With incredible snow conditions and unbelievable powder for much of the year, southeastern British Columbia is a premier destination for heli skiing enthusiasts. Due to the topography and weather conditions, it’s become one of the most popular destinations for all skiers, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow the crowd. British Columbia also offers operators that specialize in small group packages, meaning you can get in more turns out of every day.
BC was the world’s first commercially successful destination for heli skiing operations. Weather and topography conditions are the main reasons for the perfectly snow-filled terrains. There are many mountains that offer easy helicopter access, which is definitely great news for all enthusiastic skiers. Back country skiers will be happy to know that southeastern British Columbia has some of the most amazing and diverse terrains in the world.
Glades: Some of the most desirable terrain out there, glades have some of the best snow thanks to shelter from the wind and the sun. The trees are openly spaced leaving plenty of room to navigate.
Steeps: These are for experts who get a kick out of a challenge, and a little bit of air. As their name suggests, the pitches are steep, and the best times to take them on are from December to February.
Mushrooms: A mushroom happens when snow accumulates on top of an object like a tree stump. Once it’s thick enough, you can breeze through some amazing pillows.
Alpine Bowls: As the weather warms up later in the season, terrain moves above the treeline, or into the “alpine” zone. Bowls have steep pitches leading down from a ridge where the helicopter lands; they make great wide-open runs.
Glaciers: In the Kootenay Rockies, the best times for hitting glaciers are February to early April. Glaciers accumulate huge amounts of snow to create gentle runs free of obstructions.
Based in the Purcell Range, Great Canadian Heli Skiing offers all of these terrains, plus a natural half-pipe. They have one of the most easily accessible lodges in BC, only 4 hours from Calgary’s airport. They work in conjunction with nearby resorts like Kicking Horse and Revelstoke. Many people take a piece of their holiday at the resorts to do something a little more adventurous. The season has just about wound up for now, but heli skiing packages from Great Canadian don’t stay available for long, thanks to their focus on small groups.
You can start any day of the week for any length of time, from 2-6 days or longer. After a long, hard day on the steeps, vacationers also appreciate the comforts of the lodge. Winter attracts some truly original chefs to British Columbia offering up everything from crab leg après-ski to farm-to-table entrées. Heli skiing is about living an adventurous life, and Great Canadian offers one experience that complements the thrill of the mountain with a joie de vivre attitude toward good food and wine. Reserve your spot in the Powder Belt today.