Elite Traveler January-February 2015

elite traveler JAN/FEB 2015 ISSUE 1 115

HISTORY OF HELISKIING

Skiers and climbers began to experiment with using helicopters to access the mountains in the early 1960s, but the first commercial heliski holidays took place over two weeks in April 1965 in British Columbia, Canada. They were organised by Hans Gmoser, an Austrian who became one of Canada’s best-known guides. Accommodation was basic – the guests (who paid $275 each) stayed in the plywood cabins of a disused logging camp. Halfway through the second week, the piston-engine helicopter crashed. Thankfully no one was hurt, and the pioneer heliskiers went home with their tales of a daring adventure. Gmoser’s company, Canadian Mountain Holidays, grew into the world’s biggest operator, with 11 bases and more than 120 guides. While British Columbia is the sport’s undisputed capital, there are heliski operations in at least 20 countries, including Chile and Turkey.

HELISKIING HOTSPOTS

BIGHORN, CANADA Revelstoke is a logging and railroad town in British Columbia, Canada, where nightlife revolves around drinking at the Village Idiot, then line dancing or pool at the Last Drop. But it’s also home to what is arguably the world’s most luxurious heliski lodge – Bighorn. It is the kind of lavish chalet you might find in Courchevel or St Moritz, but transported to the wilds of Canada and with a private helipad right outside. Why here? Because few other places can offer Revelstoke’s mix of big mountains and reliable, deep powder – it gets INDIA Manali has long been a popular stop on the hippy trail. But since 1990, it has drawn heliskiers too, attracted by the tantalising prospect of skiing in the Himalayas. Some runs start as high as 16,000ft above sea level, and are surrounded by far ALAGNA, ITALY Heliskiing in the Alps is far more regimented that in wilder ranges. But don’t be put off, the skiing rivals the world’s best. Hardcore skiers should head for the pretty village of Alagna, from where they can access the infamous Marinelli Couloir, a steep run down a mountain face more than a mile high. heliski.co.uk KAMCHATKA, RUSSIA For an “out there”, adventurous trip, little rivals the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s far east. There are around 200 volcanoes (many still active) that rise up to 15,500ft. Much of the skiing is on their gently sloping flanks, with huge Pacific views. Expect long runs, enormous Russian helicopters and barbecues on the beach. eaheliskiing.com up to 45ft of snow a year. bighornrevelstoke.com higher peaks. himachal.com