Heliskiing
Encyclopedia
Heliskiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a helicopter
, not a ski lift
. Heliskiing is essentially about skiing in a natural—albeit highly selected—environment
without the effort or gear compromise required for hiking into these areas as in ski touring
or ski mountaineering
.
Most heliskiers are seeking specific, pleasurable skiing conditions that are hard to replicate in the highly manipulated terrain of ski resort
s: particularly powder snow
, but also long descents, natural terrain contours and features, smooth corn snow, old-growth tree glades
, and steep slopes.
The presence of the guide and machine offer some protection against the risks and discomforts unavoidably associated with entering this mountainous environment, allowing skiers with little or no mountain sense to enjoy a wild environment.
The term heli-boarding is used if the participant is snowboarding
instead of skiing. For the purpose of this article, "heliskiing" also covers snowboarding in this manner.
, the continental USA, Alaska
, Iceland
, Greenland
, New Zealand
, Indian Himalayas
, Nepal
, Russia
, Turkey
, Norway
(Voss
), Sweden
, Finland
, Argentina
, Georgia
, Chile
and Switzerland
. B.C. Canada is the most popular area for heliskiing with over 90% global market share.
The mountain
terrain that heliskiing takes place in is diverse. Runs vary from high alpine glacier
s, to alpine bowls, to steep chutes, to gladed
trees. Rarely, operations have runs nearing 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters in vertical relief. Average runs are more likely 2,000 feet or 700 meters.
The type of terrain skied correlates to the mountain
topography
and snowpack
characteristics where an operator is based. For example, Alaska
heliski operations generally lack tree skiing due to the low tree line yet ski glaciated peaks where the strong maritime
snowpack
clings uniquely to very precipitous slopes. Meanwhile, Canadian operations with their old growth forest
s often ski tree runs for challenge, better visibility and wind-sheltered snow – especially during periods of inclement weather
. Inland mountain range
s have thinner, weaker snowpacks which generally offer the lightest powder and best weather, but somewhat less extreme slope angles due to increased slab avalanche hazard and dry, fluffy snow that simply falls off extremely steep terrain.
Heliskiing can take place in remote mountain
regions where seldom visited terrain exists. However, helicopter
s are expensive to operate over long distances, economically favoring operation near paved, plowed road heads. Controversy often erupts when heliskiing conflicts with wilderness
values or overlaps with self-powered backcountry
riding near established ski areas and population centers at these same road heads. This conflict has led to bans on heliskiing in France
and other European Union
countries, strict regulation of landing zones elsewhere in the Alps, and active citizen resistance to unfettered helicopter access in places like Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Non-motorized winter users specifically object to the noise, air pollution, carbon footprint
, mechanical disruption of undeveloped natural areas, and unfair competition for untracked snow in areas easily and more frequently reached by foot.
, even though the trend is downward.
There are as few as 4 or as many as 12 skiers, depending on the aircraft
type and numbers. Most operations offer private heli-skiing charters and daily, three, four and seven day packages are common in the Canada-model.
On most tours, a group of heliskiers are led by an experienced guide and possibly an assistant, or "tailgunner". In fact, it is difficult or impossible in many areas to hire a helicopter
for heli-skiing without a professional mountain guide
certified by UIAGM
(IFMGA). Helicopter skiing access is also regulated in many mountain ranges, eliminating the possibility of simply contracting a helicopter for random drops.
The helicopter typically meets the ski group in an open area in a valley. European pilots are very aggressive and accustomed to operation in narrow mountain valleys, so landing in a wide spot of a narrow mountain road is not uncommon in the Alps
.
The guide or a helicopter crew member load the skis and poles into an exterior basket. The skiers board the helicopter and are lifted off and carried to a landing zone on the mountain. These LZ's may be officially designated, but regardless, they are generally familiar to the pilot.
While it is possible to "hot load" [or unload], meaning to take on or drop off passengers while hovering with the skids near but not touching the ground, it is safer and more common for the helicopter
to actually settle onto the snow and reduce power to the rotor
s while the passengers disembark. This tends to reduce blowing snow, increasing visibility and reducing confusion and flying ski equipment. The guide unloads the skis, setting them flat on the ground. The skiers move away from the helicopter, hold onto their gear and clothing, face away and remain crouched until the helicopter has moved far enough away that the gusty propwash and stinging driven snow is no longer a problem.
