Mountain Life
6,250 Km²
Sometimes a number says it all. To put things into perspective, our exclusive helicopter skiing tenure is approximately:
1/4 the size of the Swiss Alps
190 times the size of Whistler Blackcomb ski resort
520 times the size of Vail ski resort
the same size as the Province of Prince Edward Island
2 times the size of the Teton Mountain Range
We’ve got an insane amount of terrain; especially when you consider that you’ll only have to share it with a maximum of 7 other skiers. And the skiing we have close to home is excellent - we don’t need to travel far. In fact, most of our 1st runs are under a 5-minute flight from the lodge. This includes some excellent naturally gladed tree skiing and exceptionally large and beautiful alpine glaciers too.
What is truly unique about the mountains of the Central Coast and the Eastern edge of the Great Bear Rainforest is the density of skiable terrain and our proximity to legitimately excellent tree skiing. The Coast Mountains are not generally known for a lot of poor weather skiing options - our tenure is an exception to that rule. Situated on the divide between the moisture-laden air masses of the Pacific and the cooler and drier interior air mass, we’re able to access the best of both worlds.
Frequently Asked questions
FAQs
I’ve always dreamed about heli skiing, but I’m probably not a strong enough skier / snowboarder?
One of the interesting things about the helicopter skiing world is the broader perception of what it’s all about. Many people are hesitant to book a trip because of what they see on social media: jumping out of helicopters onto knife-edged ridges in order to ski gargantuan alpine faces. Although this experience is possible when the stars align - given the right conditions and group - it’s certainly not representative of your average day heli skiing.
Imagine the steepness of a green, blue or black run, but with endless fields of untracked powder and only you and a small group of friends - that’s the quintessential helicopter skiing experience. The flexibility of having a guide and helicopter allows us to choose exceptional terrain, with the softest snow, for the best possible experience.
We do recommend a minimum of “advanced intermediate” skiing / riding ability. However, if you’re new to powder skiing or are unsure of your skill level, we can also offer a private “Intro to Heli Skiing Program”, complete with an additional guide and helicopter.
Are there extra charges / hidden costs above and beyond what is listed on the web site?
No. Our advertised price includes it all. Basically everything that happens after you arrive at the South Terminal of the Vancouver International Airport is up to us. This includes:
Charter flight & helicopter transfer
Accommodation & food (including wine, beer and spirits)
Unlimited vertical
Guiding, safety equipment, skis & snowboards
Massage therapy
Emergency evacuation insurance
How does your operation compare to others in British Columbia?
Having a maximum of only 12 guests at any given time allows for a boutique-style of operation that is quite unique in the world of helicopter skiing. We’re small. We’re nimble. And we put as much attention to detail into the lodge experience as we put into the mountain program. We’re also situated in one of the most remote, rugged and beautiful places in British Columbia with a backdrop of expansive alpine terrain, ancient old-growth forests, mighty rivers and untouched valleys. We are a young operation with an old soul.
When we’re not able to fly due to weather, what are the down-day options?
We’re incredibly lucky to have excellent and numerous poor weather skiing options within a 3-6 minute flight from the lodge. However, on rare occasions when we’re simply not able to fly we have a number of possible options to get you out and about:
Fly fishing ~ just a short flight from the lodge, there are both Dolly Varden Trout and Sea-run Cutthroat Trout. This catch-and-release fishery can be spectacular, especially later in the winter.
Heli-assisted hiking ~ a few kilometres downstream from the lodge, there is a spectacular hike through a dramatic canyon to 5,000 year-old petroglyphs. This late-afternoon adventure continues to be a highlight for many guests.
Laser Tag ~ yes, you read that right. We’ve invested in 12 high-end laser taggers and our forested valley-bottom location is perfect for a round of capture the flag, guides vs. guests or winner takes all. It’s incredibly fun and a great workout too.
Because of our proximity to the skiing, it’s quite unlikely we won’t be able to fly for an entire day. If things clear up by mid-afternoon, we’ll launch as soon as possible. In the meantime, the rustic luxury of the lodge and all its amenities isn’t a bad place to be either…
To put things in perspective, we have run 27 ski weeks since 2022. In all those weeks - and through all the stormy weather that brought us such great powder - we’ve been able to get out skiing more than 88% of the time. On average, we see less than 1 down-day per week of skiing.
What is the Great Bear Rainforest?
The Great Bear Rainforest covers 6.4 million hectares (64,000 Km² / 25,000 Mi²) of the North and Central Coast of British Columbia. In order to achieve ecological integrity in this amazing wilderness, the Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order and Great Bear Rainforest Act of 2016 mandated the conservation of 85% of the forest and 70% of existing old growth forest. It also takes steps to ensure the protection of valuable habitat for wildlife species including: the Marbled Murrelet, Northern Goshawk, Tailed Frog, Grizzly Bear and Mountain Goat. Great Bear Heli Skiing is committed to being a responsible steward of the land and has gone to great efforts - working with biologists, First Nations, local communities and the Province of British Columbia - to ensure that we adopt best practices related to wildlife mitigation and avoidance strategies.
Your pricing is more than many operations in British Columbia… why is that?
There are a few reasons for the higher price point but our primary cost centres are closely related to location of the lodge (we’re very remote) and our limited capacity (only 8-12 guests per week). Having said that, if you factor costs associated with other operations (car rentals, travel over mountain passes and additional charges during your stay), we’re very closely aligned with comparable semi-private heli ski packages available in BC.
We’d also like to think - and our guests agree - that we’ve got something special happening here; this place, these people and the mountains that surround us are simply without equal.