HELI GUIDES AND SAFETY

at Snowwater, BC, Canada

While we strive to provide you with an outstanding sking/boarding experience, the safety of our guests is our main priority. At the beginning of each trip you will be given an avalanche tranceiver and required to participate in our beacon and avalanche training session before entering the backcountry.

In spite of our best efforts, there are risks and hazards associated with Heli and Snowcat skiing/boarding that you must share with us.

GUIDES
Our guides have been chosen not only for their guiding skills and certifications, but also their enthusiac and outgoing nature. They are professionals who are members of either the ACMG, CSGA, and the CAA, or have equivalent experience. They all have advanced first aid training. They are continually balancing exciting and challenging skiing with the safety and enjoyment of the entire group. For more information on our outdoor staff please see guides.

HELICOPTERS AND PILOTS
The trend in helicopter skiing these days is for smaller groups and a more intimate experience. At Snowwater we recognize this and address the demand. We use an B2 A star helicopter. This is the sleekest most powerful machine in the business. It seats 5 clients, one guide and a pilot. Our pilots are the cream of the crop. They have years of training and experience in the heliski business, and are involved in annual training sessions and contining education, as are our guides. See pilots to learn more about our professional staff.

SNOWCAT AND DRIVERS
Our deluxe bombardier boasts 12 recliner apolstered seats perfect for resting before the next run. Relax in heated comfort while you listen to your favorite tunes and eat homemade snacks. Our drivers have years of experience and are well trained in safety procedures.

There are always two guides with you in the snowcat, one lead guide and a tailguide who skis at the back to help make sure everyone makes it down safely. They are always happy to provide ski tips on how to handle deep powder and ski the trees. Mostly north and east facing, these colder, less sun-affected aspects guarantee we ski the best conditions available. It is challenging terrain, however, so we highly recommend expert and advanced skiers only.

SNOW AND AVALANCHES
Our guides continuously monitor the weather conditons to evaluate the snow stability in an effort to minimize the hazards to our guests. They choose suitable skiing areas based on these evaluations and the ability of the group. Snowwater is also a member of INFOEX - an information exchange between many heli and snowcat companies in BC. This system further enables guides to learn from other areas that share the same weather systems.

Throughout the course of the day you will be given skiing instructions from your guide on where and how to ski. It is imperative that you follow these directions as a guide has only your safety and enjoyment in mind. When the stability is good we can ski steeper slopes. If the rating is poor or fair then we ski more moderate slopes so as to minimize our risk of avalanches.

Failure to follow a guide's instructions could put a client, the guides and/or the whole group at serious risk. Consequently a skier's privieledges will be immediately revoked if he/she is clearly ignoring the direction of the guide. In such a case there will be no refund for time lost.

TREE SKIING
For many elite skiers and boarders, the trees are the ultimate experience. Protected from wind and sun, the snow is often deeper and fluffier in the trees. Our guides are always happy to provide pointers. There are risks, however, associated with this type of skiing. Treewells are deep holes that form around the trunk of a tree during the course of the winter. These are very dangerous if you fall into them. We try to minimize this risk by
skiing in partners or the 'buddy system'. In the event that you were to fall in a treewell you could be assisted by your ski partner and helped out.

EMERGENCIES
Nobody likes emergencies and we do everything possible to prevent them. However, we take great measures to assure that we are ready should the need occur. Snowwater strictly adheres to the industry standards for safety. We have a detailed safety plan in which every staff member is trained. We have constant radio contact throughout each day between the guides, the pilot andthe lodge. The base monitors the location of the helicopter and the snowcat maintaining a minimum hourly contact with them. In addition, cell phones and satellite phones are extra communication devices that we carry. Our helicopter and our snowcat are equiped with oxygen, level 3 first aid kits, avalanche rescue gear and food. As well, every guide carries emergency equipment and has advanced emergency medical training.

We are fortunate that we are located only minutes by air from both the Trail and the Nelson hospital. Both are roughly a 15 minute flight from the lodge. In the event of medical emergency we may be required to call in BC air ambulance, as they are in close proximity and have advanced equipment available. This is an expensive service however, especially for foreigners. Helicopter evacuation insurance provides full coverage for this cost and we highly recommend that you purchase it . Click here for your INSURANCE.

AVALANCHE RESEARCH
As a member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and the Canadian Ski Guide Association, Snowwater takes safety very seriously.  Together with other leading heli-skiing operations in British Columbia, we sponsor an ongoing avalanche research project in conjunction with the University of Calgary.

YOUR ABILITY
Your skiing or riding skills should allow you to ski expert runs at ski hills without falling. Remember that being a great skier on expert groomed runs does not necessarily translate to being an expert back country skier. In the wilderness, conditions vary from day to day and from storm to storm. You must be comfortable with traversing, with riding the trees and sking deep powder and its less forgiving variations. Should guests arrive who are
unble to satisfy these criteria, we reserve the right to retrisct them from skiing with no refund.

We recommend you try a few days a one of our local ski areas before you come on your vacation with us so you have a chance to get used the conditions. Ideally you come with your own group so that you can all ski at the same level. Skiers must be strong intermediate for the heli and advanced to expert for the snowcat terrain.

CONDITIONING
We recommend that you are in reasonable shape for skiing with us in the back country. Deep snow and higher elevations and a lot of activity can take a lot out of you. We recommend a 6 week training program including cardio and strength work before you get here. Being fit and well rested will really help you enjoy your adventure with us.