Sea to Sky Avalanche Awareness Recreational Trip Planning Workflow

In Canada, I recommend this workflow to help you prepare for a backcountry trip in the Sea to Sky Region and use the Avaluator v2.0TM – Avalanche Accident Prevention Card - as a resource for trip planning and in the field as a decision aid.  In summary, trip planning, as suggested by Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) focuses on three factors and this blog focuses on factor number two: : 

1.  Determining who you will ski with,

2.  Understanding the conditions, and

3.  Selecting an appropriate destination. 

Quick reminder that in the field, I recommend following the Avaluator Accident Prevention Card and this blog focuses on the first stage of your trip:

1. Trip Planning

2. Identifying Avalanche Terrain

3. Slope Evaluation

4. Good Travel Habits

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Workflow Summary for Understanding the Conditions

Step 1.0 – Check the Bulletin

Step 2.0 – Read the MIN Reports

Step 3.0 – Visit the Mountain Conditions Report (MCR) by ACMG and Arcteryx.

Step 4.0 – Collect actual weather data

Step 5.0 – Find a weather forecast 

Step 6.0 – Write this info into the Avalanche Canada Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain book.

Step 7.0 – Completed the logistics trip plan including navigation, gear, emergency communications, safety friend at home, etc.  Get out outside…

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Ski touring terrain from Sea to Sky Gondola and near Co-Pilot Mtn. (Michael Shynkaryk and Anna Heuberger tracks, 2018)

Recommended workflow for the Coast Mountains including the Sea to Sky Region:

Step 1.0 – Check the Bulletin, visit Avalanche Canada, and get the Danger Rating.

This information is gathered from operations all across the province, including Whistler Blackcomb Resort (WB), Duffy Ministry of Highway’s Control Program, local guiding companies (including Altus Mountain Guides, WhiteCap Alpine, Extremely Canadian, etc), and Min Reports (you).  Use this info as a bases for developing your plan:

·      Check out the problems section, what are the problems, and where do they exist?

·      How widespread are the problems? 

·      What aspect, elevation, probability and size of the forecasted avalanches?

·      Dig deeper and review the details page. 

Step 2.0 – Read the MIN Reports and avalanche summary on the details page.  

See what’s happening from backcountry recreationalists in the area.  Ask yourself the following questions: 

·      Is this info consistent with the report?

·      Are there any outliers? 

Step 3.0 – Visit the Mountain Conditions Report (MCR) by ACMG and Arcteryx.

This is another similar resource as MIN reports but written by ACMG Guides.  Note the date range and location selection. In addition:

Step 3.1 – Wayne Flann Avalanche Blog has lots of observations, actuals from the Whistler Blackcomb Area. 

Step 3.2 – Avalanche Canada Forecaster Blog is less frequent with updates but great info to review and when released. 

Step 4.0 – Collect actual weather data from local weather stations.

See what’s happening with snow, wind and temperatures.  How is this all playing into your objectives for the day? 

Whistler Blackcomb Resort is a good centre point of reference for the coast and have plenty of resources.  A few others are linked here: 

• Whistler Blackcomb Alpine Forecast

• Whistler Peak Weather Site

Duffy Weather Stations

• Blowdown Peak

•  Blowdown Mid

• Cayoosh Road Summit

Sea to Sky Gondola

More links at John Baldwin, M.Eng (Coastal Engineer and Skier) Site

Step 5.0 – Find a weather forecast for your backcountry trip zone.  

1.     Read Mountain Weather Forecast on Avalanche Canada and get a general understanding of the weather flow. 

a.     Where is the weather coming from?  Is it a high pressure, southwest flow, or northwest flow?  

b.     See Current Conditions sections. 

2.     Look at forecast info: 12 hr total precipitation, temperature and winds forecasts maps.  Find your trip zone, make notes of how the precipitation, wind and temperature forecasts will effect the day or trip.

3.     Now find a weather forecast model. The following sites I like and compare a few models to get a overall broad view of the weather forecast:

a.     Windy

b.     SpotWX

c.     Environment Canada

Step 6.0 – Write this info into a write in the rain field book, Avalanche Canada Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain book and/or on your phone (iPhone/Android Notes app).  

I recommend this workflow for recreationalist and are most of the pages to view to gather information.  Then it’s a matter of compiling all the information into a strategy for the day. Avalanche Danger, Problems, Weather forecasts, and expected changes.  Use the your field book and/or the Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain book to note the following answers to these questions: 

·       What’s changed overnight? How does this affect what and where you will ski?

·       What’s significant in your weather factors? 

·       What features should you be cautions of or avoid? 

