Safety and Ability

Our first priority is to provide you with a safe, enjoyable skiing experience. Our guides and pilots are trained to optimize the safety and quality of the program, but the risks inherent in heliskiing cannot be completely eliminated. Some elements of risk are manageable, but others are not. The risks we can't eliminate exceed the normal risks of everyday living and recreational skiing. You are asked to accept this fact in writing prior to your skiing by signing the Pantheon Heli Skiing Waiver.

Unless we have received your properly completed waiver, including witness and full contact information, we cannot accept your booking.

The safety briefings and training you'll receive on arrival are designed to explain these risks and to bring you into participation with us in managing them to the fullest extent possible.

Pantheon Helisports/Bella Coola Helisports is a member of the Heli Cat Canada Association. This Association sets strict safety standards for operating a Helicopter and/or Snowcat skiing area. Only by skiing with a member of the Heli Cat Canada can you be assured of skiing with certified heli ski guides who follow a strict set of operating procedures.

Avalanche and Snow Safety: All Pantheon Helisports guides are dedicated professionals with many years of experience guiding heliskiing. All guides attend annual training sessions with the foremost experts in the field, who enjoy the opportunity to exchange ideas with leading practitioners.

Accidents and Emergencies: Our guides carry an equipment pack which enables them to handle most accidents on the spot. Helicopters can usually land close to the injured skier for immediate evacuation. There is additional resuscitation and rescue equipment in the helicopter, in the field, and at the lodge. All staff members are briefed on rescue plans for emergency situations. If evacuation beyond the base lodge is required, the cost is your responsibility and we recommend that you carry insurance for such ambulance service.

Mountain Flying: Pantheon Helisports contracts with both West Coast Helicopters and Whitesaddle Air of Bluff Lake for our helicopter and guide needs. Our pilots are highly capable, experienced, and specially trained in our mountain environment. All helicopters are equipped with modified skid gear to land on snow, a side basket with lid to carry skis, and radios to ensure continuous communication between pilot, guides, the base lodge, other heliski areas, and outside resources.

Ability

You must be a strong intermediate or advanced skier. Terrain and conditions can vary widely, from low angle glaciers to steep tree skiing. Snow conditions can range from deep powder to wind crust, to crud, and anything in between.

Heli-Boarders need to be accomplished, experienced riders able to handle any backcountry conditions including treed terrain. A skiing background is not necessary. Our guides, many of whom also ride, will do their best to choose lines ideally suited for Heli-Boarders. There will, however, be times when traversing and walking will be necessary. We cannot control the terrain, snow or avalanche conditions.

Our guides lead their groups to where the best skiing exists given certain weather and snowpack conditions. On most weeks there is a mixture of conditions, so skiers and riders need to be prepared to ski whatever mother nature servces up.

If you have dramatically overrated your overall ability and skill in difficult terrain and snow conditions, we reserve the right to have you return to the lodge after a couple of runs and/or have you stay at the lodge. Our decision depends on the snow conditions and stability and the terrain hazards in the areas available to us for skiing. Your safety and the safety of the other skiers is our overriding priority. If you can't keep up with your group, you may be asked to stay at the lodge or leave the area before your week ends.

The best way to have fun is to be as fit as possible. Invest in your ski week by investing in your endurance and strength through rigorous training.

Equipment: You should always bring your own boots, and you are free to bring your own skis, however we suggest you leave that to us … we provide the best powder skis and alpine touring bindings anywhere, and it’s included in the price!