Who wants to heliski?

**Twoplanker** · 08-09-2004, 08:56 PM

I'm planning a day of heliskiing with Wasatch Powderbird Guides out of Snowbird, Utah. I'm looking to hit the Low season rates from December 15th to January 15th. I'd much rather ride with like-minded Maggots than strangers.

We wants to join me?

http://www.powderbird.com/index.html

Post here or send me a PM.

http://www.powderbird.com/images/utah_27_big.jpg

EDIT: BTW, I'm looking for a group of skiers that all ski alike - aggressive. I'm not willing to drop that kind of coin if the ability of someone in the group mandates low-angle powder. I want to ski steep shit.

**altachic** · 08-09-2004, 08:59 PM

pm sent.

**glademaster** · 08-09-2004, 09:02 PM

Not too likely, but theres a shot, therefore, PM being sent.

**Twoplanker** · 08-09-2004, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by altachic
pm sent.

You're in like Flynn. How many seats do we have to fill? 5?

**snorkeldeep** · 08-09-2004, 09:23 PM

pm sent

**altachic** · 08-09-2004, 09:36 PM

Originally posted by Twoplanker
You're in like Flynn. How many seats do we have to fill? 5?

You'll have to fill 4 seats in the back of one heli, at least that's how we did it. The pilot and guide get dibs on front seats of course.

**boarderline** · 08-09-2004, 09:37 PM

Hell yes. Count me in.

FKNA:

http://www.powderbird.com/images/utah_48_big.jpg

**snorkeldeep** · 08-09-2004, 09:39 PM

2p, your box is stuffed.

was going to pm you the following:

sweet.. this is of course only if i survive the heli and the touring in tdf w/ splat

hope i can help you guys get some good shots for your ads.. looking forward to it!

**truth** · 08-09-2004, 09:56 PM

2P, if it gets down to the wire and you need a maggot to fly I'd be down. Just too far off to pla a single day for me right now as my bro / sister in law are due with a baby in Dec.

**Hacksaw** · 08-09-2004, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by Twoplanker
EDIT: BTW, I'm looking for a group of skiers that all ski alike - aggressive. I'm not willing to drop that kind of coin if the ability of someone in the group mandates low-angle powder. I want to ski steep shit.

Maybe you should call the daily Utah avalanche center forecast first and then also listen to your guide's directions. Some days (ie early winter) are not "steep and deep" days.....

Cheers,
Halsted Morris
CAIC

**Spats** · 08-09-2004, 10:41 PM

Choppers hold 4 people. Four "average-sized" people. Our group last year had to recruit SLCFreshies to make the weight limit.

Heli ops are, in general, not going to take you anywhere extremo. Risk = liability = no more business. Plan on some decently steep pow but nothing technical.

I have mixed feelings about WPG. On the one hand, the day we went was a lot of fun, they sponsor the avvy center, &c. On the other hand, choppers are REALLY LOUD and definitely destroy the ability of tourers to enjoy the backcountry while they fly. I remember hiking on the Big Island (Waipio to Waimanu and back) and feeling like I was in a M*A*S*H episode because of the helis flying over all day. It really destroyed the experience.

**lph** · 08-09-2004, 10:56 PM

I was gonna just say, "I'm in!!!".......but now i have some serious reservations thanks to Mr. Helper #1 and Mr. Helper #2.

Jeebus guys, lighten the fuck up, 2P is trying to set up a fun day for maggots to enjoy some powder turns together. If you don't want to risk dying in an avalanche or don't want to ruin some b/c travelers day, then don't go. Take your unsolicited advice and opinions elsewhere.

**freshie247** · 08-09-2004, 11:00 PM

I've been skiing Little Cottonwood for 3or 4 weeks 11 yrs now & the heliers have never bothered me when touring or at the areas.It snows often so they don't seem to fly that much.After the Save our Canyons lawsuit I think they are even more restricted on the days they can fly. A buddy of mine works part time for WPB & I've met the crew & they're good people.If I could afford to Heli ski all the time,or even once,I would!!!!

**seshie69** · 08-09-2004, 11:05 PM

I heart ski touring w/helis.Really.

!!

**altachic** · 08-09-2004, 11:07 PM

Heli-skiing is something every maggot should do sometime in their life. That is all.

**Twoplanker** · 08-10-2004, 06:39 AM

Originally posted by Hacksaw
Maybe you should call the daily Utah avalanche center forecast first and then also listen to your guide's directions. Some days (ie early winter) are not "steep and deep" days.....

