| This article is directed to all skiers who have either an | | | | more a monetary issue than an issue of skiing |
| unsatisfied craving for powder skiing or who want to | | | | prowess, age, fitness and backcountry experience, |
| become powder skiers. Backcountry skiing may | | | | especially in the case of heliskiing. Heliskiing and cat |
| provide your Nirvana. Prior experience is not required | | | | skiing do not require any backcountry experience or |
| and there is lots of opportunity for intermediate | | | | special equipment. None at all! You don't even need |
| skiers! Is backcountry skiing for me? Can I do it? Is it | | | | powder skis, just boots and clothing. The operator |
| safe? We'll speak to your fears and help answer your | | | | will supply skis that are well suited for his local |
| questions. Perhaps backcountry skiing is the answer | | | | conditions. The operator will also supply safety |
| to your prayers. Perhaps it is very much for you and | | | | equipment and provide training and experience in its |
| you can easily do it. Perhaps it is really quite safe, at | | | | use. The guides handle all the rest. Age offers no |
| least relative to what you already do in life. Read on | | | | barrier to backcountry skiing. Heli and cat ski |
| and find out. There are thousands of powder skiing | | | | operators welcome male and female clients of age |
| enthusiasts around the world who spend their winters | | | | ranging from the 20's well into the 80's. Consider that |
| waiting patiently for the next "dump", that rare event | | | | the folks who can afford a high-end heliskiing trip |
| that deposits more light fresh snow overnight than | | | | tend not to be "young bucks" who spend their days |
| the groomers can beat down before the lift opens. | | | | in the gym and delight in throwing themselves off |
| These patient folk range from intermediate skiers | | | | cliffs. They tend to be more "mature" folk who drive |
| through experts but, irrespective of ability, they all | | | | a desk all year and may not be particularly fit, or |
| share a love for making first tracks in fresh snow | | | | they may be retirees. If you can ski almost |
| and the only thing that separates them is just how | | | | everything in your local ski area, you probably have |
| "steep and deep" they like it. By opening time on | | | | more than enough skill to handle backcountry skiing. |
| those rare "powder days", the lineup at the chairlift | | | | Style is not important, just a reasonable level of skill |
| can be so long that all the ungroomed runs will be | | | | and fitness. For heliskiing in particular, you should be |
| entirely skied out before late arrivals even get on the | | | | able to ski for a day and still be able to walk. The |
| lift. All over town, employees are phoning in "sick". For | | | | Web site of Purcell Heliskiing states that, "Skiers |
| the early-birds, there is rarely more than a couple of | | | | should be able to ski groomed blue runs confidently |
| good runs to be had in "great" untracked snow. It's | | | | and be physically fit in order to get the most out of |
| really not a very encouraging picture! What's the | | | | their heli-ski adventure". Purcell Helicopters also |
| alternative? How can one get at least a few days a | | | | recommends that, "Snowboarders need to be |
| year of really good powder skiing? One choice might | | | | advanced and able to board at higher speeds |
| be a trip to Utah*(see note below), where "powder | | | | comfortably to get the most out of the deep |
| days" might be more frequent. However, it's still a | | | | powder conditions". Powder skiing in the backcountry |
| horserace to the best snow and by mid-day things | | | | alpine can be easier than in the local ski resort, |
| are getting a little worn out. Perhaps a better option | | | | because the snow is generally unbroken, light and |
| is to head for the backcountry and its limitless | | | | very consistent. There are no buried moguls to knock |
| reaches of deep untracked snow. Some folks have | | | | you about, or old ski tracks to cross or lumps of |
| the fitness, training, knowledge, equipment and the | | | | piled-up snow to contend with. It does not take long |
| time to head for the hills on touring skis, or on | | | | to "get the hang of it". You might encounter some |
| downhill skis fitted with heel-release bindings. | | | | wind crust or sun crust, but your guide will work very |
| However, even that involves a heck of a lot of | | | | hard to avoid it. With heliskiing in particular, your guide |
| walking and not all that much powder skiing. Also, | | | | will have many options for finding areas of great |
| out-of-bounds skiing is certainly not for everyone | | | | snow. Your guide is a real pro! He (or she) is there, |
| that happens to be a fervent "powder hound". Most | | | | not to get some "turns" for himself, but to help you |
| skiers just don't have the knowledge and experience | | | | have the greatest ski day of your life. Your guide will |
| to be safe in the backcountry, nor do they have the | | | | select terrain that suits your ability and keeps you |
| equipment. The alternatives that really satisfy a | | | | safe. However, he/she may challenge you to expand |
| "powder lust" are heliskiing and cat skiing. These | | | | you horizons and improve your skiing. Your heliski or |
| activities provide a reliable means by which average | | | | cat ski operator will attempt to assemble ski groups |
| intermediate and expert skiers can "ski their legs off" | | | | that are as well matched in ability as possible and |
| and to enjoy lots great powder skiing in deep light | | | | your guide will select terrain that suits the skill level of |
| snow. Every day, all day long, almost every turn is | | | | your group. Assembling well-matched groups is |
| made in fresh untracked snow. By the end of each | | | | simplified when groups of friends book together. |
| day, intermediate skier and expert alike can expect | | | | Many operators offer a discount to groups of |
| to have very few turns left in them. There is no | | | | particular size. During your backcountry ski trip, your |
| question that heliskiing and cat skiing are relatively | | | | skiing will improve, possibly dramatically. The deep |
| expensive activities. However, cost varies widely | | | | consistent snow will permit you to ski slopes that are |
| depending on the service provided. At one extreme | | | | steeper than you might normally attempt. Your guide |
| is a snowcat skiing day-trip that might provide three | | | | will always be attentive to your concerns and can be |
| or four 1500 to 2000 ft descents in the best powder | | | | trusted to find terrain in which you are safe. Some |
| imaginable. At the other extreme is a full-service | | | | cat-skiing group organizers ski for free. Tree skiing is |
| multi-day heliskiing tour based in a luxurious mountain | | | | a fixture of backcountry skiing. When the weather |
| lodge where ski groups might comprise only 4 to 6 | | | | deteriorates, tree skiing provides the deepest, most |
| people. In between is a wide range of service with | | | | protected snow and the best visibility. Some |
| an equally wide price range. Only you can evaluate | | | | operators offer a predominance of tree skiing and |
| what a day or a week of great powder skiing is | | | | many backcountry skiers prefer skiing the trees to |
| worth to you, what you can afford and which of the | | | | skiing the open alpine slopes. Generally, tree skiing in |
| many options best meets your needs. If you could | | | | the backcountry quite different from tree skiing in |
| consider a vacation in Mexico or Bermuda or Hawaii | | | | your local ski resort. Again, the soft consistency of |
| or southern France (depending on where you live) | | | | the snow and the absence of any old tracks and |
| then you may well be able to afford a very nice | | | | moguls makes all the difference. Also, in many areas, |
| multi-day, fully-guided backcountry ski trip. However, | | | | such as the Monashee and Selkirk Mountains of British |
| beware that backcountry skiing is highly addictive. | | | | Columbia, trees tend to be large and well spaced and |
| There are over two dozen heliskiing companies and | | | | the very deep snow cover buries most of the |
| about 16 catskiing companies in western Canada | | | | smaller trees and all of the underbrush. Many |
| alone. Most of them are doing quite well, and enjoy | | | | intermediate skiers who try tree skiing for the first |
| good bookings. By and large, these operators rely on | | | | time find that not only can they do it, but that they |
| intermediate skiers to keep their doors open. The | | | | come to really enjoy it. |
| barrier to mechanized backcountry skiing is much | | | | |