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Have You Considered Heli Skiing?
Heli skiing is increasing in popularity. What is it? Where do you do it? And, can you be safer doing it?
An Introduction to Heli Skiing
By Jimmie Morris
What is Heli Skiing?
Heli skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is reached by a helicopter, not a ski lift. Heli skiing can be a great opportunity for most skiers, but read on for more information about Heli skiing and how to choose a Heli Skiing experience that will be safe and enjoyable.
The birth of Heli-Skiing
In April 1965, Hans Gmoser was intrigued by an idea that, although fanciful, seemed practical - an idea that had never been tried by any resort in the world. Hans began using helicopters to transport enthusiastic skiers high into the thin air of the otherwise-inaccessible Bugaboo Mountains in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. Heli skiing, as it became known, was born and became an instant success.
Is Heli Skiing for You?
Heli skiing isn’t for everyone, so 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. So, is Heli skiing for you? Ask yourself the following questions to see if a Heli skiing tour would be a good experience for you.
A. Are you a good enough skier or snowboarder? Heli skiing isn’t for first timers’. You should be both capable and experienced in handling a mixture of conditions, whether they are on one plank or two.
1. You should have considerable skiing experience in a conventional resort setting.
2. Your run choices are predominantly blue/ black and you ski them with confidence in almost any conditions.
3. Your skiing ability has improved year after year and you are capable of multi-day ski trips.
4. You may not have the style of a paid skier, but you have the confidence to keep up with friends and you know when you are making some 'good turns'.
5. You can make parallel turns with confidence and if the situation arises, you can; side-slip, step-up sideways, traverse and make kick turns.
6. In the process of becoming a better skier, you have made the transition from novice level equipment to high performance gear and can also spot the difference.
7. You may not have tons of powder skiing experience but you can maintain control in backcountry conditions.
B. Are you fit enough? Skiing and riding powder all day is super fun but is physically demanding. You need to be of a good level of fitness to get the most from your heli skiing experience.
C. Accept that there is risks involved? Safety is always the number one priority for Heli skiing oeprators. However, it’s necessary to realize that when you take on mother nature and her mountains, anything can happen. All heli skiing operations will require you to sign a comprehensive waiver of liability before you can go skiing.
What to Expect While Heli-Skiing
Here’s more information about the Heli skiing experience.
Heli Skiing Groups
On most Heli skiing tours, heli-skiers are led by an experienced guide who will lead a group of skiers. You may be skiing with as little as 6 or as many as 12 skiers. This varies depending on which operator your book with. Most operations offer private heli skiing charters too.
Heli Skiing Tour Length
While heli-skiing, you can expect around 5-12 runs or heli lifts in a day. Your guides will constantly be assessing and searching for the best (and the safest) snow. In some locations, you might take one long run down the mountain, stopping in various places for break. Most heli skiing operators offer daily, three, four and seven day packages. When avalanche conditions are high you may end up skiing easier more gentle slopes.
Conditions
Heli skiing conditions can really vary, according to the day you’re skiing and where you’re skiing. However, Heli skiing is known for its opportunity to allow skiers to access amazing powder and this is your best chance to ski the champagne powder snow. However conditions often vary from run to run due to wind and solar aspects. Be prepared for variable conditions. It’s best to check with your Heli skiing tour for specific information about the snow conditions and weather prior to booking your trip.
Heli Skiing Safety
The primary safety concern of heli skiing operators is the danger of avalanches. Reputable Heli skiing operations employ highly trained guides and pilots who are experienced in evaluating snow conditions, snow stability, and risk management. Don’t worry - most tours will include in the price the use of avalanche transceivers and will provide training on the use of them and other avalanche rescue equipment.
Where Can I Try Heli Skiing
Heli skiing is truly a global sport and can be enjoyed all over the world. Here is a list of where countries where you can go heli skiing:
Canada, Alaska, New Zealand, Himalayas, (India and Nepal) Russia, Turkey, Greenland, Argentina, Chile, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy.
And Finally
Heli skiing is the ultimate skiing and boarding experience. Endless acres of deep powder snow, solitude in the big mountains to be shared with friends and family what more could a skier or border want?
This article was provided by Pantheon Heli Skiing. A Heli Skiing Operation Located near Whistler in BC Canada. Check out www.pantheonheli.com for more details
James Morris
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmie_Morris
Three Steps to Safer Backcountry or Heli Skiing
By James Morland
One of the most serious threats to backcountry or heli skiers and snowboarders are avalanches. But, the fact that nearly all avalanches which endanger people are triggered by the skiers or boarders themselves means that in most cases, they are preventable.