Cheers,
Halsted Morris
CAIC

Thanks for the sage advice!!

Like I said, I don't want my skiing to be dictated by the skiing abilities of someone in the goup. But my skiing will always (obviously) be dictated by the conditions and the guide. When I said I wanted to ski some "steep shit", did an alarm bell and a flashing red light go off somewhere deep in the bowels of CAIC, waking you from your long slumber and bringing you here to warn me about the dangers of recklessness, haphazadry, and foolhardiness?

**Twoplanker** · 08-10-2004, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by lph
I was gonna just say, "I'm in!!!".......but now i have some serious reservations thanks to Mr. Helper #1 and Mr. Helper #2. Jeebus guys, lighten the fuck up, 2P is trying to set up a fun day for maggots to enjoy some powder turns together. If you don't want to risk dying in an avalanche or don't want to ruin some b/c travelers day, then don't go. Take your unsolicited advice and opinions elsewhere.

S'ok, brudda, no one can dampen my stoke! Let's do this!!

**snorkeldeep** · 08-10-2004, 06:50 AM

there are certainly liability issues.. but i always jump at the chance to go with a group of skiers that are exceptional and are also well trained and knowledgable about the snowpack and backcountry skiing. I wouldnt look at a heli day as any different than a day touring.. but it is nice if you can convince the heli-op of this - and get into some more interesting terrain. halsted - i dont think anyone here would advocate going into that kind of terrain without the knowledge and skills to hopefully avoid an accident, and if one happened, to perform a rescue.

**Twoplanker** · 08-10-2004, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by Spats
Choppers hold 4 people. Four "average-sized" people. Our group last year had to recruit SLCFreshies to make the weight limit.

Heli ops are, in general, not going to take you anywhere extremo. Risk = liability = no more business. Plan on some decently steep pow but nothing technical.

I have mixed feelings about WPG. On the one hand, the day we went was a lot of fun, they sponsor the avvy center, &c. On the other hand, choppers are REALLY LOUD and definitely destroy the ability of tourers to enjoy the backcountry while they fly. I remember hiking on the Big Island (Waipio to Waimanu and back) and feeling like I was in a M*A*S*H episode because of the helis flying over all day. It really destroyed the experience.

I'm not looking to go anywhere "extremo". I am not an extremo skier. I live in Logan, Utah and ski mostly at Beaver Mountain, which is about as extreme as... well it's not very extreme. I just want to ski some steepish terrain with people of the same ability level. I would hate to drop $600 and then have the guide poiunt us to terrain based on the lower ability level of one of the group.

I've spent a lot of time in the wilderness in Utah. The only place I've ever seen a lot of heli activity is the Cottonwood canyons. Utah is a big place and there's lots of places to tour where there are no helos.

Please, please, please, lets not debate helicopters and their impact on the environment, at least not in this thread. I just want to ski, man.

**Twoplanker** · 08-10-2004, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by snorkeldeep
there are certainly liability issues.. but i always jump at the chance to go with a group of skiers that are exceptional and are also well trained and knowledgable about the snowpack and backcountry skiing. I wouldnt look at a heli day as any different than a day touring.. but it is nice if you can convince the heli-op of this - and get into some more interesting terrain. halsted - i dont think anyone here would advocate going into that kind of terrain without the knowledge and skills to hopefully avoid an accident, and if one happened, to perform a rescue.

Sorry man, I'm not well-trained and knowledgable about the snowpack and backcountry skiing. I do have experience and I can ski well enough, but I plan on listening carefully to my guide and relying on his expertise to keep me safe.

I don't plan on (nor do I believe that we could) convince WPG to take us anywhere other than where they normally take their clients.

**snorkeldeep** · 08-10-2004, 07:09 AM

then lets go skiing! sorry - didnt mean to imply that we should try and convince them to take us somewhere else.

**Yossarian** · 08-10-2004, 07:12 AM

blah blah blah

**A-wreck** · 08-10-2004, 07:14 AM

how did a thread about something as cool as heli skiing turn out to be such a drag?

**Twoplanker** · 08-10-2004, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by snorkeldeep
then lets go skiing! sorry - didnt mean to imply that we should try and convince them to take us somewhere else.

Yeah, I know, it's all good.

I've gotten so many PMs we may have to fill two helicopters. I really did not expect this many people to be down with this.

So cool!