·       Is the avalanche hazard improving, worsening, or staying similar (status quo)?

·       Are you or your group increasing risk tolerance, decreasing, gathering more information or adjusting? 

Step 7.0 – Completed the logistics trip plan including navigation, gear, emergency communications, safety friend at home, etc.  Get out outside…

Daily AM Meeting at Alpine Club Canada Asulkan Hut, Rogers Pass, BC, Canada. (2018)

In the backcountry, as your day begins then be cognizant of all the human factors (FACETS) that come into play during the day.  Check in with one another and talk it out. Choose objectives that fit the group and where everyone is comfortable.  Manage the avalanche hazard with the help from the Avaluator 2.0TM decision aid, and refer back to and update your notes (Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain book).  

These steps can be hard to do when time is limited, and focus is on having enjoyment of a great day.  Don’t let enjoyment of a great pow day make you complacent. 

As Helene Steiner (IFMGA Guide) mentioned to me recently, “Only one thing missing [in this write up and directed to situational awareness during the trip]: TERRAIN, TERRAIN, TERRAIN!!! Hence, pay attention to not only where YOU ski [snowboard], but the exposures from above. Super important… One of the best advice to give people is: "Look up!" Constantly look up, look up, and if it looks scary to you and steep enough to avalanche down upon you from up there, then don't proceed!!!” (Jan 3, 2021). For more info, please see Avalanche Canada website for Terrain online tutorials.

Finally, do not hesitate to reach out to me or another guide. I always have 5 mins to chat and maybe I was just in the area you want to go to and I can give you a tip.   Lastly, take a course, seek out a mentor, and enable others around you to join the conversation.  

It’s a lifelong learning journey being in the backcountry and let safe adventure lead you.  Sportgevity my friend. 

Team photo (2018).

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A metric called Carbon Trace and recommendations to create a Carbon Emissions Budget.

Carbon footprint and climate change is on my mind and others. Writer, Dave Robertson from Backcountry Magazine asked me in September 2020 about my Carbon Trace Metric, excel sheets, and how to figure out trip trade-offs?  Here is a brief summary of the calculations and my response to his questions. 

Mt. Talon at Talus Lodge and what is your carbon trace for backcountry skiing? (February 2020)

If you have a bit of time and want to record your backcountry activities environmental impact on climate change, then record the quantity of fuel burned to transport to trail head and use a GPS watch to record your track.  Write this data, each day, in a log-book or geek out with excel at home. Tracking will give you an idea of your carbon footprint verse benefit of shredding pow. This process will help you identify opportunities to reduce your emissions while at the same time getting the thrill of backcountry skiing.  It helps to determine what is your consumption per recreation? Then dig deeper to figure out trade-offs.  Dig even deeper and create a carbon budget!

Creating a carbon emissions budget for a season can be done by estimating travel distances with trip planning tools like Gaia GPS, Google Earth or a traditional topographic map and ruler.  Next, from the distance (km) and vertical (m) you measured then you can calculate the amount of fuel burned in transport based on the fuel economy of your vehicle (car, truck, sled, plane, and/or helicopter).  You can then convert this quantity of fuel in Litres (L) to carbon emissions equivalent in kg (CO2e kg) and finally if you divide this value by your vertical metres (m) objective then you get a metric called “carbon trace” (SI units are CO2e kg / m).  This metric can be used to compare trip options and make trade-offs that reduce your carbon trace or carbon footprint.

The carbon trace (e.g. carbon footprint) is a metric to measure your consumption per recreation, similar to a cost versus benefit analysis which is a popular method of identifying trade-offs. I firmly believe that if something is measurable and tracked then it is likely to happen.  Like SMART goals or how economists have key indicators for a healthy community.   

There are many calculators online that can calculate the carbon emissions (carbon) for travel by truck, car, plane, helicopter, sled, etc.  In addition, there are many exercise apps (Strava) or GPS tracking devices that record your vertical movement (trace).  

If you are keen and want to do the math yourself, then record your trace (vertical skied) as mentioned above and record of quantity of litres used for transport.  There are many references that can provide you with an emission factor to calculate your carbon emitted and roughly if you multiply litres used by 2.3-2.5 kg/L[1] then you get your carbon emissions equivalent (CO2e) in kg; also known as carbon footprint.  

For example, a touring zone is 50 km from your home to the trail head (100 km return trip), you drove a Toyota Tacoma, and used 12 litres (L) of gasoline.  The approximate carbon emissions equivalent is 12 L x 2.4 kg/L = 29 kg of CO2e.  

