Go deep, don’t break the bank
B.C.’s Powder Highway is the helicopter and cat skiing epicentre of the world
My inner kid is beaming. It’s hard to describe that magical feeling powder snow provides skiers and snowboarders. You could make an amazing number of comparisons to the sensation: a million funny bones going off at once, the free slide of skateboarding, or the floaty, euphoric feeling of dropping into a wave in Maui. Powder. We live a short distance away from some of the best of it in the world. Throngs of tourists come to get their peak thrills in the deep white stuff at storied places like Mike Wiegele Heli and Canadian Mountain Holidays. That is destination powder and we are fortunate to have the white stuff at our doorstep.
And it’s not just for high-flying rich folks. Nearby, helicopter skiing and cat skiing can be enjoyed if you squirrel away a bit of money for a day that will blow you away. With more than 15 metres of snow annually, B.C.’s famed Powder Highway has the highest concentration of ski resorts, cat skiing, heli skiing and ski touring. It’s the heli and cat skiing epicentre of the world.
A place known for powder, Fernie: Skiers and riders flock to the powder-laden slopes of Fernie Alpine Resort, known for the deepest snow in the Canadian Rockies. That whopping snowfall also makes this place perfect for cat skiing.
Fernie Wilderness Adven
tures: Any place that has a wood-fired hot tub is cool. The rewarding soak after a day of
delicious powder, from big tree glades, to pillow drops, ridge after ridge, is special.
Island Lake Cat Skiing,
Fernie: Takes cat skiing to another level without losing the raw appeal of wild powder and big terrain. Step inside to another world, offering a truly unique mountain dining experience after a day of powder kissing in your boots, and sleep in rustic luxury in the quaint setup of mountain lodges.
Purcell Heli Skiing: The best in day heli skiing is offered here. Located in the heart of the mountains, in Golden, with its adventure heritage, the owner and mountain legend Rudi Gertsch — one of the original founders of heli skiing — blazes a powder experience that sets the bar high. From an emphasis on safety to finding fresh powder
turns, to the amazing guide team anchored by Rudi’s son, Jeff, the day will change your life for the better. It has it all: big terrain, deep trackless snow and professional guides.
RK Heli Skiing: For close to 50 years, the helicopters and guides have been making powder dreams come true for thousands of guests. If the sound of the buzzing bird blades doesn’t get you juiced up, then the map on the wall showcasing the scope — 1,500 square kilometres of terrain and more than 900 ski runs — certainly will. To learn more, visit your favourite cat or heli ski operator, review the calendar of operations and check out the discounts section. You’ll find better deals mid-week, or get your name on the last-minute-seat email list to snag a deal.