The latest offerings from some of Canada’s finest resorts
STORY: S-Media
BEST CAT SKIING
Island Lake Lodge
There’s no denying that Island Lake Lodge is a true skier’s cat skiing outfit. You’ll enjoy it more if you have solid vertical mileage under your belt. Now in its 25th season of operation, Island Lake – located just outside Fernie, B.C. – has also perfected the art of catering to a luxury clientele. Here you can indulge in the finest eats and drinks that you can find on this side of the Rockies. But it’s the skiing that will have you hooked on the cat skiing lifestyle, with over 7,000 acres of prime private bowls, valleys and gladed slopes. islandlakecatskiing.com
Monashee Powder Snowcats
Monashee Powder Snowcats makes its playground in the deep, light powder that covers 17,000 acres in the Thompson-Okanagan based operation. Located near Vernon, Monashee is backcountry at its finest, featuring wide open bowls, the more adventurous steeps chutes and some mellow terrain for those looking for a more slower pace. monasheepowder.com
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing
One of the originals of cat skiing operations, Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, just north of Nelson, has attracted a loyal following over the years. Powder seekers have been coming here for years to enjoy the 12–18,000 vertical feet of untouched track. Revelstoke has a worldwide reputation as the mecca for heli skiing mostly due to its dry and consistent powder snow. Selkirk offers relatively inexpensive packages; another positive to make heli-ski adventure dreams a reality. selkirkwilderness.com.
BEST HELI SKIING
Mica Heli Skiing
Mica is one of the best in boutique, small group heli-skiing. Serving a maximum 20 guests, four groups of four skiers can use two A-Star helicopters in the semiprivate tours and one group of four can use the Private Bell 407. The spacious and gorgeous five star lodge, located one hour north of Revelstoke B.C., is accessible only by helicopter. Ample steep tree-skiing and seemingly endless pillow runs blanket this area. On the rare no fly days, Mica fires up the cat-ski for backup. Mica is renowned for having an excellent safety record, friendly and helpful staff, which always enhances any adventure. micaheli.com
Selkirk-Tangiers
For over 30 years Selkirk-Tangiers’ half a million acres of terrain has lured powder junkies from around the world. Nestled in the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains that border both Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, the heli-ski and ride outfit receives 40-60 feet of snowfall each year. The wide open glaciers, high alpine bowls and massive old growth forests, spanning over 200 established runs makes it a safe bet. With packages from all-inclusive to heli-only, guests can choose trips lasting from one to seven days. The Eurocopter A-Star and Bell 205 helicopters pull their weight to access the most delicious terrain. selkirk-tangiers.com
CMH
As legend has it, company founder Hans Gmoser paid a national parks permit fee of $2, filled out a short form, and voila, a heli ski operation was born. That was 1953. Shortly after, Gmoser surveyed the vast mountains in the province and selected 11 areas in the Selkirk, Monashee and Purcell Mountains that to this day are the core of the CMH heli skiing offerings. The massive quantities of dry powder, steep pitches above and below treeline and old growth forests are what bring skiers to CMH. Pretty close to a guaranteed good ski. canadianmountainholidays.com