If you charged and ski toured 2000 m then your carbon trace value is 29 CO2e kg divided by 2000 m, which equals 0.015 CO2e kg/m.  This value is your carbon trace[2] and it is a metric that allows you to compare trips based on a cost versus benefit. My challenge for you is to try to get this value close to zero; thus leave as little trace as possible, only freshly carved tracks, feel less guilt for skiing and slow the melting of our glaciers. 

Finally, if you don’t want to do the math and just want some basic guidelines to reduce your carbon trace, or carbon footprint, here is some advice:

1. Carpool and tour in groups that can travel in one car.  More friends mean less carbon emissions per person.  Safer too!

2. Ski tour closer to home.  Less litres burned in transport means less carbon emissions.

3. Hut trips or camping are more efficient than multiple day trips to the same zone.

4. Consider a more fuel-efficient transport or electric vehicle like Greg Hill inspires our community.

5. Create a carbon emissions budget and figure out trade-offs to maximize recreation.

Or you can look at these simple trade-off options, they are a bit mind blowing, and calculations based on my Backcountry Carbon Footprint Calculator Excel Sheet:

Example 1: Hiked out and used a SUV to exit a backcountry hut in New Zealand versus flying out in a helicopter.  Savings of 93% in CO2e or 65 kg of CO2e per person for helicopter verse 4.4 kg of CO2e per person for SUV.

Example 2: Simplified calculations for Heli-Skiing in Canada for 7 days at approx. 30,000 m of vertical in an A-Star verse fly to Japan to ski tour for 10 days at approx. 15,000 m of vertical while only accounting for commercial aircraft emissions.  From my experience, the heli-skiing cost me approx. 900 kg of CO2e per person and commercial flight from Vancouver to Tokyo cost approx. 2,400 kg[3] of C02e per person. Thus, staying home in Canada and going heli-skiing is 1,500 kg less CO2e emissions emitted.  Carbon trace values are 0.03 for Heli-skiing verse 0.16 for Japan Ski tour trip.  

Example 3: Ski tour for 7 days at a lodge-based hut versus 7 days of road-side trailhead missions in the same zone with ability to do 8,000 m of vertical in 7 days.  Calculated carbon emissions for lodge is based on 250 km return transport, in a Tacoma truck with 5 buddies, to staging area and helicopter flights in a 5 person in A-star.  Thus, 30 L of gasoline used or 16 kg of C02e per person plus 0.4 hr of flight time producing approx. 39 kg of CO2e per person equals a total of 55 kg of CO2e per person for the 8,000 m skied (0.007 carbon trace units).  Calculated carbon emissions for highway access trail head mission is approx. 250 km per trip and in a Toyota Tacoma for a total of 1,750 km, 210 L of Gasoline used, and 111 kg of CO2e per person based on five people in the car (0.014 carbon trace units).  

Golden Alpine Holidays Hut Based Skiing for 6 days in January 2020, total vertical skied 7100 m, 370 kg of CO2e for Tacoma (~1000 km) and Heli, and calculation of 0.05 carbon trace units (CO2e kg / m), Lesson from this trip/number back calulation is to carpool and buy a Mini Cooper!

[1] Table 7: Emission Factors: Fleet Fuels - Standard Mixes from 2018 B.C. Methodologial Guidance for quantifying greenhouse gas emmissions. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

[2] This value ignores other carbon footprint inputs and is simplified. 

[3] https://www.myclimate.org

Someone asked me “what was your favourite run” and here is my answer…

By Michael Shynkaryk. October 20, 2019.

It depends, but it is defined by whom I am with, the terrain, snow and weather. 

Over my ski career, I have been fortunate enough to ski at many ski resorts and guide guests heli-skiing and ski touring in the backcountry in Canada and New Zealand. In Canada, I’ve guided in the Coast mountains near Whistler, the Cariboo’s and Monashee Mountains near Blue River, and the Rocky Mountains near Banff. In New Zealand, I’ve skied from Southern Lakes Mountains near Queenstown/Wanaka to the Craigieburn Mountains near Arthurs Pass.  

My home is in Squamish, BC. I have been skiing all my life and started in the prairies in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. One of my first ski experiences was with my mom at Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, near Edmonton, where the vertical drop is only 98 m (322 ft). Overseas, I have been guiding backcountry skiing/snowboarding in New Zealand for 7 continuous winters, starting in 2012 with for Southern Lakes Heli-Skiing. Before that, I worked at Cardrona Ski Resort as a ski instructor in 2004. 