After unloading, the clients do not ski off at random; the guides decide exactly where the clients will ski. Often a guide will go first to assess the snow, avalanche
or glacier
conditions, then signal the clients to proceed. Depending on the conditions, the clients may ski en masse, or in less stable conditions, one at a time. The guide may instruct the group to stay to one side or the other of the guide's ski tracks in order to avoid glacial serac falls & crevasses, avalanche starting zones, cliffs, crusty snow or other potential difficulties that are not obvious to untrained eyes. In very treacherous glacier sections, the clients may be instructed to stay in the guide's track. On a broad, stable slope, the guide may allow the clients to spread out and pick their own line of descent.
and solar aspects. Guide experience and the mobility of the helicopter enable careful matching of terrain to the current conditions within the limits of the operator's permit. Customer expectations are generally for easier, more pleasant snow conditions. It is unlikely that anyone ever paid the heliski premium desiring to ski breakable crust.
Conditions vary depending upon the time of year. Most patrons specifically go earlier in the winter during colder temperatures in order to seek and often find deep, fluffy powder or granular, recrystallized "sugar" snow, which when skied in good conditions makes for one of the most relaxed skiing descents.
Some heliskiers opt for spring skiing because of longer days, warmer temperatures, and the creamy ski conditions offered by corn snow that forms when the sun's heat creates meltwater
lubrication
around the snow crystals during the day. Spring days also mean more daylight and the opportunity to ski greater vertical. In fact, it is not uncommon for spring heli-skiers during week long ski packages to exceed 150,000 feet of cumulative skiing.
The length of skier descents depends on the weather
, snow stability and snow quality as evaluated by the guides and pilots. On long descents, the snow may change character dramatically from cold to warm over the elevation
change.
runs is a requirement, however.
Europe-model heliskiers also need to be competent in ski mountaineering
, which adds climbing uphill on skis and occasionally using ropes, ice ax and crampons
.
All heliskiers must be able to manage skiing along all types of terrain and be able to get down the hill in all possible snow conditions. Avalanche awareness is helpful, but it is not mandatory, since it is the guides duty to mitigate this danger through client training, careful route selection and group control.
The expense and short duration of both the heliskiing contract and evanescent snow
conditions can lead to a "feeding frenzy" mentality when the clients are making multiple runs. Canada-model heliskiers seek to maximize vertical drop and number of runs, so skiers need to be reasonably fit and take advantage of efficient gear to avoid slowing the group.
s are required and a buddy system is mandatory because of the danger of avalanches. Clothing needs to mirror ski resort
activity level: layered clothing fit for sub-zero temperatures, goggles
, hat
, ski gloves, and neck warmers. Having a backpack
is a requirement, and is used to carry avalanche rescue gear. European-model heliskiers are really just ski mountaineers with a vertical assist, so they require ski touring
equipment appropriate to the location and conditions, including glacier travel equipment if necessary.
Fatter off-piste, powder, freeride
or "all-mountain" skis are used by the majority of heliskiers. They are less tiring in use and handle difficult terrain more easily. The introduction of these skis, originally known as "fat boys", has led to an increase in the amount of vertical feet skied, as the skiers become less tired and spend less time looking for lost skis. They have also been linked with decreased injury rates. For snowboarders, similar wider powder snowboards also exists. For European model, one may use a splitboard
where situation warrants it.
, a mountain guide
and Austria
n immigrant to Canada
, is generally credited with starting heli-skiing in 1965 in the Bugaboo Mountains of British Columbia
with his company, Canadian Mountain Holidays (although he experimented with helicopter
accessed skiing in the years proceeding in the front range of the Canadian Rockies
west of Calgary). Evidence suggests that heliskiing may have even taken place earlier in the late 50s or early 60s in Alaska
, Wyoming
or Utah
based on old photos in ski books.
Heliskiing is very well promoted in all Warren Miller
skiing movies and has its own star athletes: Seth Morrison
, Mark Abma
, Glen Plake
, Dean Cummings
, etc. which—along with its significant expense—has helped to create heliskiing as a status symbol to some degree.
