Heli Skiing for the First Time

Ultimate first time heli ski experience at BighornThis season at Bighorn we welcomed both seasoned heliskiers and enthusiastic novices who were excited to discover the ultimate ski thrill. Revelstoke is the perfect place to try heli skiing, with wide glacial bowls, light powder snow, stunning scenery and fantastic lift skiing at Revelstoke Mountain Resort if you don’t want to commit to a week-long heliski package. If you are going to splurge on heliskiing, make sure you do it at Bighorn. The amazing lodge compliments the indulgence of skiing from a helicopter and the world-class amenities mean you aren’t sad to return home at the end of each day. Best of all, the back up option on a bad weather day is a day spent skiing the incredible terrain at RMR.

We caught up with Sam, who heliskied for the first time at Bighorn and wanted to share an insight into this amazing experience:

“I had huge hopes for my heli ski experience and I’m pleased to say that it exceeded all expectations. It was reassuring to have the expert avalanche training in Bighorn’s grounds with Selkirk Tangiers. It’s good to know about all the measures that are taken to keep skiers safe as well as having the chance to practice what to do if the worst happens. Each morning, we relaxed in the Great Room, watched our helicopter land and literally just hopped in! The thrill when the heli surges upwards towards the mountain tops gets you every time. As the thud of the helicopter fades away, my 3 best friends and I were left in the silence to contemplate our surrounds and the dream runs that stretched below. The week was a haze of powder pillows, endless feather-light turns and a lot of whooping! It was an experience I’ll treasure forever, but one I will endeavour to repeat very soon”.

If you have questions about giving heliskiing a go then contact us to chat about your options info@bighornrevelstoke.com 

The Ultimate Heliski Destination

Luxury heliskiing at Bighorn Revelstoke

“The nicest place you’ll ever rest your ski-wobbly legs”

Is how top ski journalist Christopher Solomon described his stay at Bighorn in Revelstoke. The whole experience felt like a “dream”, with the thrill of heliskiing in the Monashee Mountains, accommodation in a “tricked-out timber framed manse”, rejuvenating spa treatments and cuisine to die for.

“We dive, hooting and laughing in 18 inches of untouched snow. It’s not a bad warm-up. Soon we’re hammering to the next powder run. It’s only going to get better, and steeper, from here—and yet, weirdly, I’m already half-dreaming about après-ski back at the lodge… where chef Peter Hughes will be waiting in the rotor wash with a plate of salmon blinis, and then we’ll all marinate in the hot tub with a bucket of iced Mt. Begbie Kolsches within reach”.

Click here to read the full article or visit our website http://www.bighornrevelstoke.com for more details on how to recreate this dream heliski trip.

 

Heliskiing Top 5 FAQ’s

Dream Heliskiing in Revelstoke

 

1) Is heli skiing only for expert skiers?

People go heli skiing to experience pristine powder snow in stunning wilderness locations. It is a back country experience and there are no groomed runs. Whilst a heli skier needs to be proficient in deep snow, the sport is by no means the reserve of the expert skier. The type of terrain skied will typically not be too challenging and at Bighorn we can ensure that your guide caters for your ability and wishes.

 2) Where is the best place to heli ski?

Revelstoke, British Columbia is the birthplace of heli skiing. This is due to the excellent annual snowfall and vast expanse of varied terrain. There are over 1 million acres of heliski terrain accessible from Revelstoke and the presence of a world-class lift-accessed ski hill gives the ultimate in flexibility regarding options for your ski week.

3) What are the costs associated with heli skiing?

When compared to traditional lift accessed skiing, heli skiing is an expensive sport. However, the experience is mind blowing. Skiing untouched powder snow and exhilirating terrain that is inaccessible to any other method of transport more than justifies the cost.

4) What is the best way to try heli skiing?

A good starting point is to book a single day heli ski experience. Revelstoke Mountain Resort run a classic package which is an excellent starting point for the heli ski novice. Ideally, if the day can be booked for the middle of your ski week then it gives you a chance to warm up on the mountain (and also to book another heli ski day later in the week!).

