The Best Ski Resorts for Heliskiing

Heliskiing is about skiing in a natural environment without the hike. Most heli-skiers are seeking specific conditions that are hard to find in a ski resort, particularly powder, long descents and natural terrain.

It would be wrong to assume that helicopter skiing is always bliss. When the snow stability is good, the guides tend to select slopes that are steeper. If the rating is fair to poor, they will choose more moderate slopes and ones that less prone to potential avalanches. Fatal accidents are rare, but they do happen.

The presence of a guide and machine offers some protection against the risks and discomforts of a mountain environment, allowing skiers with little mountain experience to enjoy the thrill of a wild environment.

Heliskiing has become an increasingly popular activity since its inception in the 1960's, with operators established in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, New Zealand, Indian Himalayas, Russia, Turkey, Sweden, Finland, Argentina and Chile.