Heli-skiing
by Michael Bennett
IMAGINE AN EMPTY MOUNTAIN WITH LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES
OF FRESH SNOW JUST FOR YOU.
Whilst North America was blessed with huge amounts of snow this past
winter, the story was very different in Europe, where the snow came late and was
marginal in many of the lower resorts. Experience tells us that these weather
patterns tend to go in cycles so we're all hoping for big things next winter,
but it got me thinking about the unpredictability of snow conditions and the
gamble we all take when planning our next venture into the mountains.
WHAT IF YOU COULD TAILOR-MAKE YOUR SKI HOLIDAY AND KEEP ONLY THE BEST
BITS?
Imagine you could turn every slope into a perfect pitch of untouched powder.
Imagine you could magic away every lift queue, and even better, get rid of
that annoying person who elbowed you in the cable car and then ran over your
brand new skis.
Imagine an empty mountain with literally hundreds of thousands of acres of
fresh snow just for you.
Your perfect ski day doesn't have to live only in your imagination. If you've
got the appetite, perhaps it's time to try heli-skiing. Once the territory of
the very rich or the very brave, heli-skiing has now entered the
mainstream and can give you a skiing experience so far removed from the average
ski holiday that you'll wonder why you didn't try it sooner.
What to expect? It'll feel like you're on top of the world as you stand under
a piercing blue sky in complete silence with your ski tips hanging over a
cornice of snow, with 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains, and
unbroken vistas that stretch for miles. No lifts, no crowds and even better, no
ice. Suddenly the silence is broken by your guide yelling 'follow me' as you
push yourself over the lip and into some of the deepest and fluffiest champagne
powder you've ever skied.
Turn after turn after turn, and all around you are vast expanses of untouched
snow. Your small group funnels through a gully and then into some trees. Now
you're dealing with nature's own slalom gates - only this time they've got pine
needles and you'll bend before they do! Suddenly, the trees clear and there's
the helicopter waiting for you to get your heartbeat back to normal and stop the
burning in your legs, before it whisks you up for another run - letting you ski
terrain where nobody may have ever made a turn before.
Of course it's not just the skiing that makes heli-skiing exciting.
Part of the fun is the helicopter itself, offering you unrivalled views of
normally unseen valleys and wildlife with Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries playing
as a secret soundtrack in your head. As the helicopter touches down at the
top of the next peak, everyone scrambles out and huddles in a circle while the
skis and boards are removed and then the helicopter disappears in a clattering
of blades and a swirl of snow and all is quiet again. A slightly different
experience from the average chairlift or gondola, I'm sure you'll agree.
When we speak to our clients about heli-skiing the main reason for holding
back is they don't think they'll be good enough skiers. The new heli-ski
operators cater for every ability from strong intermediate upwards and they'll
put you in a small group to suit your level. All they ask is that you're fit
enough to cope with skiing off- piste for upwards of 3000 feet at a time. You'll
be offered fat boy skis, which are wider than standard resort skis and literally
float through the powder.
Safety is paramount and all of the reputable heli-ski companies use modern,
fast and superbly maintained helicopters and pay particular attention to
prevailing weather conditions and forecasts. Once on the hill, the biggest risks
are avalanches and that's where the guides come in. They are a very different
breed from your average ski instructor and put safety first at all times. Their
specialist subject is snow, how it behaves in every conceivable condition and if
it isn't safe to ski, they won't risk it.
Heli-skiing is available all over the world, but our recommended heli-ski
companies operate in North America. They are the most accessible given the
relative ease of transatlantic flight links and a big bonus is the quality of
the machinery, guiding and of course the terrain. Heli-skiing is offered on a
residential basis, staying at a remote lodge and heli-skiing every day, or as a
resort-based day trip combined with a standard ski holiday. Costs vary depending
on the area and type of trip but think in terms of £400 a day per person and you
won't go far wrong. That may sound like a lot of money but after you've been, it
will feel like you've squeezed the value out of every single penny.
Michael Bennett is the Managing Director of Ski Independence, a leading
ski tour operator offering tailor-made packages to the USA, Canada, France &
Switzerland. Ski Independence can advise on standard itineraries and those
including heli-skiing. Visit www.ski-i.com or
call 0845 310 3030
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