Trip suggestions BC heli-in base camp

[ktoor]

hey all

im planning for a one week base camp trip first week of feb somewhere between whistler and golden BC. ive done heli-in lodge trips before but am looking for a bit different experience. the plan would be to fly in a camp (with booze and good food) and ideal terrain would have access to ski-mountaineering objectives but also mini golf.

not asking someone to plan this trip but more as a starting point. is this something i would contact heli companies and ask whats available in their tenure? Or should I have an idea in mind before approaching someone that could fly us in?

havent been able to find alot online (the odd sparse trip report from a few guides including arctos), maybe because most people would rather lodge or book a hut.

so before i start phoning random heli companies, is that the best place to start? anyone know of any recent-ish trip reports of this kind of trip in this area?

cheers!

PS: this app seems to be working again. nice to be back tho wont test my luck with posting pics


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[XXX-er]

take a look at skeena cat and/ or skeena heli

[CSG]

We did this last year. I've done fly in hut trips (both SG/SC and full service) and long traverses and this tactic just might be the best. We had great weather, great skiing, great food, logistics were pretty easy and the cost was obviously much less than a week hut booking.

Definitely pick the spot first. Then it's easy to find the nearest heli outfit and get yourselves sorted. I would also find out which heli ski operator has tenure where you're planning to go. Getting coordinated with them is nice, they can give you advice, maybe they'll share a run map, often they'll keep their operations away from your camp (obviously it matters where you're planning to set up, but they generally have such huge tenures that it isn't that big a deal for them).

As for spots, I'd suggest you chat up all your friends about places they've seen or heard about. Check out the locations where the ACC has run ski camps in the past - they're usually good spots. If you know any ski guides or heli pilots, ask them what spots they've noted over time.

If you're scouting Google Earth and the like, what you're looking for is a tree-line meadow, with an open water creek, not in an avalanche path with a variety of aspects, especially North facing very close to your camp. Try to get somewhere with access to glaciation as well. I'm assuming you'd be doing this in the early Spring, of course. That's a nice time because you can still hunt for good ski quality, but days are long, and you can hang out in the afternoon on camp chairs drinking beer, etc. and not just shivering in your tents.

Once you've figured it out and had an awesome trip, maybe keep it sorta low key on the socials and forums, though. This is presently a nice little hack that can get you away from the ever increasing crowds and is presently not hard from a regulation perspective. If some areas start to see a lot of traffic, then expect to see the tenure operators start to be less accommodating.

[ktoor]

cheers both! really helpful info CSG.


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[beeeom]

You don't need to check-in with a given heli-ski tenure holder. It's crown land. Heli-ski tenures only provide exclusive use for commercial recreation. You're just going on a ski trip. Pick a spot and then hire a helicopter to take you there.

That being said, you probably don't want to pick a spot that is well-used by a Heli, cat or touring operation, simply so that you don't see tracks.

[tang]

Check in with Arctos Guides (Conor). I think he has some open spots in one of the GAH lodges.

[XXX-er]

" I'm planning for a one week base camp trip first week of feb somewhere between whistler and golden BC. ive done heli-in lodge trips before but am looking for a bit different experience "

I am confused by what that question ^^ actulay means does the OP wana tour with heli bumps or heli in some where to a lodge catered OR ?

I know Arctos does weeks at Burnie hut

[CSG]

You don't need to check-in with a given heli-ski tenure holder. It's crown land. Heli-ski tenures only provide exclusive use for commercial recreation. You're just going on a ski trip. Pick a spot and then hire a helicopter to take you there.

That's true, but its absolutely a good idea to check in. We did, and they kept all their operations out of the valley we were camped in. These guys are also the closest resource for any rescue operation, so you know, a head's up as to who's doing what in their area isn't terrible.

It's not about asking permission.

I am confused by what that question ^^ actulay means does the OP wana tour with heli bumps or heli in some where to a lodge catered OR ?

Pick a spot on the map, flyin in with big comfy tents and lots of foot, ski day trips from a base camp. It's amazing because you don't have to wait years for an exclusive booking at in-demand hut, you can move to a different place every year, the logistics are dead easy and it's about 1/2 the cost of a hut booking, or 1/4 the cost of a guided/catered hut trip.

[DanoT]

You don't need to check-in with a given heli-ski tenure holder. It's crown land. Heli-ski tenures only provide exclusive use for commercial recreation. You're just going on a ski trip. Pick a spot and then hire a helicopter to take you there.

That being said, you probably don't want to pick a spot that is well-used by a Heli, cat or touring operation, simply so that you don't see tracks.

Hiring a helicopter to take you into a heli or cat tenure is "commercial recreation" and thus violates the tenure operator's exclusive commercial access. So, you can enter and ski the heli or cat tenure operation but only if you provide your own non commercial access.

[XXX-er]

Yeah I read that ^ and kinda thot that doesnt sound right/ not a good idea, so is a hell-of-a-copter pilot gona get himself in shit, gona get himself fired or considered persona non grata in the industry which I think is pretty small ?

I know there are groups who did tour - heli assisted bumps up narth & west of here but you better have some kind of permission IMO and the tenures can be huge

I think the OP needs a guide

As I understand it a Tenure operator can call the rcmp and have trespassers escorted out

[garyfromterrace]

hey all

im planning for a one week base camp trip first week of feb somewhere between whistler and golden BC. ive done heli-in lodge trips before but am looking for a bit different experience. the plan would be to fly in a camp (with booze and good food) and ideal terrain would have access to ski-mountaineering objectives but also mini golf.

not asking someone to plan this trip but more as a starting point. is this something i would contact heli companies and ask whats available in their tenure? Or should I have an idea in mind before approaching someone that could fly us in?

havent been able to find alot online (the odd sparse trip report from a few guides including arctos), maybe because most people would rather lodge or book a hut.

so before i start phoning random heli companies, is that the best place to start? anyone know of any recent-ish trip reports of this kind of trip in this area?

cheers!

