Where is White Wilderness Heli Skiing and how do I get there?

We’re located just outside of Terrace, British Columbia on the north-central coast of Western Canada. Terrace lays claim to being the most accessible heli ski destination in the country. Getting here is easy: one short flight from either Calgary or Vancouver International airports brings you to the Terrace Regional Airport where we’ll pick you up and drive you to the front steps of our lodge on the Skeena River – only 25 minutes to away. No helicopter flights, highway closures, mountain passes or car rentals. There are numerous daily flights in and out of Terrace and the reliability of our airport is extremely good. In fact, we’ve even had guests from as far away from New York City fly here on Friday, ski a 3-day weekend package and return home on a red-eye in time for work on Tuesday morning; that’s 2 days off a regular work week to a ski 3 full days of bottomless untracked Canadian powder…

What are the accommodations like?

We take great pride in our lodge experience. We refer to it as Canadian rustic luxury – but with Swiss attention to detail, quality and efficiency. Two main custom-built log buildings house our guest amenities (spa, massage rooms, exercise room, boot room, retail shop, dining area and bar). We also have a sauna and outdoor Jacuzzi just steps away from our cozy guest log chalets. Each chalet is tastefully appointed, with 2 beds, writing desk, private bathroom and a small wood-burning stove. Regular packages are based on double occupancy but single occupancy is available as well upon request for a surcharge and when bookings allow.

Can you describe the lodge experience?

Attention to the finer details and superlative customer service are our main focus. We do everything we can to provide guests with a custom and personalized experience. Our lodge is beautiful and cozy. Our food is exceptional. Our lodge and guiding staff are personable, attentive and professional. Ultimately, our aim is to match what is a spectacular mountain experience with an equally spectacular lodge experience.

What’s included in my package?

Our guests should never have the feeling that we are trying to impose an upgrade on them. For this reason we have already pre-included many additions, which are usually not included in Heliskiing.

• Unlimited vertical
• Accommodation, food and guiding service
• All soft drinks are free during the entire stay
• Free usage of spa, gym and games room
• Avalanche safety equipment & personal radio
• Medical & evacuation insurance
• HEAD and ELAN powder skis / snowboard
• Lodge transfer from/to Terrace Regional Airport
• WiFi is free

How’s the skiing?

We operate up to 3 groups of 4 skiers (plus a guide) out of an A-star helicopter as part of our regular program and offer custom and private heli skiing packages as well. We have 2,500 square kilometers of terrain and the options are many and varied, especially with our small group numbers. We’ve got glaciers, bowls, gladed terrain and good poor weather skiing as well. Our closest run (Super Like – 750m vertical descent) is just under 3 minutes from the lodge, our closest poor weather skiing area (Cabin Run – 650m vertical) is 5 minutes and it’s a 9 minute flight to our highest glaciated alpine terrain where we have vertical descents of up to 1,000m. Our lodge is absolutely in the heart of the tenure and we have great skiing options in all directions…

What kind of a skier / snowboarder do I need to be?

We recommend that our guests are strong intermediate skiers and/or advanced snowboarders. Among the large selection of skis and snowboards from the brands HEAD, ELAN and Burton, which are available to our guests free of charge, there is a model to suit every guest’s needs.

I’ve never been heli skiing before and I’m a little nervous. Is heli skiing right for me?

The helicopter skiing that you see in ski videos isn’t necessarily representative of a day in the life here. That’s not to say that we don’t ski aggressively when the hazard is low, conditions are right and our guests yearn for the steep and deep though. But the best way to describe heli skiing? Green, blue or black diamond runs without the moguls, no crowds and bottomless untracked powder and your own helicopter for a ski lift.

You offer “unlimited vertical”. What exactly does that mean?

We ski a lot – as much as we can. Our first lift is typically around 0815 and we ski until 4:00 or 4:30pm. We don’t keep track of vertical, flight times or the number of runs skied for any other reason than record keeping. If there is time left in the day and you’ve got the energy, we’ll take full advantage of the time we have – and leave no snowflake unturned.

What do we do when it’s not possible to fly?

We’re quite fortunate to be located on the colder and dryer side of a mountain range that sees a significant amount of precipitation. Our down days are few and far between but it does happen occasionally. There are a number of options available to us including skiing at the much-storied Shames Mountain Ski Area, ocean-boat adventures and even fishing for spring steelhead (ocean-going trout) later in the winter. Or you can keep things simple and take advantage of our spa, relax by a roaring fire and rest those legs in preparation for the following day in the helicopter. We’re constantly looking to expand our options for activities should the weather not cooperate – more to come on this front in the coming months.

What do I need to bring?

Please plan to bring your personal ski gear and boots, comfortable evening attire, bathing suit and pretty much anything else that you would like to pack into a suitcase!  Because there is no helicopter transfer needed to get to the lodge, there are no weight restrictions on luggage. Pack light or pack heavy. It’s completely up to you.

Should I bring my ski boots in my carry-on luggage?

Yes! Occasionally, baggage gets delayed en-route and you may find yourself in Terrace without your luggage.  While we can provide most of what you don’t have, we cannot get you out skiing the next day without a pair of boots that fit your feet. Bring those boots on the plane and keep them close…

Is there internet and cell service at the lodge?

Yes.  We have limited but workable cell coverage and decent internet service. You won’t be able to stream movies but sending and receiving emails, browsing your social media sites and reading the newspaper is no problem.

What about travel and medical insurance?

We’ve got you covered once you land in Terrace. If you become sick and need to see a doctor or injure a knee and need to be flown to the lodge, we’ve already booked insurance that will cover you. What we do not provide is trip interruption or cancellation insurance – a policy that covers you if the unexpected occurs before you arrive here. We highly recommend looking into this once you’ve booked with us and suggest contacting Lifestyle Financial Services for more information.

Why choose White Wilderness Heli Skiing over other operators?

We’re small. We’re nimble. We’re easy to get to. And we offer the full experience. As one of our guests put it this past season, we’re “a new helicopter skiing operation with an old soul.”.

I want to book a trip. What are my next steps?

Visit our Contact page and fill out the form. Someone will get back to you to discuss possibilities shortly. Better yet, call or email us directly at: info@WWHeliski.com or 1-888-898-1186 in NA and +41-71-353-35-70 in Europe.