Terrain & Snow

Never Run Out Of Untracked Snow!

Our Big Mountain Heliski Adventures are just how they sound... BIG. The only thing small is the group sizes. We fly the Astar B2's with 4-5 guests per load and a guide. The maximum number of groups sharing one helicopter is two. What this means is that the guide can choose more interesting and challenging terrain, as well as faster turn around times and more cohesive ski groups.

Most Big Mountain Heliskiing programs are based at Bella Coola's Mountain Lodge are at the center of our vast heli skiing terrain. The lodge is close to the heli port and has the shortest flying time to what is the most productive ski terrain in our entire 10,700 square kilometer playground, the aptly named "Big Snow" zone.  In addition, the fjords are not far away and there is no better view then to ski with these in the background.  

Terrain  

You've seen it in the movies or you've heliskied with us before, either way you probably know that nowhere else compares to Bella Coola Heli Sports impressive alpine terrain and majestic surroundings. Huge rock spires, couloirs, glacier bowls in an amphitheater of unmistakeably West Coast mountains. You can count on runs of 5000 vertical feet (1550 vertical metres), with the longest yielding 6000 thigh-burning vertical feet (1875 vertical meters) of bliss. It would be like taking Vail, Colorado, stacking another whole resort on top of it, adding untracked snow over everything, and then removing all but 10 of the skiers. If that works for you, give us a call.

Snowfall

British Columbia enjoys a well deserved reputation for having the most reliable snow in the world. During the winter months, weather systems roll in like clock work off the Pacific. As they pass over the mountains the moisture is deposited as snow. The Coast Mountains are the first range to be hit and as a result get the majority of the snow.

Although close to the head of a fjord, our Big Snow zone is 100 kms inland from the open Pacific.  As the storms pass over the Coast Mountains they dry out. With an abundance of snow to the west and a sunnier, drier climate pushing in from the east, we have found the ideal location for heli skiing. There are always fresh tracks to be found.

Snowpack Stability

Our snowpack is known for being significantly more stable than most. This is direct result of our consistent and temperate climate, combined with reliable and plentiful snowfall. Please go to guiding and safety for more information on this topic.

Having what are generally low recorded avalanche hazards, allows us to offer a more exciting heli skiing and snowboarding product. Although saftey is always the over riding determinant, we can usually access steeper and more interesting terrain then most of our competitors.

Big Alpine Vertical

Those who have heliskied with us in the past know that our strength is high alpine terrain and majestic scenery. This scenery is scattered with jagged rock towers, giant glacier bowls and steep couloirs crowned by enormous peaks. Many of our runs are 5000 to 6000 vertical feet (1500 to 1800 vertical metres), with some as long as 6000 vertical feet (1,900 vertical meters) of leg-burning utopia.  

Tree Skiing  

When the storms roll in and the snow is falling we go ski the trees. We have many great tree runs only a few minutes flight away. In addition, these tree runs are getting better all the time. Every autumn we have a team of our guides out "glading" for 2-3 weeks. This includes removing low branches and cutting down the little trees between the big ones, making it possible to open up the terrain significantly for skiing.