PS: this app seems to be working again. nice to be back tho wont test my luck with posting pics


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

So a couple of decades ago a buddy and I decided we wanted to do a one week snow cave based adventure in the middle of nowhere. Both of us were pretty competent, my buddy had his CAA for ski ops 2 and had done a fair bit of avi control work at Marmot, I had my CAA for ski ops 1 and by that time had about 10 years of self guided BC skiing experience. At the time there was only one heli ski company in the area and that was in Bell 2 (about a 4 hr drive north of Terrace). I talked to the owner about it a couple of weeks before the trip (I knew him a little bit because I had stayed at the lodge before in the off season when I had work in the area). We basically said we have $500, take us as far from the lodge that you can. When we arrived we suggested a direction for the heli to take us based on where we'd have great skiing in any weather and we'd see minimal heli traffic (keep in mind the tenure there is insanely big, and in the early 2000's there was not that many guests at a typical LFH week). The heli pilot said he did not recommend that area because the day before he saw a big ass grizzly wandering around (possibly woken up by a nearby avalanche). We said take us the opposite direction. It was an amazing week though the exit to get back to the highway was sporty and I remember crying. We only saw heli skiers a few hours one day, like I said before - the tenure there is unbelievably large.

My advice to you is:
- talk to a heli operator long beforehand. you may have to talk to a bunch before you get one who'll consider your request.
- be prepared to illustrate in detail your ability to not die (including experience, goals, exit strategy etc etc etc). This is important because no one will fly you anywhere if they think you're jong.
- heli trips are all about weight. You better have it figured out to the pound and you better be smart about it. Snow caving was a good way to be light.
Good luck!

[XXX-er]

I was at a GAH week when a group of Americans were told violate tenure rules one more time and they are gone

He didnt get into it but l have a guide buddy that had an individual removed from a hut week

[BCMtnHound]

Not a lawyer, but technically, on crown land (not in a park or other protected area) recreation and guide tenures only restrict commercial operations of same - guiding (hunting, skiing, hiking, fishing, etc), and other more permanent structure establishment. Hunting horseback ‘packers’ have been skirting these regs for many decades. You can take in a group and set up their camp, but can’t actually take them to the animals (but we all know what actually will occur). Hiring a heli to lift you into a place to ‘camp’ does not violate the rec tenure per se, if there is no money exchanging hands for the actual activity that is otherwise under tenure (a day trip for heli skiing would be a violation of the heli skiing rec tenure though). But as mentioned, the heli community is not large, and word gets around, so finding a willing pilot and bird might be a challenge without the blessing of the tenure holder. Also, if the trip goes south, there can be civil liability on the heli provider if it was determined that the company knew what the group would be doing, and there was also reasonable evidence they knew the group didn’t have the chops to handle the terrain or conditions. And guess who provides the greatest support to SAR if something goes awry…

[weibo]

[QUOTE=garyfromterrace;n11629330]

So a couple of decades ago a buddy and I decided we wanted to do a one week snow cave based adventure in the middle of nowhere. Both of us were pretty competent, my buddy had his CAA for ski ops 2 and had done a fair bit of avi control work at Marmot,

Is that buddy named Rich by chance?

[Arctos Guides]

hey all

im planning for a one week base camp trip first week of feb somewhere between whistler and golden BC. ive done heli-in lodge trips before but am looking for a bit different experience. the plan would be to fly in a camp (with booze and good food) and ideal terrain would have access to ski-mountaineering objectives but also mini golf.

not asking someone to plan this trip but more as a starting point. is this something i would contact heli companies and ask whats available in their tenure? Or should I have an idea in mind before approaching someone that could fly us in?

havent been able to find alot online (the odd sparse trip report from a few guides including arctos), maybe because most people would rather lodge or book a hut.

so before i start phoning random heli companies, is that the best place to start? anyone know of any recent-ish trip reports of this kind of trip in this area?

cheers!

PS: this app seems to be working again. nice to be back tho wont test my luck with posting pics


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Hey Ktoor,

Basecamps are a blast, so is planning one.

For February I’d suggest looking for spots that offer good tree skiing as well as alpine options—Feb tends to be pretty snowy, but you might get a weather window too. You’ll also want to pick a location in relative close proximity to a heliport as A-stars cost in excess of $2200cad/hr depending on the operator. Depend on the group, I use snowmobiles to keep costs down.

I’d suggest using the ImapBC tool to figure out which tenure your camp location will be in and then reach out to the respective operator to discuss your plans. The last thing you want to do is set up shop in one of their bread and butter zones and hear/see helps all the time and ski their tracks. From my experience, most operators are quite happy to tell you where they ski and where a spot that would work with their program is. While you’re at it ask them for their radio frequencies as they could be a resource in case of an emergency.

I am down to my last week of availability which happens to fall in February—if you’d be interested in a guided trip, I have solid basecamp setup including two group tents equipped with wood stoves a camp kitchen and lots of experience planning these types of trips. I tend to use Provincial and National Parks for basecamps when the helicopter skiing shows are running as the backcountry is busier than you may think. I have permits to operate in them as well. I have four basecamps planned for March and April (two private trips and two open trips); there are spaces available on the April 8-12 trip—$2885cad/person gets you heli transfer, two meals per day and guiding.

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