Photo 1: Falcon's Nest Hut, Gamack Range, NZ August 2019

This past year, 2019 NZ Winter, I worked for Alpine Recreation out of Tekapo and co-guided/guided groups in the Gamack Range (Falcon’s Nest hut (Photo 1) and Two Thumbs Range (Rex Simpson Hut).  The Braun-Elwert family welcomed me in to their family business, and that welcome made my trip. I enjoyed the operation due to the family’s impressive attention to detail, focus on self-propelled outdoor adventure trips (less reliance on helicopters), analytical approach to operational decisions, warm and comfortable guest lodge in Tekapo, genuine focus on guest service (without gratuities), prioritization of safety, sustainable waste policies, and years of operating experience in New Zealand. The powder was not deep, but the views were amazing, and I put in one of the longest traverse skin tracks of my guiding career. During the trip, one of the guests asked me “what is your favourite run in New Zealand/Canada?” I thought for a moment and tried to recall my favourite run. 

Photo 2: Forever Young Run in Selkirk's, BC, CAN December 2015.

As I thought, I was surprised by mind’s response.  Instead of remembering an aesthetic line, blower powder, beautiful snow in perfectly spaced trees, gorgeous glaciers, and so forth, I recalled my favourite run with the guest who just asked the question, then a run that I enjoyed with another companion (family, friend and/or guest). After remembering who I was with, my memory recalled the terrain, snow and weather details. One example of a run that came to mind is called “Forever Young” in the Selkirk Mountains, Canada. I skied this line with a few friends in December 2015 (Photo 2), and while the terrain was sweet, the weather and snow were dreadful. 

The shared joy of skiing with others is why I am in this game. It is the centre of my epic ski run memory map, and I believe the best skier/snowboarder of the day is the one having the most fun.  Think about it…it’s more complex than simple. 

One of my ski coaches, Janice Morgan (CSIA LEVEL 4), taught me that it is better to be skiing in awful conditions than not skiing at all.  Thus, the best skier has the best technique for a wide variety of snow conditions and terrain.  Having the right attitude is part of the game, and New Zealand skiers have an optimistic attitude towards skiing; I love it.  It brings out the best feelings at the bottom of a run. Smiles and no complaints (Photo 3).

Photo 3: All smiles after skiing a Dr. Who, Minarets Mtns, at Southern Lakes Heli-skiing. NZ August 2017.

I am in this game for the shared experience of social skiing and the feelings/meaning it brings to my life. With limited time and as it’s part of my job, I want to try to maximize reward for effort (cost vs benefit) for guests and myself.  Also, the longer one plays this sport, the skiing objectives goals naturally get harder/better because of the law of diminishing returns; liner or exponential loss of joy from skiing the same run more than once. One way to manage the reward for effort is to successfully search for experiences based on the explore verse exploit trade-off dilemma. Start by trying to answer the questions of where, when, what, how, why, and with whom do I adventure with? 

Part of the answer is setting up the game to have the best run of your life, but skiing is an outdoor sport in a hazardous environment with inherent risk and where there are no guaranteed results.  However, I found a few general assumptions (based on my experience) that apply to skiing on New Zealand’s South Island, depending on the weather. These assumptions are…

• The most favourable time to ski in New Zealand for colder weather and possible powder is late July to early September;

• Skiing closer to the main divide and Mt. Cook National Park offers the longest vertical runs, lower snowline elevations, more glacier skiing, and a generally deeper snow pack; 

• Heli-Skiing around Wanaka and Queenstown is very accessible, best after a cold south-west storm, has excellent accommodation and restaurants, and down day activities which cannot be beat;

• Ski-touring around the Liebig Range, Gamack Range, and Two Thumbs Range offer some of the best wood fire heated hut-based skiing in New Zealand;

•  “Slack country” or lift access ski touring is great around the Craigieburn Range and Arthur’s Pass;

• Finally, the more interesting High Alpine glacier skiing or traverses are in Mt. Cook National Park and West Land National Park (Photo 4). 

• Canada is another blog story… ;).

Photo 4: Mt. Cook National Park. NZ August 2019.

Why not pick a friend, or a guide, and choose an adventure?  The best run of your life may be in New Zealand, Canada, or your local resort.  I still have fond memories of skiing with my family at Rabbit Hill in the Prairies, on “Far out” at Silver Star Mountain near Vernon BC, with Bob Sayer’s (Mike Wiegele Ski Guide) family on New Year’s day (2015) in the blower snow in the Cariboo’s, with guides and guests on many runs at Mike Wiegele and Southern Lakes Heli-Skiing (Photo 5-9),  or a classic run at the annual friend Asulkan Hut Christmas Trip (Photo 10). Do make “Friends on a Powder day” because maybe you’ll realize that is really what defines your favourite ski run.  It has for me.

