Heli-Skiing, British Columbia, January 2004

Here are some photos and comments from our heli-ski trip to Revelstoke, British Columbia, 3-10 January 2004.

(Click a pic to see a larger version and to step through the photos)

DSC_5135.JPG DSC_5422.JPG DSC_5286.JPG
Reid (second from left) formed this group with some former clients and now new friends: Todd, Reid, Matthias, Linda, Casey, Chad, Brian, Jeff, Lisa, Mike T, and Jane. I am behind the camera, as usual. (Click on the picture to move to the next one) The heli company we like is based in Revelstoke, BC. They treat us as friends. This was our third trip with them (so far) Meet Reid, our trusty guide. Thanks for pulling together this group and for the week of great safe skiing!
DSC_4858.JPG DSC_4857.JPG DSC_4700.JPG
Hey! Wake up! Meet Matt, our pilot. Thanks for the good flying! Sorry to disturb you. (Linda photos) We started out the week with near-record cold, but clear, for the first 3 days (below -5F).
DSC_4708.JPG DSC_4713.JPG DSC_4692.JPG
Reid found some open stuff to get the legs warmed up. We did not spend much time up high due to some wind effect. Beautiful glades down into trees under blue skies with boot to knee-deep was lots of fun. Sunshine+cold+stable snow was a nice combination and got us on some of the steepest stuff they ski (Mike T)
DSC_4719.JPG DSC_4747.JPG DSC_4802.JPG
Lunch in the sun was fine at -10F but you did not want to leave your gloves off for long. Reid kept us safe by warning of crevasses(!), tree wells, steam vents(!), sudden drops, and an open mine shaft (!!!). Mike and Jane on one of the clear-cuts with Rose Bowl on the far right ridge (see picture taken when we skied there on our last trip).
DSC_4795.JPG DSC_4750.JPG DSC_4782.JPG
The clear-cuts were sometimes steep with nice anchors under those small looking bumps that were actually... ... stumps for jumping! (Jeff) Chad always had good photo form here showing us the quality of the snow we had in the beginning of the week.
DSC_4824.JPG DSC_4868.JPG DSC_4834.JPG
Reid dishing out the daily great tasting (and warm!) soup while Brian soaks up as much sun as possible. Each of the first three days offerred the same clear cold days with nice snow and plenty of trees to ski. Linda (right) and Jeff. Sometimes the legs simply say, "that's enough." (Jane)
DSC_4884.JPG DSC_5129.JPG DSC_4934.JPG
Chad again showing good photo form in one of the open sections with the normal sprinkling of alders. You had to be inspired and on your game to follow Lisa and Jane through the trees. These ladies ripped. But, one time when the light went flat in the open ... ... Jane (hee hee hee)
DSC_5011.JPG DSC_4973.JPG DSC_5003.JPG
I wonder who this is? Try to figure out where her head is. Lisa showing her normal ski form in some typical Selkirk Range steep trees Reid loads the skis on the Bell 212. You can see from the snow on the windshield, the chopper was waiting for us which was often the case including days when we had the chopper to ourselves
DSC_5014.JPG DSC_5132.JPG DSC_5040.JPG
I got over 500 "keeper" shots this week. (Jane) Reid finding us some good skiing. (Or maybe it was, "take us out over the lake so we can dump these guys there") Think no evil, poach no evil, smell no evil. (Todd, Matthias, and Chad on a lake bed waiting for another lift)
DSC_5046.JPG DSC_5077.JPG DSC_5098.JPG
Toad enjoying the new snow that fell for Wednesday. This was the best snow so far. One mountain, zero turns. Jeff enjoyed the Volant Machetes in a newly discovered "who cares about turns?" style. Note the powder cords flying for an indication of how fast he was going. I thought I was going to die. Casey's hat



All photos taken with a Nikon D100 by Mike Saemisch.