Silver Star Mountain Resort Day Heliskiing

Stay and ski at one of Canada’s favourite family resorts and have all the untracked powder and incredible alpine terrain you can shake a ski pole at. One day of heliskiing in Eagle Pass’ 270,000 skiable acres starts at $1175 for 6 – 8 runs or 11,000 – 17,000 vertical feet. Eagle Pass also offers a limited amount of Day Skiing from Echo Bay Lodge in Revelstoke on an as available basis.

Silver Star’s charming resort village sits 1 hour from the Kelowna International Airport and offers a full range of ski in ski out accommodation, a great selection of restaurants and pubs, and a host of other non-ski activities. Before climbing aboard with Eagle Pass, you can hit the groomers with the family, work up those ski legs in the steeps of Putnam Creek and join in a day of ‘Powder Prep’ lessons from one of Canada’s finest Ski Schools.

Overview

Operations will run daily with two types of product being offered:

• 6-8 Runs
• Private Unlimited

Eagle Pass will be using a Bell 212 helicopter which will fit 10 guests, 2 guides and a pilot. After a safety briefing, the full group will fly approximately 12 min to the first run of the day. From here, the group will split into two smaller groups of similar ability accompanied by their guide. This will allow EPH to provide the small group heliskiing experience our guests have come to enjoy, while allowing access to whatever terrain and conditions will be best for the skiing day. Essentially, it is private access combined with small group heliskiing, the best of both worlds! Should the weather worsen or conditions prove difficult, we can move the entire group to somewhere else in our skiing terrain.

What’s included:

• Certified, Professional Guiding Service ( 5:1 Guest to Guide Ratio)
• Fully trained and experienced mountain pilots flying a twin engine Bell 212 Helicopter
• Avalanche Safety Training and Helicopter Safety briefing
• Use of digital beacon, shovel, probe, BCA flotation backpack and personal radio
• Specialty Powder Skis (Boarders we recommend you move your stance back)
• Gourmet Lunch in the mountains (sandwiches, soup, hot tea, baked goods, water, juice)
• Après Ski Snacks at the Den Bar and Bistro and photo viewing from ski day

Typical Day

Pricing and Booking Conditions

Day Heli

• $1175 / day per person
• 6 – 8 runs (Approximately 11,000 – 17000 vertical feet)

Private 212

• $15,000 for Exclusive use of Bell 212 Helicopter
• Up to ten guests and two guides
• Unlimited Vertical for your entire group

Private A-Star

• $7000 for Exclusive use B2 A-Star
• Up to four guests and one guide
• Unlimited Vertical for your entire groups

*subject to machine availability, advanced booking recommended

How to Book

Contact Eagle Pass Heliskiing between 9am and 6pm PST to book your Heliskiing. You can also book with your favorite travel agent, ski travel specialist, by contacting Silver Star Mountain Resort.

Silver Star Mountain Resort Video

General Booking Conditions and Refund Policies

All rates are in Canadian Funds and are subject to all applicable taxes. Full payment is required at time of booking to confirm your reservation. All participants will be required to read and sign a waiver form prior to skiing departure. This form is available on the Eagle Pass website. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.

Cancellations

Sometimes, poor weather will mean a “no fly” day on your scheduled heliski day. We will usually hold out until mid day to call the day a “no fly” day. If it is simply a weather delay, once the safety briefing is complete, skiers will hit the slopes of Silver Star and be picked up on the mountain once the weather clears. Here are the options when inclement weather prevents us from skiing:

• If the decision to not ski is made after your morning safety briefing, you will receive a full refund less a $100 administration fee.  You will be provided a bagged lunch and a day lift ticket to enjoy Silver Star Mountain Resort. We will usually hold off until 1130 AM to call a day a “no fly” day.
• If people cancel for ANY reason, they are not refunded or credited in ANY way. NO exceptions.
• Travel Insurance is strongly recommended in case of cancellation.
• If we start skiing but the guaranteed number of runs is not reached, we refund at a rate of $100 plus tax for each run not skied per person.
• No refund is offered to guests who do not complete their package due to poor skiing ability, fitness, illness or injury.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

We recommend you purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance. This may be purchased through your Travel Agent, or we can recommend an insurance company who offers this type of trip cancellation insurance. Please be sure that you are covered and are familiar with our cancellation policy.

FAQ

A heliskiing vacation from Silver Star Mountain Resort has the following advantages which clearly sets this product apart from its competitors:

• Closest Heliski Destination to an International Airport in Canada: Kelowna International Airport (40mins drive)
• Short 12 min flight to world renowned Monashee Mountains which boasts some of the world’s best alpine and tree skiing.
• Eagle Pass boasts more than 1200 square km of terrain (<270,000 skiable acres)
• Tree runs 1500-3000 vertical feet
• Alpine runs 2000-5000 vertical feet
• Elevation ranges are between 2500 ft and 8700 ft.
• Consistent, dry, deep snowpack
• Heliski ‘Powder Prep’ lessons available with one of Canada’s finest Ski Schools
• Guaranteed skiing, ski the mountain until the weather clears and then lift off in the helicopter for the mountains.
• Heliski only packages or full packages available
• Private access plus small group heliskiing 5:1 ratio of guests to guide: The best of both worlds!
• Heli Pick up and drop off directly at Ski Resort (no driving)
• Heli transfer to and from Kelowna International Airport available

Ability Level

We recommend that you are at least an advanced skier/boarder and don’t mind venturing off the groomed slopes on powder days at the resort. Most slopes are between 20 and 40 degrees, and when conditions allow and with the right group, we will hit steep slopes. If you have fun skiing runs like Gypsy Queen and Sunny Ridge on a powder day or can’t get enough of runs like Chute 5, Holy Smokes, and Attridge then you are ready to heli ski.

Special fat powder skis are supplied to all skiers which allow for ease of turning and great flotation in all conditions. For boarders, we recommend that you adjust your stance to the rear of the board for better flotation. A limited number of demo boards will be available for your use, which you can put your bindings on.

Untracked powder is the best place to learn how to ski and board powder. Skiing freshly groomed snow is a favourite for everyone on the ski hill as the snow is consistent. The same is true out in the mountains but it is just a bit deeper and from what our guests tell us, much more fun!

A great way to make sure you are ready to get the most out of your heliskiing adventure is to take a ‘Powder Prep’ lesson with the Silver Star Snowsport School where you will learn what to do a little different with wide powder skis under foot, gain confidence skiing glades and steep terrain, and get an idea what to expect from the helicopter and guide experience.  Of course if you love the work your Ski Pro is doing they would be more than appreciative for you to take them along so they can continue the lesson in the big mountains!