What is Heli Skiing?

Heli-skiing is is off-trail, downhill skiing that is reached by a helicopter, not a ski lift. Sometimes considered "extreme skiing," heli-skiers can access off piste terrain. Heli-skiing can be a great opportunity for most skiers, but read on for more information about heli-skiing and how your heli-skiing experience can be safe and enjoyable.

Is Heli-Skiing for You?

Heli-skiing isn’t for everyone. Before you plan your trip, it’s best to see if a heli-skiing tour is something that will be safe and fun for you.

Is heli-skiing for you? Ask yourself the following questions to see if a heli-skiing tour would be a good experience for you.

  • Are you in a good health? You need to be in good health in order to heli-ski (this is needed for toleration of high altitudes). If you have any health problems, check with your doctor to see if high altitudes would be okay for you. Also, you need to have knowledge of avalanche safety. Some heli-skiing tours recommend you carry avalanche safety tools, but it’s best to check with your tour operator to see what you’ll need.
  • Are you able to handle dangerous situations? Safety - whether it’s avalanche safety or helicopter safety - is always a number one priority for heli-skiing organizations. However, it’s necessary to realize that when you take on Mother Nature and her mountains, anything can happen.
  • Are you willing to spend a lot of money to go heli-skiing? Heli-skiing tours can be expensive (think at least a couple of thousand dollars), so if you’re on a budget or you don’t want to spend a lot of money, heli-skiing probably isn’t for you.
  • Are you a good enough skier? Heli-skiing isn’t for new skiers or for beginners. In order to enjoy yourself while heli-skiing, you need to be up for a challenge. You need to be a strong intermediate skier who can handle anything from deep powder to slick spring conditions. Also, you need to know how to handle steep slopes.
Think your ready, Click to find out what to expect when you go HeliSkiing

Source [ About.com ]