Determined to make the business successful, however, Miller printed a brochure and rented an office in 1978. Business improved throughout the early 80’s until 1984, when the Wyoming Wilderness Act established the Jedediah Smith
and Gros Ventre Wilderness areas, ousting the heli-ski service from its best terrain.
We soon found that balloons and heli-skiing don’t mix. One of Doyle’s floating balloons got away from him and came close to getting tangled in the helicopter blades.”
conditions, snow stability, and risk management. Guides are trained and skills assessed according to standards set and maintained by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG)and/or International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA).
They may even conduct occasional explosive avalanche control in association with the land management agency. When weather is inclement for flying or avalanche conditions are elevated, select heli ski operators are equipped for alternate means of access by snowcat. With such operators one may still have an opportunity to ski safer, gentler or heavily treed slopes, with the use of a snowcat rather than the helicopter.
Most tours will include in the price the use of avalanche transceiver
s, shovels and probes and will provide training on the use of them and other avalanche rescue equipment. Guides, and increasingly guests, carry radios to communicate within the group, between groups, with the helicopter and the lodge.
Some operators are beginning to offer additional avalanche protection that reduces avalanche
burial potential or increases burial survival time, i.e. avalanche air-bags or Avalungs
Other hazards of heliskiing include falling into very deep tree wells, "snow mushrooms" dropping from trees, suffocation
after falls in very deep powder (rare), crevasse
s on glacier
s, common mountain terrain features such as cliffs and creek beds, and – obviously – typical ski-related injuries. Helicopter
crashes are also far from unheard of.
Financial hazards include pre-paid ski days lost to un-flyable weather. However, this may be mitigated through the use of snowcat back-up thus guaranteeing skiing everyday. Heliskiing agents qualify and book tours based on client requirements.
Critics.
Environmental groups like Mountainwilderness http://www.mountainwilderness.org have expressed their concerns and opposition to Heliskiing because its negative impact on mountains quietness atmosphere and environment.
Anti-heliskiing information:
Directory of Operators:
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, not a ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
. Heliskiing is essentially about skiing in a natural—albeit highly selected—environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
without the effort or gear compromise required for hiking into these areas as in ski touring
Ski touring
Ski touring is a form of backcountry skiing involving traveling over the winter landscape on skis under human power rather than through the assistance of ski lifts or snow vehicles. It can take place in terrain ranging from perfectly flat to extremely steep...
or ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering is form of ski touring that variously combines the sports of Telemark, Alpine, and backcountry skiing with that of mountaineering...
.
Most heliskiers are seeking specific, pleasurable skiing conditions that are hard to replicate in the highly manipulated terrain of ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
s: particularly powder snow
Powder Snow
Powder Snow was the second album by Megumi Odaka .-Track listing:#"White Love" – 4:13#"One more time" – 4:15#"OMOIDE" – 4:43#"Mitsumete" – 4:21#"Stance" – 3:59#"Shumatsu no Cinderellatachi" – 4:20#"Attention" – 3:53#"Fuyuzora ni Orion" – 4:26...
, but also long descents, natural terrain contours and features, smooth corn snow, old-growth tree glades
Glade skiing
Glade skiing, sometimes called tree skiing, is any form of downhill skiing performed off-trails in the woods or in a maintained woods trail. Glade skiing is dangerous and usually for experts only, although some trails exist for beginners...
, and steep slopes.
The presence of the guide and machine offer some protection against the risks and discomforts unavoidably associated with entering this mountainous environment, allowing skiers with little or no mountain sense to enjoy a wild environment.
The term heli-boarding is used if the participant is snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
instead of skiing. For the purpose of this article, "heliskiing" also covers snowboarding in this manner.
Locations
Heliskiing has become an increasingly popular activity since its inception in the 1960s, with operators established in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the continental USA, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Indian Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
), Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. B.C. Canada is the most popular area for heliskiing with over 90% global market share.
The mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
terrain that heliskiing takes place in is diverse. Runs vary from high alpine glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s, to alpine bowls, to steep chutes, to gladed
Glade skiing
Glade skiing, sometimes called tree skiing, is any form of downhill skiing performed off-trails in the woods or in a maintained woods trail. Glade skiing is dangerous and usually for experts only, although some trails exist for beginners...
trees. Rarely, operations have runs nearing 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters in vertical relief. Average runs are more likely 2,000 feet or 700 meters.
The type of terrain skied correlates to the mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
and snowpack
Snowpack
Snowpack forms from layers of snow that accumulate in geographic regions and high altitudes where the climate includes cold weather for extended periods during the year. Snowpacks are an important water resource that feed streams and rivers as they melt. Snowpacks are the drinking water source for...
characteristics where an operator is based. For example, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
heliski operations generally lack tree skiing due to the low tree line yet ski glaciated peaks where the strong maritime
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
snowpack
Snowpack
Snowpack forms from layers of snow that accumulate in geographic regions and high altitudes where the climate includes cold weather for extended periods during the year. Snowpacks are an important water resource that feed streams and rivers as they melt. Snowpacks are the drinking water source for...
clings uniquely to very precipitous slopes. Meanwhile, Canadian operations with their old growth forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s often ski tree runs for challenge, better visibility and wind-sheltered snow – especially during periods of inclement weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
. Inland mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
s have thinner, weaker snowpacks which generally offer the lightest powder and best weather, but somewhat less extreme slope angles due to increased slab avalanche hazard and dry, fluffy snow that simply falls off extremely steep terrain.
Heliskiing can take place in remote mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
regions where seldom visited terrain exists. However, helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s are expensive to operate over long distances, economically favoring operation near paved, plowed road heads. Controversy often erupts when heliskiing conflicts with wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
values or overlaps with self-powered backcountry
Backcountry
A backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:* isolated* remote* undeveloped* difficult to accessThe term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:* not immediately accessible by car...
riding near established ski areas and population centers at these same road heads. This conflict has led to bans on heliskiing in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and other European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
countries, strict regulation of landing zones elsewhere in the Alps, and active citizen resistance to unfettered helicopter access in places like Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Non-motorized winter users specifically object to the noise, air pollution, carbon footprint
Carbon footprint
A carbon footprint has historically been defined as "the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person.". However, calculating a carbon footprint which conforms to this definition is often impracticable due to the large amount of data required, which is...
, mechanical disruption of undeveloped natural areas, and unfair competition for untracked snow in areas easily and more frequently reached by foot.
Operations
U.S., Canadian and some other operations typically treat the helicopter like a ski lift, picking up and dropping skiers repeatedly on the best snow sections for 5-12 runs a day (the "Canada-model"). European and some other operations typically treat the helicopter like a taxi, dropping skiers near a high peak, then leaving them to work their way back to a road (the "European-model"). This generally involves some ski mountaineeringSki mountaineering
Ski mountaineering is form of ski touring that variously combines the sports of Telemark, Alpine, and backcountry skiing with that of mountaineering...
, even though the trend is downward.
There are as few as 4 or as many as 12 skiers, depending on the aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
type and numbers. Most operations offer private heli-skiing charters and daily, three, four and seven day packages are common in the Canada-model.
On most tours, a group of heliskiers are led by an experienced guide and possibly an assistant, or "tailgunner". In fact, it is difficult or impossible in many areas to hire a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
for heli-skiing without a professional mountain guide
Mountain guide
Mountain guides are specially trained and experienced mountaineers and professionals who are generally certified by an association. They are considered experts in mountaineering.-Skills:Their skills usually include climbing, skiing and hiking...
certified by UIAGM
UIAGM
The Union Internationale des Associations de Guides de Montagnes is the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, known alternatively by its French, German and English abbreviations:...
(IFMGA). Helicopter skiing access is also regulated in many mountain ranges, eliminating the possibility of simply contracting a helicopter for random drops.
The helicopter typically meets the ski group in an open area in a valley. European pilots are very aggressive and accustomed to operation in narrow mountain valleys, so landing in a wide spot of a narrow mountain road is not uncommon in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
The guide or a helicopter crew member load the skis and poles into an exterior basket. The skiers board the helicopter and are lifted off and carried to a landing zone on the mountain. These LZ's may be officially designated, but regardless, they are generally familiar to the pilot.
