contributed by Jamesa Hampton
@julianjamesa
Heli skiing is the pinnacle of skiing recreation and is every snow enthusiast’s dream from when they were a kid.
A helicopter is the closest thing to a teleportation device and I find it very surreal that you can scope a line, point it out to the pilot, and be standing at the top of it ready to drop in over the space of a couple of minutes.
I have recently been lucky enough to spend a day in one of these, buzzing around the Aoraki/Mt Cook region in the South Island of New Zealand. This area is the apex of the Southern Alps mountain range and home of Aoraki/Mt Cook, towering at an impressive 3,724m. This makes a pretty impressive backdrop and the area boasts some dramatic skiable lines.
A lot goes into organising a day out like this, so here are some top tips to help you make the most of your big day out.
Funding it
Heliskiing can be an extremely expensive endeavour, however, if you’re not a direct descendant of Jeff Bezos or a Nigerian prince, then there are a few options to keep the price down.
Make sure the heli is full – You don’t want to be paying for any spare seats, so make sure that you’ve done your maths right and that the chopper is loaded up. There are a range of different sizes available depending on where you’re flying, so it’s a good idea to get in touch with the company early to ask what options are available.
If you have a lot of gear, then you need to consider this too, so you don’t go over the weight limit for that chopper. Don’t forget to account for the pilot and potentially a guide when you’re counting!
Consider a heli bump option – Rather than spending a full day skiing lines, an alternative, cheaper option is to get a heli bump, which is basically the one-up option. This would typically involve some ski touring around and it’s often worth staying in a hut for a few nights up there, if that’s an option. Depending on where you choose to do this, you might be able to ski/walk your way back to the base, or you might need to pay a little extra to get the pickup at the end of the trip, which leads me onto my final cost saving tip.
Take a backload option – Think of this like being on a standby flight at the airport. If the chopper is pre-booked for a pickup or a drop off and you’re there, then you can use that empty chopper one way at a discounted rate. The best chance at getting on one of these is talking to the company and asking if there are any likely backloading options coming up.
Gear
When you’re standing on the tarmac about to take off it’s pretty easy to think that you’ve got enough layers on but you’re likely going to be heading to elevations higher than a typical ski-field and it could be a lot colder. For this recent adventure I was wearing the following layers on my top half:
Adventure 170 merino long-sleeve base-layer
Merino 230 wool zip neck mid layer
Grazer insulated puffer jacket (no hood)
Safety
Helicopters have the ability to transport you to some extremely hostile environments in a very short amount of time. This makes it easy to overlook the dangers, especially when you’re having such a good time. It’s important to keep an eye on the avalanche danger in the area. Avalanche.net.nz is a great resource in New Zealand and most places should have a similar local avalanche advisory. If you haven’t done your avalanche training, or don’t have the gear then you’ll need to get a guide to join you. I would recommend getting a guide for most people. They’ll know the area, keep you safe, and make sure that you’re getting the best snow on offer.
Must haves
The following items are a mix of must haves and nice to haves to help you maximise the enjoyment of your day:
Spare layers
Energy bars in your pocket
Avalanche gear (transceiver, shovel, probe)
Personal locator beacon (if you’re not travelling with a guide)
As much chocolate milk as you can fit
Sunblock
Bag of scroggin
Do good
For all their perks, it’s no secret that helicopters are some of the biggest gas guzzlers and are no friend of the environment. If you do spend a day out in one of these, it might be nice to consider attending your local tree planting session, or even better, organise one yourself!
