Heliskiing in the World
02. Dez, 2008 
3 Comments
Europe
Switzerland
Period: January to end May.
There are great opportunities in the Valais where heliskiing is allowed on some 15 summits. In the Bern area there are some 10 mountains where heliskiing is also permitted.
Our addresses:
Valais:
For the Bern area:
Italy
Period: January to end May.
Helicopter activity is concentrated in the Val d’Aoste, next to Mont Blanc, where there are two different sectors; that of Val Grisenche and la Thuile, and that of Mont-Rose (4633 m) with Gressoney. The first is ideal for intermediate riders who are looking for great riding on shorter open runs and in the forest, without having to push themselves too much. Mont-Rose, on the other hand, offers big mountain riding in every sense with the biggest vertical drop runs for heliski in Europe. This will provide quite some workout: steeps, couloirs, glaciers at 3000 m…
Our addresses:
- www.chamonix-aventure.com/fr/ski_monte_rosa.html
- www.guides-des-cimes.com/hiver/heliski.htm
- www.tupilak.com/fr/heliski.htm
- www.guide-cham.com
- www.heliskivalgrisenche.it
Sweden
The heliskiing season begins around the 20th March and runs through until the end of June. The biggest base is in the resort of Björkliden where helicopters will provide access to some 10 summits (between 700 and 1000 m of vertical descent). The ultimate has to be riding the midnight sun.
Our address:
- www.norrlandsflyg.se
Norrlandsflyg, AB
Hangar Vassaraträsk
Box 24
982 21 Gällivare
Telefon: +46 970 140 65
Turkey
Period: February and March.
There is a Swiss based company offering heli-skiing in Turkey. The base is situated at the extreme north-east of the country, at the limit of the Caucasus mountains, where a vast range of summits rise up to 3000m. The area is incredible yet relatively unknown. The snow can be superb and the view all the way to the Black Sea is amazing. The proximity of this sea tends to create stable snowpack conditions and therefore the riding is generally safer than many other places.
Our address:
Russia
Period: January to end May.
The top spots are the Caucasus region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea and the Kamtchatka penninsula to the far east of Russia.
Caucasus: there are two distinct areas with Krasnaïa Poliana being one of these, whose valleys and runs between the birch trees offer riding for all levels through to pro. It is an area frequently used for snowsport catalogue photoshoots. The other is Elbrouz, a high mountain area rising to 5633 m. Here, there are actually lifts that will take the rider to almost 4000 m, so there is actually less necessity to take a helicopter.
Our address:
Kamtchatka: from May until approx 20th June.
Here you can spend your day riding the slopes of volcanoes that border the Pacific Ocean, then unwind in hot springs afterwards… It’s a really wild place and offers vertical drops of up to 2000m.
Our address:
India
Kashmir
Period: January to end April.
The province of Kashmir with drop-off points at altitudes of up to 4500 m and vertical runs of between 1000 and 2000 m. Himachal Pradesh is the second of the 2 highest heli zones.
Our address:
- www.himalaya-heliski.com
(the operation of Sylvain Saudan, pioneer of extreme skiing).
In Himachal Pradesh
There are operations based at Manali, offering drop-off points of over 5000 m in altitude and up to 2000 m vertical descents.
Nepal
Period: from February to mid-April.
Top amongst the names of legend in the Himalayas are of course Annapurna and Everest. For 5 years now it has been possible, thanks to heli-ski operations, to ski the highest peaks in the World and there’s also the possibility of giving your name to one of the many « first descents » that are waiting to be ridden!
Our addresses:
North America
USA Period: from December to end April.
In almost every ski resort throughout The Rockies (spread across no less than 5 states!), you’ll find a heli-ski operation. Even if the vertical drops available are not the biggest, there is a very wide choice of terrain for all levels of rider and the snow lives up to its reputation of, amongst others, « Fluffy Utah Powder ».
Our address:
Canada
Period: from February to end May.
The Rockies run up the west side of Canada, finally petering out to the north. Alberta and British Columbia are the 2 states for heli-skiing, with wild territory, forests and immense glaciers. There’s plenty of choice of mountains and drop-off points (Adamants, Bugaboos, Cariboos, Galena, Kootenay, Mc Bride, Revelstoke…) and exceptional snow conditions can be enjoyed.
Our addresses:
Alaska
Period: from February to end May.
The ‘crème de la crème’ of heli-skiing. Situated to the north-west of Canada, this American territory has thousands of very steep but not particularly high mountains and the fresh snow adheres well to their slopes. However, you do need to watch out for quick changes in snow conditons (eg slush) as the weather here is very changeable. You might even spend a whole week here without ever seeing the sun…
Our addresses:
South America
Period: from mid-June to mid-September.
The extensive chain of mountains that runs along the 3500 km of South America, between Chili and Argentina, offers limitless possibilities for freeriding. There are numerous heli-ski operations to be found throughout them. www.andesweb.com groups together all of the resorts of the Andes, and is a site full of relevant information.
New Zealand
Period: from July to September.
A reference in heli-skiing, New Zealand has a long history in the field. New Zealand comprises two islands, each having their own distinct mountain ranges. On North Island is the Ruahine Range with its volcanoes (still active…) and on South Island there is the famous Mount Cook. It‘s on South Island that heli-skiing takes place from both Queenstown and Wanaka. Vertical drop here is under 1000 m and it has to be said that light fluffy powder is not the norm. Intermediate riders tend to stick to the east flanks.
Our addresses:
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