While it is possible to "hot load" [or unload], meaning to take on or drop off passengers while hovering with the skids near but not touching the ground, it is safer and more common for the helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
to actually settle onto the snow and reduce power to the rotor
Helicopter rotor
A helicopter main rotor or rotor system is a type of fan that is used to generate both the aerodynamic lift force that supports the weight of the helicopter, and thrust which counteracts aerodynamic drag in forward flight...
s while the passengers disembark. This tends to reduce blowing snow, increasing visibility and reducing confusion and flying ski equipment. The guide unloads the skis, setting them flat on the ground. The skiers move away from the helicopter, hold onto their gear and clothing, face away and remain crouched until the helicopter has moved far enough away that the gusty propwash and stinging driven snow is no longer a problem.
After unloading, the clients do not ski off at random; the guides decide exactly where the clients will ski. Often a guide will go first to assess the snow, avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
or glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
conditions, then signal the clients to proceed. Depending on the conditions, the clients may ski en masse, or in less stable conditions, one at a time. The guide may instruct the group to stay to one side or the other of the guide's ski tracks in order to avoid glacial serac falls & crevasses, avalanche starting zones, cliffs, crusty snow or other potential difficulties that are not obvious to untrained eyes. In very treacherous glacier sections, the clients may be instructed to stay in the guide's track. On a broad, stable slope, the guide may allow the clients to spread out and pick their own line of descent.
Conditions
Conditions encountered when heliskiing range from effortless powder or corn snow, to the most difficult snow possible such as breakable wind crust. Conditions often vary from run to run due to windWind
Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer space, solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the sun through space, while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet's atmosphere into space...
and solar aspects. Guide experience and the mobility of the helicopter enable careful matching of terrain to the current conditions within the limits of the operator's permit. Customer expectations are generally for easier, more pleasant snow conditions. It is unlikely that anyone ever paid the heliski premium desiring to ski breakable crust.
Conditions vary depending upon the time of year. Most patrons specifically go earlier in the winter during colder temperatures in order to seek and often find deep, fluffy powder or granular, recrystallized "sugar" snow, which when skied in good conditions makes for one of the most relaxed skiing descents.
Some heliskiers opt for spring skiing because of longer days, warmer temperatures, and the creamy ski conditions offered by corn snow that forms when the sun's heat creates meltwater
Meltwater
Meltwater is the water released by the melting of snow or ice, including glacial ice and ice shelfs over oceans. Meltwater is often found in the ablation zone of glaciers, where the rate of snow cover is reducing...
lubrication
Lubrication
Lubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each another, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces to carry or to help carry the load between the opposing surfaces. The interposed...
around the snow crystals during the day. Spring days also mean more daylight and the opportunity to ski greater vertical. In fact, it is not uncommon for spring heli-skiers during week long ski packages to exceed 150,000 feet of cumulative skiing.
The length of skier descents depends on the weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, snow stability and snow quality as evaluated by the guides and pilots. On long descents, the snow may change character dramatically from cold to warm over the elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
change.
Skills and techniques
Canada-style heliskiing is identical in execution to downhill skiing. There are no special techniques involved. Being able to consistently ski intermediate and advanced ski resortSki resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
runs is a requirement, however.
Europe-model heliskiers also need to be competent in ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering is form of ski touring that variously combines the sports of Telemark, Alpine, and backcountry skiing with that of mountaineering...
, which adds climbing uphill on skis and occasionally using ropes, ice ax and crampons
Crampons
Crampons are traction devices used to improve mobility on snow and ice. There are three main attachment systems for footwear: step-in, hybrid, and strap bindings. The first two require boots with welts, the last adapt to any type....
.
All heliskiers must be able to manage skiing along all types of terrain and be able to get down the hill in all possible snow conditions. Avalanche awareness is helpful, but it is not mandatory, since it is the guides duty to mitigate this danger through client training, careful route selection and group control.
The expense and short duration of both the heliskiing contract and evanescent snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
conditions can lead to a "feeding frenzy" mentality when the clients are making multiple runs. Canada-model heliskiers seek to maximize vertical drop and number of runs, so skiers need to be reasonably fit and take advantage of efficient gear to avoid slowing the group.
