Epic Heliski Luxury: A Typical Day at Bighorn Revelstoke

Bighorn heli ski lodge in Revelstoke“Bighorn is a slope side Downton Abbey, a potent cocktail of extreme skiing and extreme luxury, garnished with a private helicopter pad”.

Renowned travel journalist Everett Potter shares his experience of Bighorn Revelstoke. Even the luxury at one of the world’s finest private lodges is eclipsed by the thrill of heliskiing in the Selkirk Mountains:

“Fueled up, you pad downstairs to the boot room, as everyone removes their boots from the boot heater where they are perfectly toasty for the morning. Geared up, avalanche transceivers tested,  you walk outside and watch a Selkirk Tangiers helicopter fly along the Columbia River valley and then swoop in to land on the private heli pad while Ride of the Valkyries plays in your head. Buckled in, the helicopter rises and you find yourself deposited and clicking into your bindings within 15 minutes on the best powder skiing in the world. A small nimble helicopter like an A 6 can deliver you to virgin snows free of other skiers, lift lines, rules and regulations. You ski 1,500 or 2,000 vertical feet and the chopper is waiting for you at the bottom of the run. Repeat eight or nine times in a day. It’s instant gratification taken to ridiculous levels”.

Read Everett’s full account here

Perfect Powder Dumps in Revelstoke

Unbelievable powder snow in Revelstoke right now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been a snowy start to the New Year in Revelstoke, with huge dumps of deep fluffy powder. Twenty seven centimetres of new snow has fallen in the last 24 hours alone and another twelve cm is forecast overnight tonight. The skies are set to clear from Wednesday, so there has never been a better time to enjoy skiing the Revy pow!

Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s terrain is unbeatable after this type of powder dump. Picture yourself skiing fresh tracks through perfectly gladed tree runs, popping off powder pillows and landing in the deep snow.

Guests at Bighorn can make the most of these amazing conditions by flying into the wilderness Selkirk Mountains by helicopter direct from the house helipad. Ski untouched powder peaks all day, only stopping for a rest in the heli as you take a lift to the next unspoilt powder bowl.

We still have last minute availability for January 12-19th and limited availability in February and March. Enquire now to secure your space in powder paradise.

Heli Skiing – Ski Magazine’s Number 1 Must Do

Heli skiing - number one on Ski Magazine's life list

 

Ski Magazine recently announced their Skier’s Life List: the top 25 things a skier must do. Heli skiing was awarded the number one spot; “Being a skier means many things. But we all share the same dream, and it sounds like this: thwap-thwap-thwap”.

Heliskiing simply offers access to the best of the best skiing. Pristine powder snow, untouched terrain, stunning scenery and long vertical descents. Revelstoke is famed for having the best heli skiing in the world, a combination of huge snowfall, dry powder snow and exciting terrain features including high alpine glaciers and fun-packed tree skiing.

Bighorn is the world’s most luxurious heli ski lodge. Located in the heart of Revelstoke, it has its own helipad for private small group heliskiing. This is the way to try heliskiing! A bespoke experience to fulfill your dreams, combined with the ultimate in luxury accommodation and service.

Check out Ski Magazine’s complete life list here.

 

It’s Already Snowing in Revelstoke

Early snow in RevelstokeRevelstoke has enjoyed its first snow of the winter and we can’t wait for another epic season to get underway. Check out this photo from the Ripper Chair webcam, its sure to get your ski legs twitching in anticipation! With an average of 12-18 meters of snow per winter, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is officially one of the snowiest resorts in the world. Plus, the snow in Revelstoke is perfect powder – light, dry and deep.

Bighorn is the perfect compliment to this powder paradise. The world’s most exclusive ski chalet offers both private heli skiing direct from the house helipad and lift skiing at the incredible Revelstoke Mountain Resort. This is as good as it gets!

6 Things to Think About When Going Heliskiing

 

Dream helsikiing in British Columbia

 

1) Destination

Revelstoke in Canada is hard to beat as an all-round heli ski destination. It has a consistently good snow record and light powder snow that is amazing (and fun) to ski.  The terrain is vast and varied – a mixture of high glacial bowls and the world’s best tree skiing. There are several heliski operators including Selkirk Tangiers, CMH and Eagle Pass, each with their own tenure and ski style. The key here is flexibility – you can heliski for one day or one week and there is a world-class resort as back up in case the helicopter can’t fly in bad weather. Revelstoke Mountain Resort also offers fantastic backcountry skiing, cat skiing, ski touring and even dog sledding and paragliding. Alaska may have the best steep skiing, but for all-round adventure BC is your best bet.

2) Best Time of Year

Traditionally, the heliski season in Canada runs from January to March, with February being the most popular month. For those that want sun and more temperate climes March is the best month and for guaranteed fresh tracks, the biggest dumps of snow come in December and January.

3) The Right Equipment

Most heliski operators will include rental of powder skis with your heli ski experience. These skis are wider and aid flotation over deep snow. Layers of clothing work well as you heat up whilst skiing and cool down whilst resting. The experts at Bighorn in Revelstoke recommend a merino wool base layer, down mid-layer and a shell jacket. A spare pair of gloves, goggles with interchangeable lenses and boot warmers are also useful recommendations for skiing in deep snow.

4) Safety

Make sure that your chosen heliski operator uses guides that are fully qualified by a recognised association such as the ACMG or IFMGA. You should receive a full safety briefing and avalanche training before heliskiing, including a rescue simulation to practice using equipment such as transceiver, shovel and probe. Wearing an ABS airbag backpack is another precautionary measure that can be taken and most heliski operators rent these out for a small fee.

