Heli trip

[kingslug]

I think I am going to try and get in a day of Heli skiing this season. Prolly in Utah as it's the easiest and cheapest way I can find. I can only afford 1 day. Has anyone here done this. If so, what was you're experience?

 

[skimore]

If you want to just try it out in Utah, Powder Mountain has an outfit that flys out of the Hidden Peak lodge that you can do a single run for $100

 

[skimore]

Here some photos of where they drop us. You can also pay $10 for cat ride off Lightning Ridge that had some fun stuff. We probably could have got to where they drop us with the heli with a 30-45 min skin from the cat drop point

 

[skimore]

Here is a couple clips from cat skiing area

http://skioffpiste.livedigital.com/content/1786965
http://skioffpiste.livedigital.com/content/1786964

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I read about a package Jackson Hole offers which is either a 5 night or 7 night trip. One package includes 2 days of resort skiing and 2 days of heli...and the other includes 3 days of resort skiing and 3 days of heli...Very progressive...Cost including slopeside lodging was about $2500 and $3500 respectively...not cheap but less than hitting BC or AK for a week of heli..

 

[skimore]

I read about a package Jackson Hole offers which is either a 5 night or 7 night trip. One package includes 2 days of resort skiing and 2 days of heli...and the other includes 3 days of resort skiing and 3 days of heli...Very progressive...Cost including slopeside lodging was about $2500 and $3500 respectively...not cheap but less than hitting BC or AK for a week of heli..

He stated he could afford one day....post something useful for the man

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

He stated he could afford one day....post something useful for the man

They also offer single day excursions..I was just throwing out an idea which is a compromise between resort skiing and heli-skiing...don't be hating..uke:

 

[skimore]

They also offer single day excursions..I was just throwing out an idea which is a compromise between resort skiing and heli-skiing...don't be hating..uke:

not hating.....but posting some package deal you read about was not what I think he had in mind

 

[kingslug]

I've been to Powder Mt. several times but never tried the cat. I read about their Heli and watched it several times while it took off. Snowbird also has one but I bet the terrain is harder. Powder just might do the trick. Great shot of it, looks doable to me. Wish i could afford something like the Jackson trip but it would kill my season budget and maybe even me.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I looked at several a couple of seasons ago. Then, Wasatch Powder Birds was cheapest for a day, but not by a lot. They were all over $700/day.

We looked at several cat skiing ops, which, granted, is not the same, but a whole lot less $$ and ended up at Grand Targhee. It was a great day of untracked, but it's not likely anything I'll be doing again anytime soon.

If you can swing it, go for it. I would guess that WPB will be the best deal and the most reliable snow.

 

[ski220]

Powder Mtn. has rather short vertical. WPG not much more. Powder Mtn has excellant off-piste via cat (snowmobile, not a true cat) or shuttle bus from the road back up (as PM is a base high area).

I would post some nice pics. but I do not know how to resize them.

Col.,JH, will have longer verticals.

 

[ski220]

Grand Targee, Durango Mtn Resort (Purgatory) and Steamboat all have excellant cat skiing operations. In my opinion - given the short verts in Utah, cat skiing makes better sense. Save the Heli for Whistler where you can expect runs averaging over 2000ft vs. 1000 - 1200 for Utah. Just not enough to justify the heli..

 

[ski220]

If you do go heli skiing, go with an outfit that flys an A-star or similiar SMALL ship to limit group size. Very key. Try to grab a ride in the front seat. It will be an experiance you won't forget. A possible bummer if you book in advance is the possibility of down days. If you can't reschedual you could loose your deposit.

 

[AHM]

A cheap way to get that experience

Many have already talked about going cat skiing given the verts and the cost in Utah. I would agree, also as mentioned the cat goes in all weather, the bird does not. One of the best places to try some cat skiing as mentioned is Steamboat, Durango, etc. Each of these is a tad shy on verts and pitch.

Most cat and heli ops are based out of BC. This is one of the cheapest places to visit and ski out of and not many Americans "go for it". Try this: Fly into either Spokane or Calgary. From Spokane, go to Nelson BC, ski whitewater and ski a cat day with Valhalla Powder cats. The terrain is super, the cost is cheap and you'll get some super skiing, with a bunch of pow and a great op. If you opt for Calgary, there are a couple options. One is go North and go to Kicking Horse, and Mt Revelstoke. There are day cat ops in Revelstoke. The other option is to drive down to Fernie. Ski Fernie, grab a cat day with Fernie wilderness (it's a cheap op, but can provide a fun day). You can make a very nice loop of Red, Whitewater and Fernie from either airport. You'll also get a bunch of Canadian pow and the verts will be better. Have fun.

 

[castlerock]

AHMs itinerary sounds fun, but it is really an itinerary for a "guys" trip. (And one I am going to put in my to do list). But if you are on a mixed group trip, SLC is a great destination and WPG is a solid outfit.

If you are in this type of trip and you know the week(s) that you are going, you can book now and get a discounted (slightly) rate. Also book it earlier in your week as weather can be an issue. If you book the last day of your trip and you can't fly, you have missed your chance.

And one last thing. Don't plan on skiing, the afternoon of your heli day. Stay at WPG, drink all their beer and eat your fill. The food is good, and you need to make sure you get value for your $1K!

 

[castlerock]

A possible bummer if you book in advance is the possibility of down days. If you can't reschedual you could loose your deposit.

I've never flown with a daily operation that wouldn't refund any deposit if they don't fly.

 

[L2RAFO]

Most cat and heli ops are based out of BC. This is one of the cheapest places to visit and ski out of and not many Americans "go for it". Try this: Fly into either Spokane or Calgary. From Spokane, go to Nelson BC, ski whitewater and ski a cat day with Valhalla Powder cats. The terrain is super, the cost is cheap and you'll get some super skiing, with a bunch of pow and a great op. If you opt for Calgary, there are a couple options. One is go North and go to Kicking Horse, and Mt Revelstoke. There are day cat ops in Revelstoke. The other option is to drive down to Fernie. Ski Fernie, grab a cat day with Fernie wilderness (it's a cheap op, but can provide a fun day). You can make a very nice loop of Red, Whitewater and Fernie from either airport. You'll also get a bunch of Canadian pow and the verts will be better. Have fun.

That's starting to change now, and, remember, for the first time ever the Canadian dollar is equal to the American dollar in value.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

That's starting to change now, and, remember, for the first time ever the Canadian dollar is equal to the American dollar in value.

Weren't the Canadian dollar and the US dollar equal back in the 80s?

 

[L2RAFO]

Weren't the Canadian dollar and the US dollar equal back in the 80s?

As I've said in an earlier post, I'm lucky to remember last years highlights let alone what the Canadian dollar was doing 27 years ago.

 

[kingslug]

I looked into both WPG and Diamond (out of Powder MT.) WPG was around $900.00 for 6 to 7 runs, Diamond was $650.00. Diamond advertises 18000 vert for the day which adds up to almost 3000 vert per run. I haven't called them yet but will. I'm not even sure if I could do a 3000 vert run non stop. Continuous vert is not my main priority. It's the whole experience I'm looking for. I really want to go up in a heli. Cat skiing is the real bang for the buck and I plan on that as well.I have a search going on now for a timeshare in BC. One thing that Diamond does that few others do is allow you to pay by the run, like the cat op they have going there. It's funny how few people don't bother with Powder MT. as it really has so much to offer. like this deal. One Ride Heli-Ski Combo Special *
$150.00 - Includes:
1-Heli-Ski Run- approximately 3,000 vertical feet to Paradise Lift
and
1 - Full Day Ski Pass at Powder Mountain Ski Area
(Reservations are not available for the one ride pass - exception custom group tour)

"Its not just skiing its an Adventure!"