Heli-Skiing Q & A (FAQs)

CMH Heli-Skiing Trips FAQ - answers to common questions

Here are a few common questions that you might have when you're considering booking a CMH trip.

Still have questions? Email us or call 1.800.661.0252.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO COME?

Our entire season, starting in December and ending in late April or early May, offers great backcountry skiing and riding opportunities.

We begin our operations in December because we know we will have a more than sufficient amount of snow, with opportunities for good powder skiing equivalent to those at other times of the year. Our winter begins earlier and lasts longer than that of our US neighbours.

Spring skiing offers a variety of snow conditions ranging from corn snow* on south facing slopes to powder on north facing slopes. At this time of the year, we ski primarily on high open slopes. In springtime, the days are longer and the temperatures are warmer, generally allowing for more skiing than at other times during the season.

*Corn snow is large-grained, rounded crystals formed from repeated melting and freezing, providing a velvety surface texture perfect for riding. To experienced Heli-Skiers, corn snow is a precious commodity. Unlike “spring slush,” it is the most effortless of the various conditions we encounter at other times of the year.

WHICH AREA SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Each of our areas offers a similar selection of terrain, runs and snow conditions. If you skied each area under similar weather and snow conditions, you would likely have difficulty distinguishing between them. The price differences among the areas reflect the differing operating costs. Only Bobbie Burns, Galena , and Monashees differ and should not be considered by first time Heli-Skiers.

If accessibility and ease of communication with the outside world are important, then you should consider the Gothics, Kootenay, Monashees, Revelstoke, Valemount or McBride. For a more remote lodging experience, consider Adamants, Bobbie Burns, Bugaboos, Cariboos, Galena or Silvertip.

Whichever CMH area you choose, you will find the same dedication by our staff to give you a unique mountain experience.

AT WHAT ALTITUDE DO YOU SKI?

Most of our ski terrain is between 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) and 2,800 metres (9,200 feet). In some cases, we can land as high as 3,500 metres (11,500 feet) and ski down to 600 metres (1,960 feet). The altitude at which we actually ski is determined each day by the guides and pilots, depending on weather and flying conditions, snow stability, and snow quality.

WHAT IS THE TERRAIN LIKE?

At all twelve of our areas, skiing is done on spectacular open snowfields, glaciers and in the trees. On marginal weather days we generally ski just in the trees. Because we operate out of twelve lodges, we offer a far greater variety of skiing terrain and exposure than all other Heli-Skiing operations combined. Each area encompasses more than 1,000 square kilometres and offers over 125 runs for the exclusive use of 50 skiers (maximum). Runs vary in length from 500 to 2,100 vertical metres and are in the most beautiful mountain country imaginable.

WHAT IS TREE SKIING LIKE?

We ski in natural, mature forests where the wide spacing between very large trees makes for fun skiing. Over the past four decades we've developed many runs with good tree-spacing even in dense forests. Our experience in these forests allows us to find great skiing during periods of poor visibility and when the avalanche risk is high on the open slopes. Keep in mind that, exhilarating as it is, tree skiing can also be strenuous.

WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE SNOWFALL?

Snowfall varies greatly from year to year, but, in the actual ski areas, seasonal snowfall averages range from 1,200 cm (470 inches) to 2,000 cm (790 inches, or a hefty 65 feet). This generally makes for a settled snowpack of anywhere from 2.5 metres (8 feet) to 5 metres (16 feet).

It's not always powder skiing and boarding. We offer remote mountain skiing in untracked snow. The snow is good 70 percent of the time but it can also be very poor. Our guides are skilled and experienced mountaineers and ski instructors who do their best to find good snow and offer you help/instruction, if needed, in all conditions.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

There are just no guarantees when it comes to the weather. While the majority of our weeks at all of our areas will provide you with a great ski experience, there is a possibility that during the week you've booked temperatures could drop to a bitter –40 degrees or you could encounter rain. These are risks you have to share with us.

ARE THERE MANY NON-SKIING DAYS?

Because we ski in such a variety of terrain and at such varying altitudes, we can usually find a good skiable area. On average, we can't ski at all only about half a day each week. But should you encounter a difficult week, you have the assurance of the best refund policy in the Heli-Skiing business.

DO YOU ONLY OFFER WEEK-LONG TRIPS?

No. We offer more and more variations on our classic 7-day trips, along with shorter trips. We also offer Powder Introduction and Powder Masters programs, and a whole array of specialty trips. See Ski Trips for details, or use our Trip Planning Wizard to choose the best trip for you.

HOW ARE THE GROUPS SET UP?

After you arrive at the lodge, we'll ask you at what pace you want to ski, and our guides will form groups of compatible ability. To ensure the skiing is as enjoyable as possible for everybody, the guides decide which group you will ski with, and make adjustments throughout the week as necessary.

Groups of friends may be able to ski together if you are all evenly matched in ability. However, in forming the groups, we have to balance both the abilities of all skiers and also, for helicopter safety reasons, the weights of the flight groups. So even if you come as part of a group expecting to ski together, for the safety and enjoyment of all our guests, we must reserve the right to form the groups as we see fit, optimizing the compatibility of skiing abilities and balancing the weights of all the groups.

DO I HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER?

