When it comes to heli skiing, Canada is easily one of the most desirable locations in the world, and there are many reasons why this is the case. Beyond the remarkable CMH Heli Skiing team, who will guide and assist you throughout your adventure, the region is known for its impeccable snow conditions, challenging, diverse terrain, and extraordinary beauty.
While we at Pure Powder and our partners at CMH Heli Skiing will handle the logistics and safety considerations that go into planning a successful heli skiing excursion, it can’t hurt to have an understanding of the background decision-making and operations. In this quick read, we will explore the many unique snow conditions that you may encounter during your exciting skiing trip, as well as how they could impact your experience.
We will also investigate the backcountry terrain that will enhance your enjoyment on the slopes and provide a chance to put your skills to the test. If you have yet to try your hand at the exhilarating heli skiing Canada has to offer, this guide should offer some useful information to help you tackle the challenges of the backcountry with confidence. If these topics pique your interest, we encourage you to read along with us and find out more.
Heli Skiing Canada: A Breakdown Of Common Snow Conditions
In this section, we will highlight and explore the characteristics of each snow condition, which includes distinguishable physical attributes to enable skiers to identify the type of snow they are skiing on. Understanding the different types of snow conditions is crucial, as each warrants slight changes in technique and form to encourage success.
It is worth noting that your knowledgeable guides and the operations team will hand-pick ski areas and runs that are most likely to feature optimal snow conditions. Their understanding of the backcountry is unparalleled, and their ability to track down pristine powder is second-to-none. Here are a few snow conditions to look out for on your Pure Powder adventures:
Powder Snow: For most, powder snow is the pinnacle of snow conditions and facilitates an exhilarating experience that can be likened to “floating” down the mountainside. In fact, this snow is so highly regarded that skiers travel from all over the world to experience it firsthand, which is a part of the reason why heli skiing in Canada is so popular. Powder snow often occurs directly after a snowstorm, and this fresh snowfall creates light, fluffy powder with very little moisture.
The benefits of this snow condition are most obvious when the snow hasn’t been disturbed, which is why heading out into the untouched wilderness is easily the best way to experience it. While it is immensely enjoyable to ski, there is a learning curve involved, as deep powder can make maintaining control and speed more challenging. Luckily, if you are powder skiing for the first time, your guides will provide you with all the information you will need to throw yourself into the experience and adjust your technique to meet the conditions.
Corn Snow / Spring Snow: Typically forming around springtime, this type of snow is highly sought after by experienced skiers. It is characterised by its soft, granular texture, which looks somewhat like corn, hence the name. Corn snow offers grip, and consistency, meaning skiers can carve their way down the slopes at speed. This is helped by the softness of the snow, which makes it a forgiving surface that is a lot of fun to ski.
Heli Skiing Canada: Backcountry Terrain
When it comes to heli skiing, Canada boasts some of the most varied, challenging, and enjoyable terrain in the world. Some terrain and snow formations you may encounter are more difficult to traverse than others, and your guides will take this into account when they decide on the final run lineup for the day. At Pure Powder, we have decades of experience in the industry, and in this time, we have mastered the art of matching skiers with groups of a similar ability.
This is important for a few reasons, the most critical being that certain terrain is best avoided by those who are new to backcountry skiing – some of these formations include steep couloirs and chutes, dense tree lines, and cliffs – as they require a high level of skill and caution. If your group is still finding their feet in the deep powder, your guides will choose lines that include appropriate terrain, perhaps bowls, rollers, basins, and mellow alpine descents. This is the sort of skiing you can expect from our Heli Ski Coaching programmes.
If you consider yourself to be well-versed when it comes to trying terrain and you are looking for the next exciting challenge, the Steep Shots and Pillow Drops programme could be the way to go. These programmes are designed exclusively for adrenaline-seeking, advanced skiers who want nothing more than to push the boundaries and test their skills. On these adventures, you can expect to face down some of the most intense skiing terrain, including pillows, monstrous descents, and exhilarating ridge lines.
While it may be tempting for some to jump straight into the deep end and seek out expert-level terrain, it is not recommended. Without the necessary experience, know-how, and technique, this can be risky, which is why your designated guides will ensure that the group sticks to lines that match the overall ability of the party. If you are curious about the unique programmes we offer at Pure Powder, we encourage you to look through our trip options; this way, you can get a good sense of what to expect on your next adventure.
Heli Skiing Canada: How Frequent Are Down Days?
When it comes to planning your ideal heli skiing adventure, there are only a few things that we cannot control, two of which are weather and snowfall. While some skiers may be concerned about the frequency of down days, there are very few no-fly days in British Columbia and other skiable parts of Canada. During peak ski season, the weather and snow conditions are perfectly suited to helicopter skiing, meaning it is unlikely that you will miss out on much.
The number of down days will, as you can imagine, depend entirely on the weather and the intensity of the snowstorms. There are a few storms in each ski season that are simply too risky to head into, and in these rare instances, the CMH Heli Skiing team will make a decision to call off any skiing for the day. Ultimately, a few down days over the course of the season is manageable, and regardless of the remote lodge you opt for, you will no doubt have a day of relaxation and luxury in store for you on the off-chance of a no-fly day. The average across the whole season is ½ a down day per week.
Heli Skiing Canada: Listen To Your Guides
As we have emphasised in the past, your guides possess an unmatched understanding of the backcountry in which they operate, and they have undergone extensive training to perform their role effectively. Their main priority is the safety of the guests in their care, and we highly recommend taking note of any instruction or advice they may offer. So, if they suggest traversing a snowpack or formation in a certain way, it is likely for good reason.
We suggest taking advantage of their substantial knowledge – ask questions, seek out new techniques, and soak up as much information as you can. Our adventures are not only designed for pure skiing excitement but also to improve your skiing ability and develop new skills.
Heli Skiing Canada: Final Thoughts
Now that you know a bit more about the snow conditions and terrain that you may encounter when heli skiing in Canada, why not consider starting the booking process and looking through our incredible trip options? With Pure Powder, accessing the remarkable world of helicopter skiing has never been simpler, and we can help you hit the powder in locations all over the world. Some of these ski destinations include Iceland, Chile, Turkey, Alaska, Japan, Sweden, and, of course, Canada.
Our concierge-style service and logistical prowess allow you to focus on what’s important: skiing, relaxation, and enjoyment. From the moment you step out of your door to catch your flight until your return, we will offer personalised assistance tailored service to ensure your adventure goes off without a hitch. If you have any further questions or would like to make a booking, pop us an email at info@purepowder.com or call +44 (0)20 7736 8191.
