High Mountain Heli-Skiiing

Peter Lehrman _{on Google}

Mar 31st, 2021

Had a world class day on the mountain with Cooper our insanely skilled pilot and Jimmy K our trusty backcountry guide. Top 10 ski days of my life. Thanks for a great safe day folks...

Jeff Brines _{on Google}

Mar 4th, 2021

One of the best heli operations in the lower 48. Here are some highlights...
1) A very capable heli pilot
2) Guides that can trace their education & linage back to Doug Coombs (the guy who basically put heli skiing on the map aka: a legend)
3) A mix of open bowl skiing & tree skiing, with access to thousands of acres of north facing terrain, which makes it easy to find good snow even in extended periods of high pressure
4) Well priced
5) Good terrain very close to heli base making for an efficient experience
6) No competition for snow (no other operators in the area)

Michael Horn _{on Google}

Mar 4th, 2021

Truly had one of the best days of skiing ever. Just amazing.
I had the time of my life skiing with High Mountain Heli Skiing. You just cannot ski such great snow in bounds!
I would rate it ten stars if I could.
We skied the six full runs, of fresh, deep powder from top to bottom. Matt Lloyd was our guide – his infectious passion for skiing was apparent from the minute we started. He made the day just so fun. As our guide, Matt led our group well, but managed to have just as much fun as the rest of us (maybe more).
The day began with a comprehensive safety briefing. Everyone is equipped with an avi-pack (probe, shovel, and airbag) and an avalanche beacon. HMHS uses the most current technology. They let you bring your own if you would like, but they prefer guests to use their equipment. I own a 12 year old BCA-1 so I used theirs (Mammut brand, I don’t know the model) because it has a better range and is more accurate.
I mention this because it is very clear that the entire HMHS team is acutely focused on risk management. Backcountry skiing carries an inherent risk, but with proper mitigation the risks can be well-managed which in my view makes your day much more enjoyable knowing that you are with a highly qualified team that considers your safety the highest priority.
Our group was mixed in terms of backcountry experience. Two of the folks on our team had heli-skied a lot and spent time with a guide in the backcountry, I have skied some unguided backcountry here and there over the past decade but never heli-skied. Our fourth member had not been out-of-bounds at all. So, the backcountry experience varied but the four of us were similar in terms of ability, speed, etc. Despite the mixed backcountry experience, the group was well matched. Again - epic day.
We skied in 3-4 different locations, taking 1-2 run in each area. There were three groups of five that share the same helicopter (4 skiers + 1 guide), which meant there was usually one group at the top, one group skiing, and one waiting to get picked up.
Due to a big recent storm the avi risk was a little elevated. Most of the runs that we skied above tree line were lower angle, though we got into steeper terrain once we dropped into the trees. Towards the end of the day, we skied in one gladed area with nearly perfect snow. Just perfect.
If the terrain was classified, I would say it ranged from mid-blue to challenging black runs. But once again – the snow quality is nothing like you’ll ever get at a resort.
I highly recommend High Mountain Heli skiing to any advanced skiers and riders. You just will not be able to ski this type of terrain with untouched snow at the resort. Riding in a helicopter is a thrill in its own right. Pairing it with skiing makes for a day to remember for a lifetime. Sure, it’s expensive – but do it.
As Warren Miller said, “If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do.”
Once again – thank you so much to the High Mountain Heli Ski team!!