4 Myths You’ve Probably Been Told About Heliskiing

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It’s a rite of passage: any serious skier has seriously thought about going heliskiing in Canada at least once in their life. The promise of epic snow, complete and utter solitude, and the thrill of flying in a helicopter through the mountains gets our heart pumping, too. These days, there are plenty of options to choose from, but if your idea of the experience of a lifetime includes a small operation catering to small groups, all-day first tracks in world-class terrain, some of the deepest and best snow on the continent, and a base in a tiny but vibrant historic BC town, there’s no better choice than Stellar Heliskiing.

Based in the lake town of Kaslo, BC, Stellar does things a bit differently. For starters, the stay at the Kaslo Hotel is a wholly different experience from a backcountry-style lodge. Remote lodges have their charm, but basing in a small lake town in winter is its own kind of special. It’s also a lot easier to get to—Kaslo is just an hour and a half drive from the border.

Here, you’re in the beating heart of the town, with a lively bar and restaurant at your disposal. But with the hangar a five-minute shuttle away with immediate access to the terrain, the heliskiing is why you come. In fact, in a multiday package, there’s no cap to the skiing you can do on any given day: ski as much as your legs, conditions, and daylight allow. 

“There’s a no-ego vibe here, and for most of our guests, they feel like they’re part of the Stellar family,” says Patti Willott, GM at Stellar Heliskiing.

Despite all the excitement, we know that there’s a few myths that need to be busted about heliskiing, and we’ll let you in on a few insider secrets. In the movies, it tends to look like the most extreme version of the sport, but that’s not usually the case in real life. Thanks to years of experience from the operator and their team of certified guides, the reality of the guest experience is refined, allowing you to focus purely on the snow beneath your skis.

MYTH 1: “You jump out of the helicopter.”

Simply put, you don’t. Stellar’s A-Star helicopter lands at the top of each run, and again for pickup at the bottom—you climb in and out, and grab your skis from the external basket with help from your guide. Perhaps that misconception is thanks to this scene from that James Bond film, or perhaps you’ve just been watching too many Red Bull videos, but you can leave that part to the pros on camera. It’s the single most common thing people picture wrong, and it’s not what you’ll be doing. There’s no leaping, and no hovering exits, but trust us, the whole experience of being in a helicopter is still plenty exciting.

MYTH 2:  “The heli just drops you anywhere—it’s a free-for-all.”

Skiing with Stellar is far from that reality, but that doesn’t mean you won’t experience serenity, seclusion, and the stunning grandeur of BC’s Selkirk and Purcell Ranges up close. The 125,000-acre tenure is fully mapped into named runs with distinct drop-off and pickup locations the guides know intimately. Every day, the team of ACMG/CSGA-certified guides chooses runs based on your group’s ability, the day’s conditions, and the overall safety picture. The day is planned, not improvised, which leads to a safer, more relaxed, and better experience. That way, you get to focus purely on what you came for: the skiing.

Martin Keyserlingk, Chief Guide at Stellar Heliskiing, walks us through a typical morning at the Kaslo operation. “Between the guides, pilots, staff and even returning guests, everyone here is genuinely glad you showed up. Everyone is there to make everyone else’s day as enjoyable as possible.  The briefing is thorough but relaxed. Questions get real answers. By the time the A-Star B3e lifts off, you’re not nervous—you’re just excited,” he says. “Minutes later you’re standing on a dream run below you and zero tracks. Two mountain ranges to choose from, old-growth glades, open bowls, Kootenay pow, stunning vistas and run after run of it.  By the time you’re back in Kaslo, legs wrecked in the best possible way, you’ve skied more vertical than most people manage in a week. Four guests. One guide. No lift lines, no crowd. Just the mountain, the snow, and the people who love both as much as you do.”

Of course, all of Stellar’s guides have their favorite spots, and for good reason. Spending that much time skiing in an area like this gives you truly intimate knowledge of your surroundings. When asked about some of her favorite runs, lead guide Andrea Mikus says: “Sunnyside. The tree spacing and pitch combo is perfect…with a playful finish down a creek draw to the pick up. It’s a grab your buddy and see ya at the bottom kinda run. My favorite kind!” 

MYTH 3:  “You have to be an expert.”

That one’s also not true. While Stellar has enough expert terrain to keep any skier happy, if you’re comfortable on big powder days, ski off-trail at a resort, or call a large Western resort your home mountain, heliskiing here is well within reach. In fact, an advanced skier will have a lifetime’s worth of fun here. Each day, what you ski is set by your group’s ability. In a group of 4 in an A-Star, Stellar’s guides select terrain to match your crew, from wide-open bowls for approachable laps to steeps for anyone chasing a challenge.

“Likely, the day will be a mix of some wide open tree skiing, skiing along untouched ridge lines, and hopefully some open bowls and high alpine terrain on good visibility days. The views are spectacular, with a sense of being far out into a wild environment,” says Willott. “If you’re up for it, the guide will help you find some opportunities to challenge yourself, and ski something a bit bigger or longer, to really get that sense of accomplishment and ski something you might otherwise not. It’s really the guide’s support and encouragement that helps you feel confident to take on something like that.” 

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MYTH 4: “It costs a fortune.”

Sure, private heliskiing (when the helicopter is reserved for just you and two other friends) can be pricey. But that isn’t the only way to get your foot in the door here. Single-day heliskiing at Stellar starts from $1,899 CAD (about $1,375 USD) per person. Better yet, multi-day packages span a range and most things are included—unlimited vertical, lodging, meals, après snacks—everything except alcohol and your travel here, which makes it much more comparable to a resort trip than you might expect. For example, in December and early January (a great time to score awesome snow), a three-day trip starts around $6,000 CAD.

Speaking of meals and après snacks, lunch is in the field, with a backcountry picnic setup including hot broth and tea, sandwiches, charcuterie and baked goods prepared by the restaurant that morning. The afternoon is more of the same! You’ll then return to the lodge for après snacks, sitting around the fireplace at the Waypoint in the Kaslo Hotel, enjoying a drink and recounting the day, flipping through pictures you took, swapping stories of your favorite runs, and utterly exhausted.

The Facts About Heliskiing with Stellar:

• Operator: Stellar Heliskiing | Kaslo, British Columbia | stellarheliskiing.com
• Location: On Kootenay Lake in BC’s West Kootenays. Right on the Powder Highway, north of Nelson. 
• Tenure: Over 125,000 acres of exclusive terrain, two mountain ranges, 250+ named runs, and more yet to be ridden.
• Ability Level: Not just for pro skiers and riders. If you’re an advanced to expert skier who’s comfortable on big powder days or skiing off-trail at a resort, it’s within reach. Terrain is matched to your group.
• Vertical Guarantee: 3000 vertical meter (10,000 feet) minimum and no maximum
• Guides & Safety: ACMG/CSGA-certified guides, avalanche equipment and full briefings included.
• The Options: Single-day, multi-day (with unlimited vertical), and private. Based at the Kaslo Hotel, with the heliski hangar just a 5-minute shuttle away.
• Group Size: Small groups only. A maximum of 4 guests per guide and 4 to a ski group. You and your guide control the day.
• Pricing: Single day from $1,899 CAD (about $1,375 USD) per person | Multi-day all-inclusive starting from $6,000 CAD per person in December/January for a 3-day trip | Private trips starting at $12,999 CAD (about $9,475 USD) for a group of 3
• Current Dates and Availability: stellarheliskiing.com/package