Drop a pin on a map midway between Central BC and Alaska. There you’ll find Northern Escape Heli Skiing, a stone’s throw from the Alaskan Panhandle. Then imagine your group of friends, a helicopter, 5,500 sq kms of big mountain and powder skiing as your exclusive playground. Hard to beat that!
We’ve been searching for the perfect destination in Canada and finally we got it! As many of you know, it can be difficult to find the right one as there are a plethora of destinations and operators. Once we found Northern Escape, we saw lots of benefits with having them as our Canadian base.
The big perks with Northern Escape is their small groups with only five or six participants. They use the strong, Italian-made Agusta Koala helicopter, one of the fastest and most agile machines in the business. They offer different packages at reasonable prices and we get that genuine Canadian feel from the staff and the different lodges.
But best of all, the icing on the cake is the guarantee of skiing.
We’ve all heard those horror stories when nature turns and people go to a lodge and play darts or read books during their whole stay. Norther Escape saw the problem and the solution. They have cat skiing as a down day activity!
This means that there is a waiting cat to take you out to ski the deep powder almost every time, if the heli can't fly on a bad weather day. So here you can count on skiing either world-class heli skiing or first class Cat skiing.
Accommodation
Classic - Yellow Cedar Lodge.
Surrounded by forest right by the Skeena River is Yellow Cedar Lodge.
A characteristic Canadian lodge with 18 beds with both double and single rooms, all with private bathrooms.
The facility offers a jacuzzi, sauna, gym, pool table and much more.
Aprés ski is enjoyed in the heated wooden pavilion and dinners are served family style with local produce such as fish, deer and reindeer.
Price from SEK 42,900/person.
Elite - Mountain Lodge.
Nestled in the Skeena Range is the luxurious, boutique, fly in/fly out "Mountain Lodge".
Here we got 10 single rooms, all with private bathrooms.
A hot tub big enough for 10 people, a terrace with mountains views, a yoga room, massage room, a bar and much more.
Price from SEK 47,700/person.
Private - Skeena River Ranch.
Exclusive Skeena River Ranch is topnotch premium. A more luxurious Canadian feel is hard to find. Your group with 4-5 guests will fly out together with two mountain guides, a pilot and your private chefs.
You have access to your own helicopter as long as it is light outside, forget about standing around waiting for other groups. You and your crew will always be in focus.
Price from SEK 77,500/person.
Packages
All packages offer 3,4,5 or 7 days at the various lodges.
Travels
KLM offers direct flights from Central Europe to Vancouver.
Further from Vancouver, there is a direct flight of about 90 minutes to Terrace, BC.
Transfer Terrace - The Lodge
Classic - You'll get picked up by minibus and travel about 30 minutes to Yellow Cedar Lodge.
Elite - Helicopter transfer direct from Terrace Airport to Mountain Lodge
Private - Helicopter transfer direct from Terrace airport to Skeena River Ranch
Q&A
What does a typical heli-skiing day look like?
It’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a whole lot of fun in between! But seriously, our day begins with a complimentary in-lodge stretch at 7:00 am. Breakfast is served at 7:30 am. After breakfast, you will go through some safety briefings with your guides. You will depart from the lodge to the mountains around 8:45 am.
After some runs, you will enjoy a nice lunch on the slopes. Depending on the time of the year, our groups might start coming back at 4:45 pm.
We will have good food and cold beer waiting for you at our Après Ski. In the meantime, enjoy a relaxing massage or a hot tub (don’t forget to bring a swimsuit!). Dinner is served at 7 pm.
How many vertical meters includes in the packages?
Cassic and Elite:
3 days include: 13,000 vertical meters
4 days include: 17,425 vertical meters
5 days include: 21,800 vertical meters
7 days include: 30,300 vertical meters
Private:
3 - 7 days include unlimited vertical meters.
A strong group can count on 10-12 rides on a sunny day.
What type of riding can we expect?
Long runs with varied terrain.
Everything from big bowls, glaciers, chutes, big open fields and of course epic tree runs.
How many groups / helicopters rotate in the different packages?
Classic - 3 groups.
Elite - 2 groups.
Private is of course private = only your group.
What’s the price to add more Vertical meters?
The price is $152.00 (about SEK 1250) / 1000 meters of altitude in addition.
You can also pre-book what they call "unlimited".
During the period 15 February - 30 April, unlimited is recommended.
Then you have prepaid for extra height meters and thereby saved x number of kroner.
There is no stopping your riding here!
Contact us for more info.
What’s the refund policy like?
On every not used guaranteed vertical meter they’ll refund $152.00 (approx. SEK 1250)
Refunds are only made due to bad weather or machine problems.
No refunds are made due to delays, tired legs etc
When is the best time to go?
You should plan your trip for any time between mid-December and mid-April, as this is the length of Northern Escape Heli Skiing’s season.
You will most likely experience the deepest powder from the end of December till the end of January.
Should I think about my physical health?
It is an advantage to be in good level of fitness to endure the long runs in the Canadian mountains.
You don't have to be classified as an elite athlete, but we would recommend some squats before the trip.
Do I have to be a professional skier to heli-skii?
No! If you can make it down a red hill without a problem, you can absolutely go heliskiing in Canada.
What is Cat-skiing?
When Catskiing, you’ll be transported in a so-called Snowcat. It resembles a piste machine with a heated cab at the back where guests and guides will sit. The concept is very similar to heli skiing. With the help of your snowcat, you get to remote terrain with untouched powder. While you cruise down in the powder, the snow cat drives down and then picks you up for more runs. The advantage of a snowcat is that it makes its way safely in all weathers. If you’re out with the snowcat and the whether all of a sudden clears up, the helicopter will come pick you up and you can continue the day with helicopter transport.
Is there an age limit?
You have to be at least 16 years old.
Further questions?
info@mountainguide.se
or
+46 70 277 77 19.
Number of days: 3, 4, 5 or 7 days
Price: From SEK42900
(Exchange Rate for Euro vs American Dollar)
(Exchange Rate for Euro vs British Pound)
Please use the form if you have any questions or want us to contact you.