First OffPiste / Heli / Backcountry options ? Weekend

[Bushi]

Anyone have any experience with some introduction to off piste and/or heliskiing that would be doable from the UK in a long weekend ?

I have many years off experience on piste and the standard " between piste " conditions, powder & trees etc..

I Board and Daughter Skis, she's 16 but a solid skier on piste.

Not looking for anything extreme just a change of environment, quiet...long runs on actual snow....some solid experiences

Next couple of years are critical, soon my joints will be too knackered and she will be off on her own I imagine..

[fooman]

Bushi said:

Anyone have any experience with some introduction to off piste and/or heliskiing that would be doable from the UK in a long weekend ?

I have many years off experience on piste and the standard " between piste " conditions, powder & trees etc..

I Board and Daughter Skis, she's 16 but a solid skier on piste.

Not looking for anything extreme just a change of environment, quiet...long runs on actual snow....some solid experiences

Next couple of years are critical, soon my joints will be too knackered and she will be off on her own I imagine..

On my experience, children will continue to ski with you well into their 20s as long as you are subsidising!

[shunt]

Many years ago we were staying in Meribel and booked a Heliboarding day with these guys: https://evolution2.com/en/la-rosiere/heliskiing?v=...

They came and picked us up in a minibus and took us to La Rosiere. 2 heli drops and 2 guides with us. We spent the morning off piste in La Rosiere being assessed then we got in the heli, I can't recommend them enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLENHaryjuc&t=...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ud_aBPoJ8&t=...

Edited by shunt on Wednesday 14th January 16:52

[jock mcsporran]

Unless it’s changed, my understanding is that you can’t be dropped in France as it’s illegal.

When we did it we were picked up by the chopper in a lay-by at the side of the road to Vallorcine from Chamonix (just over the border). We were then dropped somewhere on the Swiss/Italian border and done a bit of a hike/board back to France. Good day out.

[Bill]

I'd do a course together and learn how to do it properly. I haven't used them but friends rave about https://www.snoworks.co.uk/

[hmg]

Timings are key..you would be very lucky to be in resort following a decent dump.

Generally Italy, Switzerland and Spain

Valgrisenche / La Thuile (Italy)
Best value

Alagna / Monte Rosa (Italy)
Longer descents

Would you not employ a decent guide before trying heliskiing.

[hmg]

Are you fit enough to get the best out of a heliski experience. Big step up from piste skiing,tree skiing and margin off piste skiing..to multiple drops in deep powder.

[Bushi]

Bill said:

I'd do a course together and learn how to do it properly. I haven't used them but friends rave about https://www.snoworks.co.uk/

This is the type of thing I was thinking of.
Looks a solid safe next step.

[Bushi]

hmg said:

Would you not employ a decent guide before trying heliskiing.

wouldn't be planning on going up with just the two of us...

But I think that's the better next step, guide and off piste training then see where that takes us.

[shunt]

hmg said:

Are you fit enough to get the best out of a heliski experience. Big step up from piste skiing,tree skiing and margin off piste skiing..to multiple drops in deep powder.

This too, I was physically sick after the 2nd drop and the walk out once we'd lost the gradient. Knee high powder walking for over an hour takes it's toll.

[JQ]

No personal experience of taking part, but it's very popular in Iceland due to guaranteed snow and the remoteness of the experience. We were in Dalvik a few years ago and Jürgen Klopp was there with a load of his mates heli-skiing. There seems to be lots of operators in the area.

Could probably make a weekend of it by flying in to Akureyri then it's a 40 min taxi to Dalvik. There'll be no Apres, but it'd certainly be an experience to remember. Alternatively Siglufjörður is 40 mins down the road from Dalvik, is spectacular and I think does skiing too. The hotel there is much nicer than the offerings in Dalvik too.

[JQ]

Bushi said:

hmg said:

Would you not employ a decent guide before trying heliskiing.

wouldn't be planning on going up with just the two of us...

But I think that's the better next step, guide and off piste training then see where that takes us.

My kids both did an off-piste course with BASS in Morzine a few years ago and absolutely loved it (I'm too old and not good enough to have any desire to go off-piste) . They learnt about all the safety kit and how to use it and were guided to various places in the PdS and taught how to ski in it. I think it was a 4 day course and it helped the instructor was pretty cool and there'd been a fresh dump of snow at the time. I'm sure BASS would be able to tailor something for you, biggest issue would be certainty of decent snow conditions in the PdS.