Elemental Adventure Heliskiing - The Heli Ski Specialists

General Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Safety:

Without exception, all of the operations that we work with follow the strictest safety guidelines. Helicopters are immaculately maintained by a team of on site engineers. Pilots are experienced mountain aviation specialists and guides are highly qualified professionals. The guides continuously monitor weather and snow pack information with the aim of balancing exciting powder skiing with the highest possible levels of safety. If you have any specific queries regarding the safety measures in place at particular locations, please contact us.

Can I Bring my Snowboard?

YES. The term heli skiing is used interchangeably with heli boarding. If you wish to snowboard you will need to bring your own equipment, as operations do not normally supply boards. The snow and terrain you find while heli skiing is ideal for snowboarding.

When is the Best Time to Go?

Every heli ski location has its own particular geography and meteorology that influences the length of the season. All experienced operators know when they should start and finish each season and do not run outside these dates.

In Canada, December, January and the beginning of February are typically colder and the days shorter than later in the season. As temperatures remain cooler early on, conditions at lower elevations often provide excellent tree skiing in poor visibility.

Mid-February through to mid-March has historically been the most popular time for heli skiing and generally trips should be booked around 12 months in advance to secure your place. Days become longer and the weather tends to stabilise.

Late March and April offers skiing and boarding conditions, which have always been under-rated. For many, this time of year offers optimum conditions for heli skiing. The conditions from day to day in April tend to change a lot faster. The snowpack is usually more stable at this time of the year making it safe to ski/snowboard steeper runs and experience a wider variety of terrain. Typically there is still excellent powder on north facing slopes. A great choice for April heli skiing is Last Frontier in British Columbia.

The seasons in Alaska are shorter (mid-February to early May) due to lack of daylight in the early season. Powder conditions can be excellent in Alaska right through April and into May.

The southerly latitudes of the Caucasus in Russia and the Himalayas in India also make for a slightly shorter season. Both seasons generally start around mid January and end in early April. By April you are usually skiing good powder at higher elevations on north facing slopes and velvety corn snow on south facing slopes.

The heli skiing season in Greenland starts around the end of March and lasts through until June. Optimum conditions can often be found during the last two weeks of April.

When is the Best Time to Book?

The growing worldwide popularity of heli skiing means that by the time winter starts the majority of places in Canada and the Himalayas have been booked. For this reason it is often necessary to book your heli skiing more than a year in advance. Later bookings and even last minute bookings are always possible but the choice of destination and dates will be limited. If for example you wanted to heli ski in Canada in March 2006 you would be wise to reserve your place with a deposit by the end of March 2005.

How Good do You Need to Be?

Heli skiing is not for novice skiers. However, it is certainly not just for pros. Many people overestimate the level of skiing or snowboarding that is required to enjoy heli skiing. Conditions and terrain can vary widely, from wide-open alpine bowls and glaciers with moderate pitches to steep and narrow tree skiing. Snow conditions can range from boot-top powder to wind-pressed crust, heavy crud and anything in between. Guides do their best to find the optimal conditions, but for reasons of snow safety, and in difficult flying conditions, terrain options can become limited. Any type of conditions can be expected at any time throughout the heli ski season.
Guests must therefore be both capable and experienced in handling a mixture of conditions. The following can be used as a guideline:

You have considerable skiing experience in a conventional resort setting.
Your run choices are predominantly red/black and you ski them with confidence in almost any conditions.
You are capable of multi-day ski trips.
You may not have the style of a paid skier, but you have the confidence to keep up with friends.
You can make parallel turns with confidence and if the situation arises, you can; side-slip, step-up sideways, traverse and make kick turns.
In the process of becoming a better skier, you have made the transition from novice level equipment to high performance gear and can also recognise the difference.
You may not have a lot of powder skiing experience but you can maintain control in off piste conditions.

How are Groups Chosen?

Groups are chosen with two factors in mind: ability and weight. Every effort is made to have you ski with member of your own group but if there is a great discrepancy in ability it is usually in everyone's interests to split. The best way to ensure that you are only skiing/snowboarding with your friends is to go on a private package. This means that you have a helicopter exclusively for the use of your group allowing you complete freedom to ski or board as much or as little as you like and entirely at your own pace.

How Many Runs do You do in a Day?

The number of groups sharing a helicopter, the average run length, the group size and its ability, all influence the number of runs and amount of vertical metres you are likely to do each day. That said, a good average would be 8-10 runs per day. In the Himalayas and Russia you will tend to do fewer runs per day but the runs tend to be longer than those for example in Canada. In Canada it is often possible to ski over 20 runs a day in good conditions.

What if the Weather is Bad?

Experiencing bad weather is one of the inherent risks of heliskiing. Just because you have paid a lot of money and are using a helicopter does not guarantee you blue skies and thigh deep powder. However, if the weather is so bad that the helicopters cannot fly, most operators have a refund policy in place, which minimises your financial risk. If you do not reach the amount of skiing included in your package (usually 30,500 vertical metres / 100,000 vertical feet) you will be refunded a certain amount, (usually around CAD $80) per 1000 metres/1000 feet not skied).

A good choice of location for those wishing to maximise their chances of good weather and snow conditions is TLH Heli skiing in Canada. On average there is only half a day per week when conditions prevent the helicopters from flying. For details of specific refund policies please download our price and package information.

Where are the Most Reliable Places for Weather?

