Canada
Heli-skiing in Canada
Endless mountains, huge snowfalls and the widest choice of heli-ski areas.
The birthplace of heli-skiing over forty years ago, the Canadian province of British Columbia remains the epicenter of this most exciting of wilderness skiing adventures. And there are several very good reason why. First and foremost are the huge snowfalls of 40 to 60ft (10 to 15ms) each year meaning heli-skiers can expect to ski knee deep to waist deep powder most of the time. The Pacific Jet Stream carries moist, warm air from sub-tropical climes which cools and condenses when it collides with cold arctic air flowing south - the result is the perfect light, dry snow for which BC is rightly famous.
To go with the huge snowfalls are the vast amounts of space needed for heli-skiing. Canada is the second largest country on earth yet one of the least populated. With two major mountain ranges in British Columbia, one on the coast and one in the interior, there are literally thousands of square miles of mountain terrain available to heli-skiers and boarders. To the snow and space, add lots of trees which help protect the snow from wind & sun and help keep the helicopters flying in marginal weather. When visibility is low, trees provide the helicopter pilots with a visual reference so they can keep flying and you can keep skiing.
While Western Canada provides a unique wilderness experience it’s still very easy to reach. Direct flights operate daily from many cities around the world to Vancouver and Calgary from where there are good onward regional connections and readily available private air charters, means reaching your chosen heli-ski area couldn’t be easier.
Highlights
* Annual snowfalls of 40 to 60 feet
* Thousands of square miles of mountain terrain
* Great marginal weather skiing in the trees
* Widest choice of heli-ski areas
* Easy access from around the world