You've made the decision. This year, it's time to push your boundaries, to break out of your comfort zone. It's time to lose the lift lines and hit the backcountry.
The terrain you're going to rip should make your teeth chatter, your palms sweat and your hair stand on end. Finding your ideal location shouldn't.
Here's our complete guide: all you ever wanted to know about motor-access backcountry skiing destinations but were afraid to ask.
Organized by region, you'll find operations ranging from full-monty, week-long stints that quench the desires of even the most extreme skiers to user-friendly (and wallet-friendly) snowcat day trips.
Regardless of your ability or the depth of your pockets, this guide should send you on your way to a spring vacation of smooth, powdery bliss.
ALASKA
Alaska Backcountry Adventures
Thompson Pass, Valdez, AK
888-792-9222
alaskabackcountry.com
$675 for 6 runs; $375 for 3 runs; $120 for a single run
e-mail: info@swayback.com
Chugach Powder Guides
Girdwood, AK
907-783-4354
www.chugachpowderguides.com
$920 per day for heli; $285 per day for snowcat
e-mail: info@chugachpowderguides.com
Glacier Snow Cat Skiing and Tours
Wasilla, AK
800-770-3118, 907/373-3118
www.akpowder.com
$175 per day
e-mail: akpowder@akpowder.com
Out Of Bounds
Juneau, AK
907-789-7008
6 runs, $425 guided per day.
akskiing@ptialaska.net
Points North Helicopter Skiing
Valdez, AK
818-754-4700
Valdez Heli Skiing Guides
Girdwood, AK
907-835-4528
www.valdezheliskiguides.com
$520 per day
e-mail: ski@valdezheliskiguides.com
Valdez H20 Heli Adventures
Valdez, AK
907-835-8418
www.h2oguides.com
$510 full day, $255 half day
e-mail: dean@h2oguides.com
Valdez Heli-Camps, Inc.
Valdez, AK
907-783-3243
e-mail: www.valdezhelicamps.com
COLORADO
Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours
Leadville, CO
719-486-2277
www.skicooper.com
10-11 runs, $225 per day (includes lunch)
El Diablo Alpine Guides (Powder Cats)
Durango, CO
877-241-9643
www.durango.com/eldiablo
$125 per person, $800 for whole cat.
e-mail: Eldiablo@outerbanks.net
Irwin Lodge
Crested Butte, CO
970-349-9800, 888/464-7946
www.goirwin.com
$225 per day
e-mail: irwin@crestedbutte.com
Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area
Monarch, CO
719-539-3573
www.skimonarch.com
15 runs, $165 per day
e-mail: school@amigo.net
Steamboat Powder Cats (Now, Blue Sky West)
Steamboat Springs, CO
800-288-0543, 970-871-4260
www.blueskywest.com
14 runs, $295 per day
e-mail: adventures@blueskywest.com
Telluride Helitrax
Telluride, CO
800-831-6230
www.tellurideoutside.com
5 runs, $650 per day
e-mail: powder@helitrax.com
IDAHO
Brundage Mountain Adventures
McCall, ID
208-634-4153
www.brundage.com
$200 per day
e-mail: info@brundage.com
Peak Adventures Snowcat Skiing and Boarding
Cataldo, ID
208-682-3200
www.peaksnowcats.com
$325 per day (6-12 runs)
e-mail: info@peaksnowcats.com
Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides
Sun Valley, ID
800-872-3108
www.svheli-ski.net
5-6 runs, $550-$600
e-mail: svheli@sunvalley.net
MONTANA
Montana Backcountry Adventures
Big Sky, Montana
406-995-4037
www.skimba.com
6-8 runs, $225 per day
e-mail: coolrunnings@imt.net
NEVADA
Ruby Mountain Helicopter Skiing
Lamoille, NV
775-753-6867
www.helicopterskkiing.com
7 runs, call for pricing details per day
e-mail: rubyski@sierra.net
OREGON
Mount Bailey Snowcat Skiing
Diamond Lake, OR
800-446-4555
www.mountbailey.com
5-7 runs, $200 per day
e-mail: skigus@mountbailey.com
UTAH
Park City Powder Cats and Heli-Ski, Inc.