5) Helicopter

You can heliski either from a Bell 205 or A Star helicopter. The Bell accommodates 10 skiers plus guides and the A Star takes 4 plus guide. The ultimate heli ski experience is achieved by chartering a private helicopter for your group. This allows you to maximize the amount of skiing you do: a totally bespoke experience tailored to your group’s needs and wishes. Guests at Bighorn in Revelstoke can even fly direct from their private helipad. A private charter comes at a price however, so there are more economical options for shared groups that fly in a Bell and offer the same wilderness ski experience.

6) Accommodation

There are types of accommodation to consider: self-catering apartments, hotels or a private full-service ski lodge. Apartments are the best budget option, whereas hotels offer greater amenities and meal options. For groups, a private lodge is a superb option with Bighorn Revelstoke offering meals prepared by an executive chef, a private helipad and luxury spa facilities. Think about proximity to the ski area, the type of facilities your group needs and the range of activities that are accessible in case of bad weather.

 

 

5 Sensational Tips for Skiing Trees Like a Pro

The world's best tree skiing in Revelstoke

Revelstoke has the world’s best tree skiing. A mixture of tree species, the right amount of snowfall and the lightness of the snow create a powder playground like no other. The old-growth forests that Selkirk Tangiers have in their heli ski tenure are carefully tended so trees are nicely spaced (this is known as ‘glading’). Skiers therefore have exciting lines through the trees and plenty of space to turn. Seasoned heliskiers will argue that whizzing through trees and popping off tree stumps covered in snow pillows rivals high altitude glacier skiing any day. Check out Swedish freestyler Johann Persson ripping through the trees in Revelstoke here

At first tree skiing can be a bit daunting – the thought of skiing into a tree can put you off your stride! Here are our top 5 tips for techniques to ski trees like a pro:

1)   Ski the gaps. Look at the white stuff and focus on where you want to ski, not what to avoid. It may sound like common sense, but too may people get preoccupied with looking at trees, which affects their flow of movement.

2)   Plan your turns and look ahead. Look through the trees and plan 2 turns in advance. This will help you connect your turns and prevent a turn-stop pattern that zaps your energy.

3)   Stay on your feet – by this we mean keep your balance centered above your feet and don’t lean too far back. You might be in deep snow, but your skis will float without you leaning backwards and throwing yourself off balance.

4)   Keep your arms in front of you. Not only will this improve your balance and put you in a reactionary position, but also you can brush any small branches out of the way.

5)   Take your pole straps off. In the unfortunate case that you take a tumble this will prevent you injuring your wrists and shoulders.

Have fun with it. One of Bighorn’s guests said they could never lose their friends when skiing the trees because of the noisy whoops of joy! We can arrange for you to enjoy a day’s coaching in the trees at Revelstoke Mountain Resort with a top instructor to get you ready to heliski the best tree terrain on Earth. Plus, on a down day when the heli can’t fly, world class tree skiing is always accessible from Bighorn.

 

Heliskiing vs Lift Skiing in Revelstoke

Powder snow and exciting terrain in Revelstoke

Everyone knows that heliskiing is the ultimate skiing experience , but how much better is heli-skiing than lift skiing in Revelstoke? If you can’t decide, we weigh up 5 key considerations below.

Snow

  • The heliski terrain surrounding Revelstoke gets an average of 40-60ft of snow per year, whereas Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) gets 30-45ft.
  • Heliskiing offers 100% fresh, untouched snow so you will ski virgin powder all day long.  It is unbeatable in this respect.
  • However the lifts at RMR do give you access to some amazing powder bowls and gladed tree skiing, with fantastic conditions. Of course you won’t have exclusive access to the terrain, but RMR is wonderfully uncrowded so the fresh stuff doesn’t get skied out as quickly as in other resorts.

Terrain

  • Selkirk Tangiers Heliskiing has access to 500,000 acres of heliski terrain with over 200 known runs through wide-open glaciers, alpine meadows and the world’s best tree skiing. The size and variety of the terrain speaks for itself.
  • RMR has 3121 acres of terrain with 56 runs through high alpine powder bowls, gladed trees and groomed terrain. The resort offers a superb range of terrain for advanced skiers prompting the Telegraph to describe it as “the world’s best skiing”.

Accessibility

  • Heliskiing from Bighorn couldn’t be easier as the private helipad at the house means you are just steps away from accessing some of the world’s best heliskiing. You can be at the top of a wilderness peak in a matter of minutes.
  • RMR is just a 1-minute drive away in the Bighorn vehicle and the high-speed lifts mean you’ll be at the top in no time. Not quite as fast as in a helicopter, but faster than most other resorts.

Vertical

  • Heli ski runs range from 500-2200 vertical metres, giving you what feels like an endless descent on powder snow.
  • Revelstoke Mountain Resort has North America’s highest vertical descent at 1713 metres, making for an incredibly long run by resort standards.

Value for money

  • To talk in general figures, lift passes cost $74 per day and heli skiing starts from $797 per day. The additional cost of heliskiing affords you the thrill of flying by helicopter, wilderness terrain, access to the best snow and the fastest lift for maximum vertical.
  • Revelstoke Mountain Resort offers a superb alternative with high speed lifts, relatively quiet slopes, exciting terrain and an impressive vertical descent.

In summary, heli skiing is unbeatable, but Revelstoke Mountain Resort also excels on all counts. As a back-up option for down days when the helicopter can’t fly it is superb and means you are guaranteed world-class skiing every day of your trip. The terrain in particular is exciting, varied and uncrowded, making it the perfect complement to the heliski terrain for adventurous skiers. Thankfully, guests at Bighorn get access to both heli and lift skiing allowing them to enjoy both from one base.

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 

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: