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Overview
Based in historic Nelson, BC, we are centrally located between the incredible ski areas of Whitewater Winter Resort and Red Mountain Resort in Rossland. Ski or ride British Columbia's most incredible big mountain terrain through high alpine bowls and steep, old-growth forests in the heart of the Valhalla Mountains. The Valhalla's are the first major range to get pummeled by the constant storms which roll in over the arid Okanagan Valley from the precipitous Pacific coast. The plains dry out the moisture content and Voila! ... Snow quality like few other places on earth. We typically receive over 1200cm (450" +) of snow fall each winter with a normal snow base of 2.5m to 4m + (8' to 12') deep depending on the time of year.
Ski Terrain
The heli-skiing terrain is vast and breathtaking and we pride ourselves on our catskiing access. Our cats drive well into the alpine where temperatures are cooler, keeping the snow lighter, drier and deeper even when wetter weather persists in other parts of BC's interior. Our extensive area is mainly comprised of high alpine bowls and steep old-growth forest. Our new snowcat roads link runs between 1200' to 4000' with the last runs of the day now going down right to the vans - this means more skiing and no more long cat-ride out at the end of the day!
Over a third of our helicopter terrain is in the alpine - featuring ridges, steep chutes and vast open areas to cruise. There is such a variety of unique features in our new terrain that even the most well-travelled riders will find it hard to compare to any place they’ve been before. Line after line of steep couloirs, natural half-pipes, headwalls, ramps, boulder fields and glades, all with the spectacular backdrop of BC's Valhalla Provincial Park.
Catskiing:
We typically get in 6 to 10 runs, clocking 3500 - 5500m (12,000 - 18,000 ft) of vertical per day. The length of runs vary generally between 300 - 850m (1000 - 2800 ft), taking advantage of the best snow conditions and fun factor available on the mountain each day. As we cater to stronger skiers & riders, our groups turn out to be very compatible on the mountain. Return rides up in our comfortable and heated snowcats vary from 10 to 35 minutes. Each snowcat carries 12 guests and 2 guides. Independent of the weather, the cats allow us to ski every day - all day. Water, snacks & lunch are provided on the way up between runs as to maximize ski time. For safety reasons, our last run out is an hour before light begins to fade.
Heliskiing:
Helicopter skiing is based on a minimum of 2 groups of 4 skiers. Each group is accompanied by their own private guide. We ski a much larger area with larger terrain features and run vertical. Our heli-skiing terrain is demanding and shouldn’t be considered by intermediate skiers or riders. Typically, we ski six runs per day with more available at additional cost.
Experience
Your skiing or riding skills should allow you to ski most expert trails at ski areas in a variety of snow conditions without falling. This is wilderness skiing which means snow conditions vary from day-to-day and storm-to-storm. There are no groomed runs so you must be comfortable with traversing and skiing or riding in all types of snow including powder or its less forgiving variations. We are looking for keen skiers and boarders that want to ride all day long. Fitness is as important as ability. No matter how strong your technique, a day of skiing our terrain can be frustrating if you are out-of-shape. Being rested and in good physical condition for this adventure is important for both a pleasant experience, and safe one.
We are members and all of our guides are certified under the Canadian Avalanche Association and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides or the Canadian Ski Guide Association
Weather
Winter temperatures range between -15 and +15 degrees Celsius (5 - 59 degrees Fahrenheit). Our average daily temperature is between -5 and -1 degrees Celsius (in the 20s Fahrenheit). As with any outdoor pursuit, weather and snow conditions are unpredictable. We ask our guests to expect the best, but to be prepared for anything.
Accommodation
We can arrange for several different accommodations but we typically put people up at the Hume Hotel - Nelson's heritage hotel since 1898. Formerly the Heritage Inn, the Hume Hotel has been a cherished must-see Nelson landmark for over a century. This unique full-service inn features 43 nostalgic guest rooms, the Library Lounge, Mike's Place Pub, General Store Restaurant, Taffy Jack's Cabaret, banquet facilities, a liquor store, Kokopelli's Day Spa and Beyond The Fringe Hair Salon.
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