Park City, Utah 84068
435-649-6596, 800/635-4719
Snow Canyon Snow Cat Skiing
Park City, Utah 84068
801/649-1674, 801/731-3411
Wasatch Powderbird Guides
Snowbird, Utah
801-742-2800
www.heliskiwasatch.com
7 plus runs, $420- $700 per day
e-mail: info@heliskiwasatch.com
WASHINGTON
Arctic Odysseys
Seattle, WA
800-574-3021, 206/325-1977
www.arcticoddysseys.com
5 runs per day
e-mail: arctic4u@aol.com
North Cascade Heli-Skiing
Mazama, WA
800-494-4354
www.heli-ski.com
7 runs, $575 per day
e-mail: info@heli-ski.com
WYOMING
High Mountain Heli-Skiing
Teton Village, WY
307-733-3529
www.heliskijackson.com
6 runs, $550 per day
e-mail: heli-ski@wyoming.com
CANADA
Assinboine Heli Tours Inc.
Banff/Lake Louise, Alberta
403/678-5459, 800/824-9721
Canadian Mountain Holidays
BC
800-661-0252
www.cmhski.com
Duncan Lake Lodge
800-843-5557
www.whitegrizzly.com
$210 per day, $307 including meals and lodging
snowcats@direct.ca
Great Canadian Heliskiing
BC
250-344-2326, 866-424-4354
www.greatcanadianheliski.com
The Great Canadian Adventure Company
Edmonton AB
780-414-1676, 888-285-1676
Great Northern Snow-Cat Skiing, Ltd.
Calgary, AB
403-287-2267
www.greatnorthernsnowcat.com
7 runs per day
e-mail: info@greatnorthernsnowcat.com
Island Lake Lodge Cat Skiing
Fernie, BC
250-423-4055
www.islandlakelodge.com
8-12 runs per day
Klondike Heli-Ski
Atlin, BC
818-754-4700
Last Frontier Heliskiing, Ltd.
Vernon, BC
250-655-5566
www.lastfrontierheli.com
8-10 runs per day
e-mail: info@lastfrontierheli.com
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing
Blue River, BC
800-661-9170, 250-673-8381
www.wiegele.com
8-10 runs per day
e-mail: mail@wiegele.com
Mountain Heli Skiing
Whistler, BC
403-678-5459
Purcell Helicopter Skiing
250-344-5410
www.purcellhelicopterskiing.com
3 runs, C495 plus tax
Retallack Alpine Adventures Ltd.
New Denver, BC
800-330-1433, 250-358-2777
www.retallack.com
6-8 runs, $400 per day
R.K. Heliski
Panorama, BC
800-661-6060
www.rkhelieski.com
3 runs, C$599; 5 runs, C$699
Robson Helimagic, Inc.
Valemount, BC
250-566-4700
www.robsonhelimagic.com
6-8 runs, $439 per day
e-mail: brigitta@robsonhelimagic.com
Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing, Ltd.
Revelstoke, BC
800-663-7080
selkirk-tangiers.com
6-8 runs, $355 per day
e-mail: selkirk@rockies.net
Selkirk Wilderness Snowcat Skiing, Ltd.
Meadow Creek, BC
800-799-3499, 250-366-4424
www.selkirkwilderness.com
9 runs per day
e-mail: druryws@direct.ca
Topnotch Tours
Whistler, BC
888-676-6824, 604-938-1941
TLH Heliskiing, Ltd.
Vernon, BC
800-667-4854
www.tlhheliskiing.com
8-10 runs per day
e-mail: info@tlhheliskiing.com
Whistler Heli-Skiing
Whistler, BC
888-435-4754
www.whistlerheliskiing.com
3 runs, C$495-$515; 6 runs, C$735-$755
White Grizzly Snowcats
Meadow Creek, BC
800-843-5557, 250-366-4306
www.whitegrizzly.com
5-6 runs per day, C$260-$425
snowcats@direct.ca
