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Heli Skiing in The East-Saddleback

MadMadWorld

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Looks pretty crowded for "backcountry" based on those pics right above your post.

Still fun though up there. Last time I was there was 10 years ago and didn't see a soul. Heard its getting a lot more popular though, which seems true based on the pics here.

Right because J Hole skiers never venture out into the backcountry....on a powder day, some of those access points look like Best Buy on Black Friday
 

fbrissette

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The closest hospital is 3 - 4 hours away by car and the closest trauma unit would be 6 hours away. Avalanches and tree wells are real dangers and it gets cold there, real cold with moisture and lots of wind.

Not to mention that depending on where you ski you may be quite a few hours away from you car. Evac is possible by snowmobile but would still require a long wait.
 

fbrissette

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For those of you tempted by the Chic-Chocs here are a few options:

The luxury option. 18 rooms, gourmet meals, all touring equipment and guide included at no extra charge. No open road to the lodge. A provided 45 minutes tracked-vehicule ride will get you there.
http://www.sepaq.com/ct/amc/index.dot?language_id=1


These guys provide day tours with transportation to the best sites.
http://www.skichicchocs.com/en/

Government branch that manages many huts in the Chic-Choc. The best one for Alpine touring is the Mine Madeleine one. Difficult to get reservations. It is a 7.5-mile ski ride to get there. the guys above will give you a ride if you pay them. They will transport your food, wine and beer if you want to do it in style. No need for dried food. Ugly hut (older mine building) but you have electricity and runnign water, which means a hot shower, and no going out for a dump.
http://www.sepaq.com/rf/chc/index.dot?language_id=1

I have never been with these guys but have heard good things about them. Low key relatively cheap accommodation. They are in the mostly abandoned former mining town of Murdochville. Not as scenic as the National park area (above links).
http://www.chic-chac.ca/en/home/
 
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Dr.Smiles

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Mar 8, 2015
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Rhode Island and Rangeley, ME
Thanks for this great info. We broke ground for a ski house a few miles outside of Rangeley. Sounds like you have similar dreams. Won't be finished until late April. Looking forward to a seasons pass next year. Opening day this year was awesome.
 

bigbog

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Bangor and the state's woodlands
This is heli-skiing is wild. We were just talking about this on the way home from Saddleback yesterday. If they can get access to other mountains in the area this could be pretty awesome. Mt. Abraham from Rt 4 on the drive to and from Saddleback looks pretty sick.

In western Maine, SW of Jackman, the only thing is to cut out areas to land on. Most of the mountains off of #201 in both directions have runout areas that have brush, but are somewhat open...and in other areas you're skiing out into brush and stands of trees....just the natural topography. Imho snowmobiles are the way to go in ME, but the Chic-Chocs have the real stuff as far as altitude.
 
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C-Rex

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Enfield, CT
The people in those pics are probably one group of friends. I'd imagine they all didn't just happen to meet up there.
 

fbrissette

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Is there ship based heli skiing in the Torngats? Because that would be VERY cool.

https://sawtoothmts.wordpress.com/tag/torngat-mountains/


It is remote, extremely cold with little day light during winter. Ice will prevent any boat from getting near for at least 5 months. In addition, it is so cold that there is not enough moisture for large amounts of snowfall. Would probably be OK for late spring skiing.

Heliskiing there would be twice as expensive as Alaska or inner BC and only half as good.
 

deadheadskier

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ahh, but would you have the same excitement of dodging Polar Bears in Alaska as you would in the Torngats?
 
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