection of boards at the lodge so please bring your own.
To maximize your first boarding experience, Mica Heliboarding will attempt to place you with a group of similar ability. But because it runs only 12 guests in three groups, you should try, if possible, to travel in a group of similar ability or a private group of four.
And the Mica Heli guides are there to share all kinds of snowboarding information and snowboarding tips, and snowboarding pics of your trip are also included free of charge. We may add here that the unique terrain of Harvey valley among others that form part of Mica Heli's terrain, provide ideal backdrop for taking epic snowboarding pics. Come and ride the same lines you see in all the snowboarding magazines!
Your resource for snowboarding information: Mica Heliboarding (just a click away; the web site's address is: http://www.micaheli.com ). The site is choc-a-bloc with snowboarding information (and snowboarding pics as well! Check out their gallery, or contact them with any kind of request.) |
