In Revelstoke, both private and shared group heliskiing is available. Here we explain the difference between the two, along with some pro’s and con’s.
Private heliskiing means chartering your own helicopter for the day or week, for exclusive use by your group. You’ll have your own guide(s) and they will tailor the experience to your group’s needs. So whether you want to ski hard and fast all day long, or take a more leisurely pace to enjoy the scenery, your wish is their command. Guests staying at Bighorn normally go for this option, as they can fly straight from the house helipad and do all their safety training from the comfort of the lodge.
Pros:
1) No waiting for other people
2) Dedicated service – the heli will be at your beck and call all day
3) Bespoke experience – fly when you want, ski where you want and at your pace
4) Ultimate ease – fly direct from the lodge, no transfers to staging posts
Cons:
1) Price
2) Prohibitive for individuals or groups smaller than 4 people
Group heliskiing means buying a seat on a helicopter for a day, or multi day program. You’ll share the heli with other people, but guides will try and match guests with similar abilities and speed. The helicopter will normally fly 3 or 4 groups each day, so there is some flying back and forth as the pilot shuttles groups out to the heliski terrain and from run to run. This may mean you are driven out to a staging post to reduce flight time.
Pro’s:
1) Cost-effective
2) Sociable
3) Sustainable pace – groups tend to ski a little slower which is a blessing if you are helsikking for several days and are less than Olympic fit!
4) A great way to try heliskiing and get a feel for the incredible snow and terrain around Revelstoke
Cons:
1) There will be some waiting around for other groups, other members of your group and at the start of the day while all the groups are taken out to the tenure.
2) You will be required to meet at a set time and ski for a certain duration (though you can sit out a run in the heli if you are tired).
3) The helicopter will fly from a central meeting point which may require a vehicle transfer from your accommodation.
4) The pace will be dictated by the slowest member of your group.