View of snowy mountainside from inside a helicopter

Experience

Safety

Our motto since the very beginning has been ‘safety first, then service’—and it’s always served us well.

Safety First, Always

Our focus on safety starts with our small groups. With a maximum of four skiers to every experienced guide, we’re in a better position to focus on each guest’s personal safety. Throughout the day, each guide is able to communicate more effectively with the group—for instance, about the features of a run—and to provide direct, personal care to every guest.

Of course, before we fly, we go above and beyond to ensure that you have exactly what you need to adventure without incident—starting with our two types of backcountry briefings: one on snow safety, and the other on helicopter safety. Each guest is provided with and trained on how to use the contents of their personal guest pack, a radio and transceiver.

Safety is Foundational

Safety is the foundation of Great Canadian Heli-Skiing. Eric Oxner, ACMG Ski Guide, our Chief Guide, and Director of Guides, has been with GCHS for over 10 years. Eric has guided at many mechanized and non-mechanized operations, and prior to his role as a guide, he spent years as an avalanche explosives technician, an outdoor emergency medical responder, and has experience all over the globe analyzing obscure backcountry ski lines. His extensive business background fosters a culture dedicated to safety for our talented guides; the GCHS guide team is always constructively critical of all processes and situations, and continued professional development for all guides is a strict requirement. The team values its collective experience, from those who have worked here almost 30 years to those guides who have joined our team recently.

Man adjusting covers on helicopter blades

Safety Measures

Snow & Avalanche Safety

Your ski day is highly organized, with weather analysis, empirical snow data, and safe logistical preparation completed before you’ve even had breakfast. All guides at GCHS are qualified with a minimum of Canadian Avalanche Association Operations Level 2 (an accredited world-leading technical snow knowledge stream). Our guides are certified either by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG), the International Federation of Mountain Guides (IFMGA) or the Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA). Further to this, our team is a leader regarding the safety guidelines set out by Helicat Canada, a leading organization dedicated to safety and the continued development of best practices in the mechanized world of backcountry skiing.

Emergencies

Though extremely rare, emergencies can happen, and our team is well-equipped to handle them when they do. We maintain continuous radio communication between our guides, our helicopters, and our base, and all guides carry extensive emergency gear in their packs and on the helicopter. If serious medical attention is ever required, the Golden & District Hospital is just a short helicopter flight away.

Helicopters

Helicopter coming down to pick up skiers for next run with sun shining down

Silver King Helicopters

We have partnered with Silver King Helicopters for many years, and we are proud to have many familiar pilots and engineers that return to us every winter. They work with our guides to provide an exhilarating adventure with strict adherence to aircraft safety. We operate a fleet of two A-Star B3’s and one A-Star B2. The A-Star is particularly known for its excellent high-altitude performance as well as being quick and easily manoeuvrable.

Safety Equipment

Avalanche Beacons

For your safety, we supply every guest with a Barryvox avalanche transceiver, which we’ll show you how to use before you hit the slopes. Our guiding team selected this transceiver because it’s easy to use and accurate. In addition to avalanche transceivers, each group carries a backpack that includes a shovel, probe, VHF radio, and a few pieces of additional equipment.

Airbags

Airbags are a preference for some, but they aren’t used as commonly in North America as they are in Europe. There are significant differences in snow conditions and terrain; as a result, our guiding team doesn’t typically wear or mandate the use of airbags—however, you’re more than welcome to use one. We have a limited quantity of Mammut Rockers – This link opens in a new browser tab available to rent at our lodge. Please note that airbags must be booked in advance.