Equipment and gear
Avalanche transceiverAvalanche transceiver
Avalanche transceivers are a class of radio transceivers specialized to the purpose of finding people or equipment buried under snow. They are variously called Trackers, Pieps, or Arva's in a reference to some of the popular brands, "avalanche beacons" or "avalanche transceivers" - with many...
s are required and a buddy system is mandatory because of the danger of avalanches. Clothing needs to mirror ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
activity level: layered clothing fit for sub-zero temperatures, goggles
Goggles
Goggles or safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories and in woodworking. They are often used in snow sports as well,...
, hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
, ski gloves, and neck warmers. Having a backpack
Backpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
is a requirement, and is used to carry avalanche rescue gear. European-model heliskiers are really just ski mountaineers with a vertical assist, so they require ski touring
Ski touring
Ski touring is a form of backcountry skiing involving traveling over the winter landscape on skis under human power rather than through the assistance of ski lifts or snow vehicles. It can take place in terrain ranging from perfectly flat to extremely steep...
equipment appropriate to the location and conditions, including glacier travel equipment if necessary.
Fatter off-piste, powder, freeride
Freeride
Freeride is a discipline of mountain biking closely related to downhill cycling and dirt jumping focused on tricks, style, and technical trail features. It is now recognized as one of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking....
or "all-mountain" skis are used by the majority of heliskiers. They are less tiring in use and handle difficult terrain more easily. The introduction of these skis, originally known as "fat boys", has led to an increase in the amount of vertical feet skied, as the skiers become less tired and spend less time looking for lost skis. They have also been linked with decreased injury rates. For snowboarders, similar wider powder snowboards also exists. For European model, one may use a splitboard
Splitboard
A splitboard is a snowboard that can be separated into two parts. The two parts are used like skis with climbing skins to ascend slopes the same way alpine touring or telemark skis are used...
where situation warrants it.
History
Hans GmoserHans Gmoser
Johann Wolfgang "Hans" Gmoser, CM is a founder of modern mountaineering in Canada. Born in Austria in 1932, he came to Canada in 1951, and since then has been a major driving force behind the growing popularity of climbing, skiing and guiding.In the 1950s he pioneered new rock climbs, most...
, a mountain guide
Mountain guide
Mountain guides are specially trained and experienced mountaineers and professionals who are generally certified by an association. They are considered experts in mountaineering.-Skills:Their skills usually include climbing, skiing and hiking...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n immigrant to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, is generally credited with starting heli-skiing in 1965 in the Bugaboo Mountains of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
with his company, Canadian Mountain Holidays (although he experimented with helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
accessed skiing in the years proceeding in the front range of the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
west of Calgary). Evidence suggests that heliskiing may have even taken place earlier in the late 50s or early 60s in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
or Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
based on old photos in ski books.
Heliskiing is very well promoted in all Warren Miller
Warren Miller (director)
Warren Miller is an American ski and snowboarding filmmaker. He is the founder of Warren Miller Entertainment and produced, directed and narrated his films until 1988. His credits include over 750 sports films, several books and hundreds of published non-fiction stories...
skiing movies and has its own star athletes: Seth Morrison
Seth Morrison
Seth Morrison of Summit County, CO is a professional skier. He has won numerous competitions and appears in many ski movies. He was born in Murray, Kentucky. Morrison has survived avalanches, a helicopter crash, and miles of vertical on huge Alaskan faces. He is the oldest member of the K2 Factory...
, Mark Abma
Mark Abma
Mark Abma is a professional freeskier from Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia. He has won numerous awards, including the Powder Video Award for Best Male Performance in 2007 and 2005. Abma was first known as a mogul and park skier, but moved on to the back country and heliskiing later in his...
, Glen Plake
Glen Plake
Glen Plake is an American Freestyle skier. Born in Livermore, California, he grew up in Lake Tahoe, skiing Heavenly Valley. He is known for his appearances in ski films such as Greg Stump's The Blizzard of Aahhhs, and for his trademark Mohawk hairstyle, often dyed blonde, purple or blue. Plake was...
, Dean Cummings
Dean Cummings
Dean Cummings is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Livingston in the Scottish First Division.-Career:Cummings Joined Livingston in July 2008 from Falkirk becoming a member of Livingston's under 19 squad...
