Helicopter Skiing in British Columbia
Heli skiing is downhill, deep powder skiing that is off trail, accessed not by a ski lift, but via helicopter. Come helicopter skiing in British Columbia where the natural terrain features are the most sought after by heli skiers around the world. Smooth deep powder snow, long descents and epic scenery provide a beautiful and natural environment in an area that dwarfs the largest ski resorts.
The helicopter and accompanying heli skiing guide provide access into the wild mountains of British Columbia’s interior, just west of the Rocky Mountains. This allows the group of heli skiers to fully enjoy the wild snow and natural beauty that British Columbia has to offer.
History of British Columbia Heli Skiing
The beginning of helicopter skiing within British Columbia is generally accredited to an Austrian immigrant to Canada, Hans Gmoser (1932 – 2006). Hans had been a mountain guide who spent several years experimenting with the use helicopters for skiing within the Canadian Rockies, but it was in 1965 that he ran the first two commercial heli ski weeks from a logging camp in the Bugaboo Mountains of British Columbia.
Since 1965 helicopter skiing has grown significantly, particularly with improvements in helicopter technology.
Helicopter Skiing in British Columbia & the World
Since its early beginnings in the 1960’s in British Columbia, heli skiing has constantly increased in popularity. Now you can find established helicopter skiing operators in British Columbia Canada and the USA plus around the globe in locations such as Argentina, Chile, the Indian Himalayas, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and across Europe and Russia.
The natural mountain terrain typical of any heli skiing location can vary immensely. From high alpine glaciers to steep and extreme slopes or glades of trees or alpine bowls; heli skiing settings can depend on the topography and snow quality of wherever the heli skiing operator is based.
In addition to the alpine bowls and glaciers, helicopter skiing terrain in British Columbia boasts, but is not limited to a bounty of old growth forests and gladed trees, providing better visibility and shelter, particularly in otherwise difficult skiing conditions, while still providing an exhilarating and challenging experience. Other locations provide heli skiing on glaciated peaks.
The advantage of helicopter skiing in British Columbia is easy access to remote mountain ranges where the terrain is covered in untouched, pure deep powder snow.
British Columbia Heli Skiing Conditions
The conditions of helicopter skiing in British Columbia can vary drastically depending on terrain stability, snow quality, elevation, weather, and time of year. Ranging from corn snow, to light powder, to deep powder, to extremely difficult snow, BC conditions can change quickly due to wind and solar configuration. The experiences of the guide and helicopter mobility carefully match the available terrain to the current conditions, providing the best possible heli skiing conditions for the group
The time of year also makes a significant impact on weather conditions as well. Heli skiers within British Columbia brave the colder temperatures of the early winter to gain access to the deep powder, fluffy or granular snow variations that are often preferred by downhill skiers. Other British Columbia heli skiers prefer spring skiing due to the longer days, warm temperatures and snow quality.
Heli Skiing safety in British Columbia
All British Columbia heli skiing guides and pilots employed by Great Canadian Heli-Skiing are professionally trained and are experienced in guiding and flying in wilderness mountain environment in order to provide a memorable heli skiing experience in BC. There are risks associated with heli-skiing which are described in our waiver. All of our guests are required to sign a waiver, and go through our helicopter skiing briefings. All groups are lead by our heli skiing guides. Helicopter Skiing in British Columbia with Great Canadian Heli-Skiing will take you on an exhilarating holiday into a world class powder skiing adventure and unparalleled access to Canada’s interior BC mountains.
Contact Great Canadian Heli-Skiing now to learn more about British Columbia Heli skiing. Call toll free at
1-866-424-4354 or contact Great Canadian Heli-Skiing by email or through the Contact Form.