How Heli Skiing Lets You Enjoy A Unique And Exhilarating Experience

Ski resorts are popular places to spend a vacation however, some people would rather practice the sport in areas that provide a more unaffected environment. Heli skiing was created with these people in mind. By taking a helicopter instead of a ski lift, skiers can go to higher mountainous areas where the snow conditions are varied. Since these areas are less controlled environments, the equipment needed for a trip is slightly different than the average ski run. Ultimately, it can provide a unique and exhilarating experience for anyone willing to try it.

Some of the top vacation destinations have been places where people can snow ski. These trips are planned months and sometimes years in advance. The resorts which offer tour packages provide many vacationers with the ideal getaway. However, for some, the regular ski slopes do not offer quite the adventure they would like to have. For some skiers, the ultimate environment is a place where there are not as many people around and the surroundings are more natural. However, the places which offer this kind of experience are not accessible by a ski lift and in order to get to these spots, it is necessary for people to take a helicopter.

People usually take these helicopters in groups. They can be chartered for a specific party to use or they can serve as a lift for separate individuals who have purchased a package. The helicopter will meet with the skiers at the base of a mountain and then fly them up to a drop off zone. Riders will disembark, ski and then meet the copter at the bottom of a run.

The most popular area for this sport is British Columbia, Canada. Mountains in that area offer a combination of long runs which can test a skier's endurance and old growth forests. Slaloming through the trees can test the technical skills of a person. Because of the wilderness aspect of heli skiing, it is advised that skiers be more advanced in their abilities. The thick, powdery snow at higher levels offers a test to the athleticism and skill of most people. Plus, the allure of the sport is the fact that the terrain is not sculpted or groomed for people which adds an element of adventure.

By not having people around, taking a helicopter ride up to ski also requires safety equipment which one might not find on a typical ski slope. In the wild terrain, avalanches are more common so, the companies providing the rides usually make skiers carry an avalanche transceiver. Also different from conventional ski slopes are the guides which accompany groups when they go on one of these excursions. Heli skiing can provide an exhilarating change of pace from the typical ski resort vacation. It provides a chance to test one's skills and allows the possibility to ski areas which are untouched by humans. However, it is not without its dangers which must be prepared for. If a person has the experience and the desire it may be the vacation choice for them.