Yes. Our guides and pilots are rigorously trained to optimize the program's safety and quality. The safety briefings and training you'll receive upon arrival are designed to explain Heli-Skiing's risks and to bring you into partnership with us in managing them to the fullest extent possible.

However, some elements of risk are manageable while others are not. Heli-Skiing's inherent risks—which exceed the normal risks of everyday living and recreational skiing — can't be completely eliminated. We ask you to understand and accept this fact in writing prior to your trip by signing the CMH Heli-Skiing waiver. Unless we have received your properly completed and witnessed waiver including full contact information, we can't accept your booking.

WHAT IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT?

Our guides carry their own equipment pack, which enables them to handle most accidents on the spot. Helicopters can usually land close to an injured skier for immediate evacuation and the helicopter is equipped with additional resuscitation and rescue equipment. More equipment is available at remote rescue caches and at the lodge. All staff members are briefed on rescue plans for emergency situations. If evacuation beyond the base lodge is required, the cost is your responsibility; we recommend that you carry insurance for such ambulance service.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A FATALITY?

Given the complexity of snow, and the vast wilderness areas rapidly accessible by our helicopters, Heli-Skiing remains an art as well as a science. In spite of all of our efforts over more than 41 years, 145,040 skier-weeks and 8.1 million runs, we have suffered 32 fatalities, 23 of them in 9 avalanche accidents. See our Safety section to learn more about our program.

IS THERE AN EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT?

Yes. This applies to those who prepay in full for their week of Heli-Skiing. Please download our Early Payment Discount form (pdf) for information on when the funds must be received by CMH Reservations for your trip date. Don't forget to allow two weeks for mailing.

DOES CMH OFFER ANY CREDIT FOR ORGANIZING A GROUP OR INTRODUCING A NEW SKIER?

Yes, but they are not discounts on the cost of the week. If you bring a new skier or a group to CMH, we feel your good efforts deserve recognition:

  • New Guest Credits: If you have previously skied or hiked with CMH and introduce a first time Heli-Skier or Heli-Hiker to our programs, you qualify for a New Guest Credit. This program requires that you notify us of who this person is before the trip is paid for. You must complete the New Guest Credit Form (pdf) to qualify. These credits cannot be applied without this form.
  • Group Organizers: If you organize a group of 10 or more skiers, you qualify for a commission if the trip is booked on certain weeks where this program is available and under certain conditions. Information and applicable weeks are available on our Group Organizers Policy, or you may contact our reservations office and request that the Group Organizers Policy be mailed to you. Group organizer discounts also apply to all Heli-Hiking trips throughout the summer.

CAN I CONNECT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD FROM YOUR LODGES?

Computer and Internet Service

Each lodge has at least minimal computer, Internet and wireless services available for guests. However, due to the remoteness of our lodges and the lack of on-site technical resources, we can't guarantee these services. Connectivity problems can occur, and when they do, systems can be down for over a week at a time. If you need more reliable service, we suggest you consider Revelstoke, Kootenay, or McBride lodges.

Note that use of CMH facilities with personal equipment is done at your own risk, and no support services are available (also keep in mind that we're on a 110-volt system). Bandwidth is limited, so we ask guests to be considerate of others when using them.

The table below outlines specific connectivity information, including wireless Internet access for laptops and other devices, for each lodge:

 

Lodge

Mobile Service Provider

Wireless

Ethernet

Guest PC

Type

Adamants

-

-

yes

1

Satellite

Bobbie Burns

-

-

yes

1

Satellite

Bugaboos

-

limited

yes

2

Satellite

Cariboos

-

limited

yes

2

ADSL via Mountain Top Wireless Repeater

Galena

-

limited

yes

1

Satellite

Gothics

-

limited

yes

2

Satellite

Kootenay

Telus

yes

yes

1

ADSL

McBride

Telus

yes

yes

1

ADSL

Monashees

-

-

yes

3

Satellite

Revelstoke

Telus and Rogers

yes

-

1

ADSL

Silvertip

-

limited

yes

1

Satellite

Valemount

Telus

yes

yes

2

ADSL via Mountain Top Wireless Repeater


Please see specific lodge pages for more details regarding wireless connectivity.

Telephone Service

All rooms at Valemount, McBride, Kootenay, and Revelstoke are furnished with a telephone. The numbers for these areas are: Valemount (250) 566-4111; Revelstoke (250) 837-2107; Kootenay (250) 265-3618; and McBride (250) 569-0001.

Pay phones for outgoing calls are available in the Gothics and Monashees. The Adamants, Bugaboos, Bobbie Burns, Cariboos and Galena all have radio telephones available for guests' outgoing calls.

Silvertip has a single satellite phone that is for emergency calls only. Incoming messages should be forwarded through the CMH office in Banff (403-762-7100) and are also for emergency purposes only.

Mobile telephone coverage is available at Kootenay, McBride, and Valemount lodges; their service provider is Telus Mobility. Revelstoke's providers are Telus Mobility and Rogers Wireless.

Once again, the CMH Banff office phone number is 403-762-7100. Our office is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Saturday. All messages are passed on to the areas each day.

WHAT DO I DO IF I SNORE?

If you don't want your roommate to resent you and you really feel that you must have a single room, even for medical reasons, then you must book one and pay the single supplement.