With untouched peaks and posh mountain lodges, heli-skiing is a dream for many powder fiends. But a trip can easily run upwards of seven grand per week, so, for most folks, heli-skiing remains just a dream. But even in this pricey segment of an expensive sport deals can be found\u2014it just takes a bit of strategic planning. This is all relative\u2014riding in a chopper will never be as cheap as bumping lifts. But how else are you going to get to those big mountain lines? \u00a0<\/p>\n
This can net up to 25 percent off prime season rates. For outfits in Alaska, the shoulder season is usually February to early March. In the lower 48, it\u2019s early December, some of January, late March, and April. For most Canadian operations, the shoulder months are December and April. To wit: a five-day trip to CMH\u2019s Gothics\u00a0lodge<\/a> in December is $3,828, that\u2019s 25 percent off its high-season rate.<\/p>\n Operators are often looking to fill up their lodges and birds last minute and will sometimes offer deals then. At Nevada\u2019s Ruby Mountain Heli Experience<\/a>, prospective clients can add their names to a standby list. When a spot opens up, they\u2019ll be notified a couple of days before it\u2019s time to ski. A day of standby heli-skiing at Ruby runs $750, compared to $1,475 for a reserved-in-advance day.<\/p>\n Located outside of Revelstoke, BC, Selkirk Tangiers<\/a>\u00a0offers a day of heli-skiing starting at $750 per person, which includes five runs, breakfast, and ski and avalanche gear rental. In the U.S., Colorado\u2019s Telluride Helitrax<\/a>\u00a0and Utah\u2019s Powderbirds<\/a>\u00a0deliver day packages that start at about $1,235 per person and deliver six runs, ski and avalanche gear, and chow. Silverton<\/a>\u00a0in southwest Colorado serves up what might be the best deal in ski country: a single heli bump for $179 per person per ride.<\/p>\n These programs offer a helicopter lift into a hut or camp in spectacular backcountry terrain. After that, you\u2019ll have to earn most of your turns, but you won\u2019t have down days due to inclement weather preventing the choppers from flying. In Cordova, Alaska, Points North<\/a>\u00a0offers an all-inclusive, six-night heli-access package in which clients post up at a remote camp in the Chugach\u2014think wood stove-heated tents and limitless first descents\u2014for $2,525, more than half off its week-long heli-ski program. Some heli-assisted programs, like Ruby\u2019s, offer the option of purchasing additional heli-bumps for competitive rates.<\/p>\n Due to the strong American dollar, greenbacks net about a 25 percent discount in the Great White North. Book a heli-skiing trip to Bella Coola British Columbia<\/a> through ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø GO, and you'll\u00a0get an extra day of free\u00a0accommodations and\u00a0activities.<\/p>\n Many operations offer an early bird rate if you book during the summer for the upcoming winter.\u00a0<\/p>\nBe Flexible and Fly Standby<\/h2>\n
Book Day Packages or Single Heli\u00a0Bumps<\/h2>\n
Consider Heli-Assisted\u00a0Touring<\/h2>\n
Go to Canada<\/h2>\n
Book Far in Advance\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Look for Outfits That Have Heliports Close to Their Terrain<\/h2>\n