Generally speaking, interior ranges have better weather than coastal ranges. As a result, you are likely to find better weather in the Canadian interior or the Himalayas than you are in Valdez Alaska. However, coastal ranges also have their advantages. They generally receive more snow in heavier storms and have a much more stable snowpack. This usually means that there are a greater number of runs that are safe to ski, and possibilities of skiing/snowboarding steeper terrain. In our experience the most reliable place to heli ski in terms of weather is TLH Heli skiing in Canada. As an average, bad weather only prevents flying for half a day per week.

Price Policy:

All prices quoted in local currency are fixed. You will be invoiced in £ sterling at the exchange rate on the day your final invoice is sent. Remember that booking with us will costs no more than booking direct with a lodge, in fact it will often save you money. You will benefit from our first hand knowledge and expertise combined with honest, impartial advice and unrivalled personal service.

Are there Price Discounts for Groups or Bonuses for Signing New Skiers?

YES. During certain weeks of the season, booking 10 seats will entitle you to the 11th free. We also actively encourage referrals from our clients. Introduce your friends and receive a credit towards your next heli skiing holiday. For every new skier that books a seven day package with Elemental Adventure, you will receive a £100 credit. This can be used as payment towards any heli skiing package offered by Elemental Adventure for the following three seasons.

Making a Booking:

The space available for heli skiing is limited and so we suggest that you book early. For some destinations (Canada & Himalayas) and in prime weeks it may be necessary to book a year in advance. Please call us to check availability and to ask any questions you may have. If there is availability we will then send you a booking form, deposit invoice and detailed trip information. A booking can only be confirmed with a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit and a fully completed booking form. Deposit amounts vary depending on destination and we accept payment by bank transfer, cheque or major credit card. Credit card payments are subject to a 3% charge. Full payment is required at least 95 days before departure. For bookings made less than 95 days prior to departure, the full package price is due immediately.

Insurance:

Adequate insurance covering you specifically for heli skiing is ESSENTIAL. At a minimum we recommend your cover includes: trip cancellation, medical, helicopter evacuation and personal effects. Please ask for details of our policy.

Private Packages:

Fully customisable private heli skiing packages are the ultimate way to enjoy heli skiing. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Equipment for Heli skiing:

We recommend that you take a shell-type jacket and trousers that are waterproof and windproof - for example, Gortex. This will enable you to add or take off layers and adjust to changing temperatures through the day. Ideally your first layer should be breathable so you do not stay wet if you sweat. A pair of gauntlet gloves are useful when cinched around your forearm as they let no snow in. Good goggles are essential as is a warm hat. Even on sunny days you will probably find goggles more suitable than sunglasses. It is a good idea to carry a spare pair of goggles with you so that if one pair becomes full of snow you can simply swap.

Your own ski boots (preferably worn in) should be taken with you, and in countries where baggage handling issues may arise (Russia, India) it is advisable to carry your ski boots as hand baggage. With the exception of Greenland and Alaska, fat skis and poles are always available to rent and are usually included in the price. Snowboarders will need to bring their own snowboard and boots in all cases.

To give some protection to your ears against noisy helicopters, a pair of simple ear plugs (available at any pharmacy) are a good idea.

What Helicopters are Used?

This depends entirely on the destination.

BELL 212 When heli skiing in larger groups in Canada, the twin engine Bell 212 is the most frequently used helicopter. It can carry 11 skiers/boarders plus guide and pilot.
M18 The "beasts" of the heli skiing world are unquestionably the extremely powerful, Russian built M18 helicopters. Despite the fact that you can drive a small jeep into the back of these they are used to transport only 10 skiers plus two guides, two pilots and an engineer. They are also capable of flying effectively at altitudes close to 6000 metres. Although Russian built helicopters suffer from a bad reputation, they are actually just as good as their American or European counterparts if well maintained.
A-STAR B2 For smaller groups, the new A-Star B2 is one of the most commonly used helicopters in the industry. It carries 4 or five skiers/snowboarders plus guide and pilot and can reach speeds of 240 km/hr. One of the beauties of this machine is that it is very quiet compared to the larger helicopters.
LAMA In the Himalayas the Lama is the most commonly used helicopter. These small, light machines are not particularly fast but are incredibly effective at higher altitudes. They transport only three skiers/boarder plus guide and pilot.
BELL 407 The Bell 407 is also used in the Himalayas and is capable of carrying 4 skiers plus guide and pilot.

A Typical Day Heli skiing?

Let's take a typical day heli skiing in Canada as an example:

0730	Wake up
0800	Breakfast
0900	Head for heli-pad and take off for first runs. Before lunch you will make an average of 4-7 runs
1230	Break for picnic style lunch in the mountains usually with other groups.
1330 - 1600 / 1700	Another 4-7 runs before returning to the lodge to a warm fire, snacks, Jacuzzi and massage.
1900	Drinks at the bar followed by dinner and bed.

Are Skiers and Boarders Mixed Within Groups?

YES, every effort is made to keep groups of boarders or skiers together if they wish.

Can Non-skiers Come?

YES. Some areas are more suitable for non-skiers than others and it depends a lot on what the individual likes doing. If you have a non-skiing group member please let us know and we will be happy to advise you.

Privacy Policy

Elemental Adventure recognises the importance of your privacy and personal information. We will not share information gathered from you with any other party without your permission.