Six Reasons to Choose Bella Coola Heli Sports

There's no shortage of reasons why you should come heli skiing or heli boarding in Bella Coola this winter, and there's just as many reasons to choose us. Let's start with six…

1. Great Snow And Lots Of It

Bella Coola is blessed with plentiful and reliable snow. Most years there is a 4 to 5 metre base in the alpine with total snowfall averaging 20 to 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) over the course of the season (during the winter of 2011/2012, we had a 6 metre (20 foot) base at treeline and 10 metres (33 feet) in the alpine! Best of all, it is usually a stable snowpack which means we can heliski more challenging and interesting terrain than at most other heli skiing BC destinations. These conditions result from the fact that our playground straddles the Coast Range Mountains from a wetter western periphery to a drier eastern zone. This is ideal. On snowy days we stay in the east, close to the lodges and heliski in the trees, but then when it’s blue we can fly west into the Big Snow zone as well as into the high alpine.

2. Focus On Safety

We are a member of HeliCat Canada. This means we operate according to the most comprehensive safety guidelines in the world with regards helicopter skiing. The guidelines were developed over 45 years of operating experience. In addition, we are very proactive in furthering safety in all aspects of the heliskiing experience. For example, all our guests use Snowpulse Floatation backpacks. Our helicopter provider is equally diligent with their safety protocols and have flown heli skiing for many years. For more details on our safety program please contact us, or visit the heliskiing safety and procedures area of our site.

3. Private and Small Group Heli Skiing

Private and Small Group Heli Skiing is integral to our philosophy. This format allows for a more rewarding and intimate heliskiing experience. Smaller groups result in more cohesive ski groups in terms of ability level and means you won’t have to wait for stragglers. Small helicopters require less space to land which means more terrain choices. Private helicopters ensure there is never any waiting time between runs, as well as increasing flying range and therefore the possibility to fully explore the whole tenure. The result is that our guides and helicopter pilot have greater operational flexibility with which to find you and your group the best snow. We also subscribe to intimate and private lodge settings for your accommodation.

4. Less Travel equals more Skiing and Riding

Bella Coola is simply the easiest destination heliskiing operation to travel to in the world. Less travel time of course means more time to ski and less time away from home. Bella Coola is a short one hour fifteen minutes flight north of Vancouver, BC, which makes it possible for our clients to ski and ride both on the arrival and the departure day! Therefore, over the course of a one week stay there is the possibility to ski 6 full days and 2 half days. Talk about maximizing your holiday time! You arrive in Bella Coola before noon, eat lunch, gear up, do some safety training, then load the chopper. Does it get any better? We know what you're coming for, why make you wait until tomorrow? Nowhere else can you access this much pristine wilderness and terrain with such ease!

5. Huge Terrain

The size of our permit area is unrivaled. It is 2.64 million acres or 10,700 sq/km, which translates to 4,300 sq/miles of mind-blowing ski & snowboard terrain! This is 325 times the size of Whistler Blackcomb or 90 times larger than the whole Trois Vallées! In addition, the mountains and terrain in Bella Coola are unique. They are certainly the most dramatic in British Columbia and include the highest peak in British Columbia. Expect epic 3000-5000 ft descents, even up to 6000ft at their longest. Yes, that's almost twice the height of Vail, top to bottom, and it’s all untracked. Combine these facts with the fact that we host a very limited number of people per week and you have the lowest density skier ratio in the world. The maximum number of people skiing in our permit area at any one time is 34. This means we never have to ask our clients to "farm" the snow and there are always lots of places to go for new tracks.

6. Three Unique Lodges

In all, we offer a choice between three lodges, hosting anywhere from 8 to 16 people maximum. By focusing on small intimate lodging, we are able to better cater to the individual goals and desires of our clients. Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is our original base and the most luxurious. There is space for 16 people and accommodation is in private chalets. Pantheon is just east of the highest peak in British Columbia and offers the most dramatic terrain. It is ideal for groups of up to 8 people with accommodation at White Saddle Ranch. Our Big Mountain location receives the most snow and provides the most skiing for a given dollar amount. Maximum number of people is 10 with accommodation at a hotel close town.