, etc. which—along with its significant expense—has helped to create heliskiing as a status symbol to some degree.
Partial Timeline
- 1936: Airplane inventor Orville Wright denounces helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
technology as facing, "several seemingly insurmountable difficulties, en route to success." - 1939: Russian immigrant Igor SikorskyIgor SikorskyIgor Sikorsky , born Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky was a Russian American pioneer of aviation in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft...
perfects the single-rotor helicopter in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - 1958: Bengt "Binks" Sandahl is the first recorded heliski guide. He started guiding skiers out of AlyeskaAlyeskaAlyeska is an archaic spelling of the Aleut word Alaska meaning "mainland", "great country", or "great land". The American state of Alaska derives its name from this word. Alyeska is related to the word Unalaska from the samoe root...
Resort, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, using a Hiller helicopter with a Soly conversion. Ahead of his time, his operation didn't last. - 1965: Hans GmoserHans GmoserJohann Wolfgang "Hans" Gmoser, CM is a founder of modern mountaineering in Canada. Born in Austria in 1932, he came to Canada in 1951, and since then has been a major driving force behind the growing popularity of climbing, skiing and guiding.In the 1950s he pioneered new rock climbs, most...
heli-lifts skiers from an old logging camp near Radium, BC, to otherwise inaccessible Bugaboo Mountain terrain with his fledgling Rocky Mountain Guides, Ltd. Gmoser later forms Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH). - 1966: Bill Janss heli-skis with Gmoser in the Purcell MountainsPurcell MountainsThe Purcell Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which includes the Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains. They are located on the west side of the Rocky Mountain Trench in the area of the Columbia Valley, and on...
then, inspired, starts his own heli operation in Ketchum, IdahoKetchum, IdahoKetchum is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, in the central part of the state. The population was 3,003 at the 2000 census. It is in the Wood River Valley, adjacent to Sun Valley; the two communities share many resources and both sit in the same valley beneath Bald Mountain, with its...
: Sun ValleySun Valley, IdahoSun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum, lying within the greater Wood River valley. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and cycling. The population was 1,427...
Heliskiing. - 1968: Rocky Mountain Guides opens the Bugaboo Lodge, the world’s first heli-served five-star backcountry cabin.
- 1970: Mike Wiegele starts Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing. Mike got his start in heliskiing working as a guide for Hans GmoserHans GmoserJohann Wolfgang "Hans" Gmoser, CM is a founder of modern mountaineering in Canada. Born in Austria in 1932, he came to Canada in 1951, and since then has been a major driving force behind the growing popularity of climbing, skiing and guiding.In the 1950s he pioneered new rock climbs, most...
. - 1973: Wasatch Powderbirds Guides starts operations in UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
's Wasatch Mountains. - 1974: The industry's first avalanche related fatality occurs with CMH "CMH Gallery; a Visual Celebration of CMH Heli Skiing and Heli Hiking", Hans Gmoser.
- 1974: High Mountain Helicopter Skiing in Teton Village, WyomingWyomingWyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
starts operations. Robin “Boomer” McClure and Dave MillerDave MillerDave Miller may refer to:* Dave Miller , United States baseball player and coach* Dave Miller , South African athlete in cricket* Dave Miller , British athlete in football...
launched High Mountain Heliski, with help from Jerry Tapp, Frank Werner, and Dr. Richard Sugden. From 1974 – 76, they did only two or three flights a year, with Kjerstad Helicopters. During the drought year of 1977, they flew only once on 16 inches of snow!
Determined to make the business successful, however, Miller printed a brochure and rented an office in 1978. Business improved throughout the early 80’s until 1984, when the Wyoming Wilderness Act established the Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Strong Smith was a hunter, trapper, fur trader, trailblazer, author, cartographer, cattleman, and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the American West Coast and the Southwest during the 19th century...
and Gros Ventre Wilderness areas, ousting the heli-ski service from its best terrain.
- 1977: Joe Royer, a patroller at SnowbirdSnowbird, UtahSnowbird is an unincorporated area based in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Salt Lake County, Utah, U.S. It is most famous for Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, an alpine skiing and snowboarding area, which opened in December 1971.- History :Snowbird is a...
, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, spies a lonely, powder-choked mountain range south of I-80 near ElkoElko, NevadaElko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and opens Ruby MountainRuby MountainRuby Mountain is a cinder cone in Stikine Region, British Columbia, Canada, located 23 km northeast of Atlin and south of Mount Barham. A recent collapse on the volcanoes eastern side created a large landslide which dissects this side of Ruby Mountain...
Heli Skiing. - 1977: Dick Barrymore rents a Hughes 500 helicopter and films heliskiing in the Chugach MountainsChugach MountainsThe Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about 500 km long, running generally east-west. Its highest point is Mount Marcus Baker, at , but most of its...
near Palmer, AK. He says, “Skiing in uncontrolled areas is risky. We carried radio transceivers but I thought it smart to stop in Anchorage and pick up some big red balloons and a canister of heliumHeliumHelium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
. We tied the balloons onto our waists. In the event we were caught by an avalanche, the balloon would ride high and dry, easily revealing the whereabouts of a buried skier.
We soon found that balloons and heli-skiing don’t mix. One of Doyle’s floating balloons got away from him and came close to getting tangled in the helicopter blades.”
- 1978: Canadian heliskiing and snowcat skiingSnowcat skiingSnowcat skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a snowcat, not a ski lift. Snowcat skiing is essentially about skiing in a natural—albeit highly selected -- environment without the effort or gear compromise required for hiking into these areas as in ski touring or ski mountaineering...
outfits form British Columbia Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing Operators Association (BCHSSOA) to define standards and operating guidelines. The association changes its name to HeliCat Canada in 2006.
Heliskiing safety
The primary safety concern of heliskiing operators is the danger of avalanches. Heli-skiing operations employ guides and pilots who are trained and experienced in evaluating snowSnow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
conditions, snow stability, and risk management. Guides are trained and skills assessed according to standards set and maintained by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG)and/or International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA).
They may even conduct occasional explosive avalanche control in association with the land management agency. When weather is inclement for flying or avalanche conditions are elevated, select heli ski operators are equipped for alternate means of access by snowcat. With such operators one may still have an opportunity to ski safer, gentler or heavily treed slopes, with the use of a snowcat rather than the helicopter.
Most tours will include in the price the use of avalanche transceiver
Avalanche transceiver
Avalanche transceivers are a class of radio transceivers specialized to the purpose of finding people or equipment buried under snow. They are variously called Trackers, Pieps, or Arva's in a reference to some of the popular brands, "avalanche beacons" or "avalanche transceivers" - with many...
s, shovels and probes and will provide training on the use of them and other avalanche rescue equipment. Guides, and increasingly guests, carry radios to communicate within the group, between groups, with the helicopter and the lodge.
Some operators are beginning to offer additional avalanche protection that reduces avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
burial potential or increases burial survival time, i.e. avalanche air-bags or Avalungs
Other hazards of heliskiing include falling into very deep tree wells, "snow mushrooms" dropping from trees, suffocation
Suffocation
Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...
after falls in very deep powder (rare), crevasse
Crevasse
A crevasse is a deep crack in an ice sheet rhys glacier . Crevasses form as a result of the movement and resulting stress associated with the sheer stress generated when two semi-rigid pieces above a plastic substrate have different rates of movement...
s on glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s, common mountain terrain features such as cliffs and creek beds, and – obviously – typical ski-related injuries. Helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
crashes are also far from unheard of.
Financial hazards include pre-paid ski days lost to un-flyable weather. However, this may be mitigated through the use of snowcat back-up thus guaranteeing skiing everyday. Heliskiing agents qualify and book tours based on client requirements.
Critics.
Environmental groups like Mountainwilderness http://www.mountainwilderness.org have expressed their concerns and opposition to Heliskiing because its negative impact on mountains quietness atmosphere and environment.
External links
Heli Skiing Websites:- Elemental Adventure Worldwide helicopter skiing
- Heliskiing Canada Finds the best heliski trip
- Total Heliski Where every day is a powder day!
Anti-heliskiing information:
- Stop Heliskiing in Switzerland.
- Save Our Canyons in Utah.
Directory of Operators: