GreatCanadianHeliSkiing
Great Canadian Heli-Skiing is a heliskiing operator that provides strong intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders access to the British Columbia backcountry. The operation is known throughout the industry by being the first operator to offer small groups and Unlimited Vertical on all trips. The company is currently the only Canadian operation that allows clients to start their trip on any day of the week for any duration. Great Canadian Heli-Skiing has access to a vast area of terrain in both the Selkirk Mountains and Purcell Mountains not far from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The region is known throughout the world for its consistent dry and copious amounts of powder snow. The company operates in winter from Heather Mountain Lodge, located between the mountain towns of Golden and Revelstoke.
History
Great Canadian Heli-Skiing first started operation in 1988 by former owner Wayne Bingham. Bingham was previously employed at a large heli-skiing operation and was convinced by some clients to start a heli-skiing operation that skied only in small groups instead of the large groups that was the industry norm. Great Canadian Heli-Skiing became the first operation to adopt the small group format on all tours. This move revolutionized the industry, leading to a demand for small group heli-skiing.
The company once again become an industry leader in 2006, when it was the first to include "Unlimited Vertical" on all tours. Most heli-skiing operations guarantee a set amount of vertical skied. If this amount is met, many heliskiing operations will charge for extra vertical skied. Those companies that do not charge for extra vertical refer to this as "Unlimited Vertical".
The creation of the format of heli-skiing in small groups, Unlimited Vertical and with companies that are usually family or non-corporate owned, lead to the term "Boutique Heli-Skiing". This term was first coined in 2003 in the Denver Post by Greg Porter, current owner of Great Canadian Heli-Skiing.
Further enhancing themselves as an industry leader, Great Canadian is the only multi-day operation to offer guests the opportunity to start their trip on any day of the week and for any duration of 2 or more days. This flexibility was introduced to facilitate time-sensitive people in booking a holiday that fits their schedule.
Suggested Heli-Skiing Ability Level
In order to fully enjoy your heli-skiing holiday you must be a strong intermediate skier/snowboarder. This Means You have skied/snowboarded regularly over the last several years and are capable of controlling yourself on treed ski runs, traverse slopes and can manoeuvre over variable mountain conditions. For example, at your local ski resort, if you are able to descend a black diamond run and maintain control you will likely be to heliski. Any experience that you have had in skiing powder would be an additional asset. It is suggested that regular skiing/snowboarding and fitness conditioning before your heli-ski vacation will great enhance your enjoyment. You may even want to consider skiing at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort where you can get your “ski legs” back.
Advantages of Small Group Heli-Skiing
- Less time getting in/out of the helicopter which equates to more skiing.
- Easy for the guide to communicate and keep track of a small group.
- Smaller, agile helicopters can get in to terrain the large helicopters cannot.
- Small groups can access terrain big groups cannot, for example, a tight chute.
- Much easier to group people of similar ability levels and the type of terrain people want to ski.
- Easier to join up with 3 others who want to go at a similar speed and pace.
- Smaller helicopters require much less re-fuelling which enables guests to do more skiing.
Heli-pad and Staging Area
The Heli-pad is located 50 steps from the lodge doors. There is no drive to get to the helicopter in the morning, just walk out the back door. The Lodge is right in Great Canadian's vast tenure, so no long heli flights just to start skiing.
The Best Time To Plan A Heli-Skiing Trip
The "best" time to go heli-skiing depends on the type of skiing/snowboarding you want to do. Here are some general guidelines;
- December, January, early February – Lots of powder, amazing glades, steeper terrain
- Mid February to early March – Mixture of alpine bowls, glades and powder
- Mid March and April – Alpine bowls, sunshine and occasional dumps of snow
Heli-Skiing & Heli-Boarding Tips
Relax! On your first day you may feel overwhelmed, this is totally natural. Pace yourself...racking up vertical is not a competition! Ask your guide for technique tips.
- Watch the guide. When your guide stops, scope out a spot close-by behind (i.e. uphill) from him/her on a bit of a mound or downhill slope, so that when you get going,you will already have momentum.
- Having trouble getting speed? Start off in another skier’s track and once you have enough speed, veer off!
- Snowboarders - Let a skier go first (you’ll still get fresh tracks) and watch him/her and your guide to see how the terrain changes and work out where you might need more speed.
Experienced Heli-Ski Guides
Safety is #1 priority. All guides are experienced and certified professionals (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, Canadian Ski Guide Association and International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations). They are all trained in snow safety, weather analysis, and emergency medical techniques and mechanized ski guiding. All guides have, at the very least, +10 years of experience out in the field with many teaching snow safety courses. Day by day they will find the best of what Mother Nature has to offer.
Helicopters and Pilots For Heli-Skiing
Great Canadian Heli-Skiing uses the ultimate heli-skiing machine, the A-Star B2. These are powerful,very comfortable helicopters, ideal for mountain flying. All onsite engineers, and our high-hour, mountain-trained pilots are supplied by Canadian Helicopters, the largest helicopter company in Canada. Canadian Helicopters has the extensive infrastructure to ensure the rigorous maintenance schedule and safety inspections required for helicopters.
Snow and Avalanches
The company's guides are constantly practising snow and avalanche management as they analyze the changes in the conditions and make guiding decisions accordingly. Each morning and evening the guides meet to evaluate and discuss the weather, snow stability and terrain based on field observations and data supplied by remote weather stations and the Canadian Avalanche Association .
How To Dress When Heli-Skiing
With a warm heli-lift you tend to overheat and battle sweating and fogging up. Helmets can increase your heat retention and wind can increase the need for insulation. Therefore, the layering concept should be employed .
Below are some suggested layering systems:
-8° Celsius or warmer - Gore-tex Shell (non-insulated), Light micro-fleece pull over, Silk Weight long underwear. Thin hat and cuffed powder gloves.
-8° to –16° Celsius - Gore-tex Shell (non-insulated), Light miro-fleece pull over, medium weight long underwear. Thin hat, thin neck warmer and cuffed powder gloves. Lunch time vest ideal.
-16° or colder - Gore-tex Shell. Medium weight fleece or soft shell jacket. Medium weight long underwear. Thicker hat, neck warmer/gator, and cuffed powder Mitts and glove liners. Down vest for lunch time stop for layering over jacket if cooling down.