Is Heli-Skiing for You?
Heli-skiing isn’t for everyone. Before you plan your trip, it’s best to see if a heli-skiing tour is something that will be safe and fun for you.
Is heli-skiing for you? Ask yourself the following questions to see if a heli-skiing tour would be a good experience for you.
- Are you in a good health? You need to be in good health in order to heli-ski (this is needed for toleration of high altitudes). If you have any health problems, check with your doctor to see if high altitudes would be okay for you. Also, you need to have knowledge of avalanche safety. Some heli-skiing tours recommend you carry avalanche safety tools, but it’s best to check with your tour operator to see what you’ll need.
- Are you able to handle dangerous situations? Safety - whether it’s avalanche safety or helicopter safety - is always a number one priority for heli-skiing organizations. However, it’s necessary to realize that when you take on Mother Nature and her mountains, anything can happen.
- Are you willing to spend a lot of money to go heli-skiing? Heli-skiing tours can be expensive (think at least a couple of thousand dollars), so if you’re on a budget or you don’t want to spend a lot of money, heli-skiing probably isn’t for you.
- Are you a good enough skier? Heli-skiing isn’t for new skiers or for beginners. In order to enjoy yourself while heli-skiing, you need to be up for a challenge. You need to be a strong intermediate skier who can handle anything from deep powder to slick spring conditions. Also, you need to know how to handle steep slopes.
Heli-Skiing in North America
Finding a heli-skiing trip is usually not very difficult - there are many organizations that provide helicopter trips to allow skier to reach off piste terrain. Most heli-skiing tours will take skiers to Canada, but heli-skiing tours are offered in various places in the United States.
Heli-Skiing in Canada
Below is a list of the most well known Canadian heli-skiing tours.
Crescent Spur Heli-Skiing
Mica Heli-Skiing
TLH Heli-Skiing
Whistler Blackcomb Heli-Skiing
Heli-Skiing in America
Below is a list of the most well known heli-skiing tours in the United States.
Sun Valley Heli-Skiing
Valdez Alaska Heli Camps
Telluride Hellitrax
Heli-Skiing Internationally
If you want a more exotic heli-skiing experience, you'll find it at an international heli-skiing tour.
Heli-Skiing in Europe
Below is a well known heli-skiing tour in Europe.
Heli-Ski Valgrisenche
Heli-Skiing in Asia
Himachal Helicopter Skiing
Heli-Skiing in New Zealand
Below is a list of the most well known heli-skiing tours in New Zealand.
Alpine Heli-Ski
New Zealand Heli-Skiing
Methven Heli-Skiing