 5) Do I need to be fit to go heli skiing?

While you do not need to be an athlete to heli ski it is a simple fact that the better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy the experience. You can always soak aching muscles in the outdoor hot tub at Bighorn.

 

Bighorn Crowned Number 1 Heliski Destination

Outside Magazine's Best Heliski Destination

 

The team at Bighorn are delighted to have been crowned Number One Heliski Destination in North America by Outside magazine. Our inaugural season has started with a bang as guests have been blown away by the stunning accommodation, Revelstoke’s incredible snowfall and the amazing heliski terrain in the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains.

Outside is America’s leading active-lifestyle and adventure travel magazine and their travel experts search the globe for the best and most innovative outdoor experiences.  It is the unique experience on offer at Bighorn that Outside loved so much; “Bighorn is the lovechild of two outstanding concepts: the European catered chalet and a Canadian heliski outfit. Strap on your ski boots in the morning, shoot a round of pool as you watch for the bird to land in the backyard, and then hop in for a ride to 500,000 acres of bowls, glades, and glaciers in the ragged Selkirks”.

Bighorn offers heliskiing direct from the house helipad with Selkirk Tangiers Heliskiing and lift or cat skiing at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Tim Neville from Outside commented that “there are plenty of things to do when storms keep the helicopter tethered to the ground—like ski out the door and ride the lifts at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, which has the most vertical feet of any mountain in North America (5,620 feet). Either way, you’ll get a powder day”.

Indulgence doesn’t stop with the outstanding skiing however, as Bighorn offers new standards of luxury accommodation, service and cuisine “Chef Peter Hughes will be waiting in the rotorwash to serve you champagne by a huge stone fireplace and salmon canapés or duck confit on the chalet’s 15-foot-long black walnut table”.

Click on the link below to read Outside’s full review:

Revelstoke vs. Alaska: Which is the best heliski destination?

Revelstoke a lot of benefits over Alaska - the best tree skiing in the world is just one

 

Heliskiing is the ultimate thrill for any avid skier. Unsurprisingly this comes at a price, so careful consideration is required when deciding where to go for this indulgent trip of a lifetime. We asked one of our experienced guests at Bighorn to discuss the risk reward profile of two of the best heliski destinations in the world: Valdez in Alaska and Revelstoke, BC.

1) Terrain

Alaska has the best steep skiing terrain in the world. The proximity to the coast and extreme cold throughout much of the winter create a very low risk of avalanche. This allows skiers to ski terrain as steep as 60 degrees. Revelstoke has the best tree skiing in the world, and also has an abundance of excellent high alpine skiing in large glacial bowls. The terrain is extremely varied but, on average, will not be as steep as Alaska.

2) Snow

Both Alaska and Revelstoke are snowsure places to ski, the difference is the quality of the snow. As Revelstoke is located away from the coast in the interior of British Columbia, the snow has less moisture and is lighter. In Alaska, proximity to the coast means the snow can be wetter and heavier.

3) Down Days

This is the major difference. A week of heli skiing in Alaska will typically on average have 3 down days, Revelstoke will on average only have 1. In Alaska, when you cannot ski, there is very little to do as there is no lift skiing. There is only so much table tennis one can play in the mountains. In Revelstoke, guests at Bighorn can experience the all new Revelstoke Mountain Resort, which provides the perfect alternative to heli skiing. Boasting the longest vertical drop in the whole of North America, it is the perfect antidote to being told you cannot fly. In the wider Revelstoke area there are also a number of cat skiing operations which operate irrespective of the weather. In short, there is never a zero ski day in Revelstoke.

 

No one can argue against the fact that Alaska has excellent ski terrain. Every real skier should tackle an Alaskan spine at some point in their life. However, to travel so far, and then not to ski is unthinkable. It happens. Revelstoke provides endless options for amazing skiing whatever the weather, and with the addition of Bighorn, can boast the ultimate in luxury ski accommodation and service.