exceptional small group, private & semi-private helicopter skiing
After close to 60 years of guiding anglers on the wild steelhead and salmon runs of the mighty Dean River, we’ve extended our operations to the mountains and glaciers far above. After several years of preparation and planning, we are incredibly excited to have brought a long-held dream to fruition. Our first guests arrived on February 4th, 2022.
Since then, we’ve achieved a number of incredible milestones - best described by the numbers:
Number of guests since opening in 2022: 278
Number of first descents since opening in 2022: 132
Number of first descents waiting to be skied: endless…
Number of square kilometres explored: 1,250
Number of square kilometres in the tenure: 6,250
Number of runs with a spectacular view of the ocean (Dean Channel): 23
Longest run so far: 1,608m / 5,277ft (“Ursa Major”)
Percentage of days skied since 2022: 88% (average of <0.7 down days per week)
6,250 Km²
of Untouched Powder
…that’s a lot. 190 times larger than Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort for just you and a small group of friends.
The Highlights
Easy logistics ~ get yourself to Vancouver International Airport and the rest is up to us
Incredible alpine terrain for all skiing & riding abilities ~ with quick access to poor-weather tree skiing close to home
Small group, semi-private, private and exclusive booking packages
Unlimited vertical and all-in package pricing ~ no extra fees or charges after you arrive
More than 20 m / 65 ft of annual snowfall
35 years of superlative accommodation, cuisine & Canadian hospitality ~ a simply exceptional lodge experience
“An absolutely beautiful place, five star bucket list type experience, the type of place you don't want to leave. World class heli skiing, accommodations, service, and other breathtaking activities on any down days. Hot springs, hiking through the Pacific coastal mountains, absolutely breathtaking. Ken, you are an amazing host and guide. To Mandi and the entire staff thank you so much for going above and beyond and accommodating our group, was truly a magical experience looking forward to visiting again! And to the entire staff, thank you so much!!! the service was truly above and beyond.
Much love”
- Ari Charlap
“Without exception every member of the Great Bear team are the best kind of people. Everyone did everything possible and more to make our experience incredible. The lodge and cabins are beautiful. The food is amazing and most importantly the skiing is out of this world (quite literally) This is by far the most spectacular terrain you will see and you are always taken there and back by the highest level of helicopter professionals.
A five star review does not do this establishment justice and neither would any photo. I highly recommend seeing it for yourself.”
- Sam Fraser
Seasonal Snowfall
Located far enough inland, we enjoy ever so slightly colder weather than would ordinarily be found on the coast.
We are lucky enough to be graced with some of the deepest snowpacks in Canada - averaging a total snowfall of 20 - 30 meters (65 - 100 ft) per year.
Huge seasonal snowfalls + cooler air = powder skiing Shangri-La (that’s ski math.)
Geography
Our lodge is located at just above sea level on the mighty Dean River, approximately 50 km (30 miles) North of Bella Coola, British Columbia. We are ideally situated on the interior side of the Central Coast Mountain range, where we ride the divide between East and West. When the weather is fine, we head West into the snow zone ~ big glaciers, big alpine, big mountain snowpacks; when the coastal weather is doing it’s thing, we head East into the cooler and relatively drier side near the Chilcotin Plateau, where naturally treed glades allow for amazing poor weather powder skiing within a 5-minute flight from the lodge.
Meet The Dream Team
We’ve assembled something of a dream team comprised of industry professionals, friends and family. Our guides, pilots, lodge staff & management team bring with them decades of experience and a personal commitment to excellence in all aspects of the guest experience. You’ll see all the faces below at the lodge this winter, plus a number of others - hand-picked to help make your time with us nothing short of spectacular.
Mandi Blewett - Executive Chef & Owner
Dyllan Blewett - General Manager & Owner
Zoe Blewett - Marketing Team & Owner
Michael Williams - Director of Marketing
Ken Bibby - Mountain Operations Manager
Peter Alex Wainwright - Supervising Guide
Fannie DuFour - Guide
Tobin Bellay-Berntsen - Lead Guide
Lara Shea - Marketing Team; Tail Guide
Ryota Oki - Executive Chef
Stephanie Blewett - Head of House Keeping, Hostess
Maya Clarke-Doering - Hostess, Lodge House Keeper
Rachel Anderson - Hostess, Lodge House Keeper
Gregor Fair - Tail Guide & Maintenance
Will MacKenzie - Very General Manager; Cocktail Wizard
There’s no big business here;
just a group of passionate people who have dedicated their lives to sharing experiences in places less traveled.
Mountain life
These mountains are big. In fact, everything is big here: big glaciers, big rivers, big fish, big bears. The mountains of the Central Coast of British Columbia are known for unrivaled wilderness and our little piece of that world is no exception.
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Health & Safety
Effectively managing risk for both our guests and staff is paramount. Nothing is more important to us. To this end, our primary goal is for everyone to return home healthy and safe. Day after day; year after year.
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Lodge life
There are few settings in the world that feel truly wild and remote; this is one of those places. Hidden amongst the expansiveness of these mountains and rivers is our little oasis of rustic luxury. Welcome to our home in the Great Bear Rainforest.
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