An avalanche doesn't recognise whether or not you are an expert. But, if you are well-informed or otherwise aware, you can minimise your exposure to risk and the chances of ending up as a statistic. A combination of experience, education and awareness of continuingly changing environmental factors will enable you to balance good backcountry or heli skiing with a high degree of safety.
There are three critical factors that contribute to the potential for avalanche - terrain, snowpack and weather.
Understanding these factors and how they interact to cause avalanches can save your life:
1. Terrain
Most fatal avalanches occur on slopes of 35 to 45 degrees - the ones we most like to ski and snowboard! Those less steep, seldom produce avalanches, and those of 50 degrees or more are generally too steep to allow for a critical amount of snow to accumulate.
So be careful of slopes that are similar in steepness to a red run or steeper. And remember that all the snow on the slope you're on is connected so you can trigger a slide above you if the snowpack is sufficiently unstable.
Avoid being in positions where there is no escape if an avalanche does start and avoid exposure to 'terrain traps' - features that will compound the effects if an avalanche occurs. These might include depressions or river beds, cliffs or rocks.
2. Understand snowpack stability
To play safely in the backcountry, whether heli skiing or ski touring, being able to recognise unstable snow and avoid it will keep you out of trouble. The properties of the snowpack are, to a large degree, affected by precipitation, temperature and wind. Layers of snow build up and change continuously throughout the winter - some are strongly bonded and some are not.
While strong layers usually consist of small, round snow grains, densely packed and well bonded, weak layers tend to be comprised of poorly bonded crystals with little cohesion. Weak layers often appear loose or 'sugary'.
Weak layers prevent stable bonding between strong snow and therefore affect the overall stability of the snowpack. In times of high stability, the strength of the bonding between layers is greater than the stress exerted on them. As the stress level approaches the strength level, the snowpack becomes increasingly unstable.
Stress increases can be the result of a rapid precipitation load, a sudden increase in temperature, wind-blown snow or human pressure.
Anchors such as trees and rocks protruding through the snowpack can help stabilize it but clumps of trees need to be thick to be effective; often too dense for skiing. What's more, fracture points can occur at stress concentrators such as trees and rocks.
3. Observe the weather & understand how it affects stability
There are four major weather factors that contribute to avalanches - precipitation, wind, temperature and solar radiation.
The more rapidly precipitation falls, the less time the snowpack has to adjust to the additional stress, leading to a greater danger of avalanche. Of course, the type of precipitation and the quantity can also have an impact.
Take note of wind speed and direction when you're out. Wind can rapidly redistribute snow and load leeward slopes with 'slabs' of snow which are poorly bonded to existing layers. Cornices (large overhanging slabs of snow) give a good indication of the prevailing wind direction and therefore, which slopes might be loaded.
Both warmer and colder conditions can lead to instability. In general, a warmer snowpack will settle more quickly, compacting to become denser and stronger than a cold snowpack. But if warming is intense and persistent, the snowpack can become wet and very unstable. Be particularly wary if temperatures are not dropping below freezing at night.
The combination of cold temperatures and a shallow snowpack leads to a process called faceting which can result in the formation of extremely unstable layers. With little change in temperature these layers can persist for long periods of time. So, beware when heli skiing on shady northern aspects especially early on in the season when it is cold and relatively little snow has accumulated.
Later on, in spring, when the sun can trigger wet avalanches, south-facing slopes can be more hazardous.
Other ways to reduce risk
If you are heading into the backcountry either under your own steam or by helicopter, take an experienced guide with local knowledge - the best heli skiing guides are UIAGM certified meaning that they have undergone years of training and passed a series of comprehensive exams. Inform people of your anticipated route and timings and listen to local advice and avalanche warnings.
You should only heli ski with reputable companies that employ certified guides and follow accepted safety procedures. But remember that just because you are with a guide or heli ski operator, you are not immune from the avalanche danger, and you should always bear in mind the factors in this article.
James Morland has a background in snow safety and now is Managing Director of Elemental Adventure Heli Skiing, a leading specialist offering tours to Canada, Alaska, Himalayas, Russia, Turkey, Greenland and other worldwide destinations. They've done it all before and have extensive first hand experience, which means they can ensure that the biggest ski trip of your life is also the best ski trip of your life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Morland
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