Photo 5: Alberda Lodge Elite Guests and B3 Astar Helicopter, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing, CAN February 2018.

Photo 6: Back in the day Guides Training at Mike Wiegele's with the crew. Rare moment where all guides ski together. CAN December 2018.

Photo 7: Guiding with long term friend Crosby Johnston and raising stars. Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing. CAN March 2018.

Photo 8: The Simple life, leaving a beautiful mark, and sharing a moment with friends. NZ. August 2016.

Photo 9: Guide Plank Challenge at Southern Lakes Heli-Skiing. I believe Tom Willmott Won (far right). NZ. August 2017.

Photo 10: Top of the run thoughts: Heaven above; powder, good turns and warm hut below; have fun. Asulkan Hut, Rogers Pass, CAN December 2019. Photo Credit David Ludgate.

Why not walk out to save the Heli-fuel?

By Michael Shynkaryk -ASG.  October 10, 2019.E: guide@michaelshynkaryk.com

Recently on an Alpine Recreation Ltd. work trip to Falcon’s Nest Hut in Gamack Range, New Zealand, the guides and guests decided to hike out verse fly for the return leg of the journey. The company Alpine Recreation is a backcountry guiding company in Tekapo, New Zealand, whose attitude is to use less helicopter time on their trips, while still considering client care as the final deciding factor in transportation choices.  

Hiking out of Falcon’s Nest hut, New Zealand, August, 2019.

This was a change for me and especially since I spend so much time working in the Heli-ski industry, where I rely heavily on a helicopter to travel into the backcountry. It made me question my backcountry travel habits and beliefs. I prefer to use helicopters for access to ski locations because it’s time efficient, may reduce personal injury from carrying heavy packs on approach trails, and a scenic way to see the mountains.  However, some of the factors to consider are monetary expenses for helicopter flight time, flying weather constraints, group weight, logistical considerations and constrains, and carbon footprint costs.  

In the end we flew in and skied/walked out.  No one got injured and we met a vehicle in the valley. This made me curious of the comparison of carbon footprint cost when walking out followed by driving verse flying back to Tekapo. What was our carbon footprint? 

Hiking out Tin Creek from Falcon’s Nest Hut to Cass Stream, New Zealand, August, 2019.

Which lead me to build a simple excel sheet (original by Paul Grogan, 2018*) to calculate the carbon costs of a trip and consider making trips carbon neutral in the future. The method was to calculate the approximate fuel burned for the transport vehicle used and multiply by the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions factors from the B.C Methodological Guidance for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, 2018). The basis of this document is to give all greenhouse gases a carbon equivalency factor to have a standardised comparison unit (CO2e).

Using the created spread sheet, the flight in with an Airbus AS350 B2 Squirrel (A-Star) created approximately 585 kg of Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) for 9 people to fly in. This equates to 65 kg of CO2e per person. The hike out and transport in a Toyota Landcruiser Diesel created approximately 40 kg of C02e for the group.  This is 4.4 kg of C02e per person.  That is a 93% savings in C02e emissions by walking out verse using a helicopter for the return leg of the trip. 

The next step would be to make this carbon costs aware to guests, let them decide what they want to do, I will continue to reduce my carbon footprint, and consider buying carbon offsets in a project that I value.  Finally, see how my guiding community defines a guide’s role with dealing with climate change (reducing carbon footprint), guest service responsibilities, financial constraints (personal and corporate), and environment protection. 

Private message me for access to the excel sheet to calculate your backcountry CO2e.  

*https://noflyclimatesci.org/resources

Track setting out of Tin Creek, August, 2019.

The powder turn, August, 2019.

Toyota Landcruiser Diesel named Tigger, Tin Hut, New Zealand, August, 2019

Michael's Story - A Heli Ski Guide's Life →

A bit about Michael – our Canadian brother from another mother

Michael lives for snow and the backcountry. He spends his Northern Winters in Canada working as a Heli-Ski and Cat Ski guide at Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing and his Southern Winters working for us at Southern Lakes Heli-Skiing in New Zealand.

Now if you have been lucky to have Michael as your guide before you’ll realise this guy is one of the best in the industry. First of all are his skills, then his passion, customer service, terrain choice and the list goes on and on. You see Michael loves what he does so much that it fulfils his life in a way that he wants you to feel the same.

A heliski guides best training is to immerse yourself into a snow life to learn natures patterns and then try to work with them. For 10 years Michael worked in the ski industry in various roles from Ski Instructor, Ski Patrol, Ski School Supervisor, Avalanche Research Technician and finally he got his pinnacle job a Heli-Ski Guide.

Michaels pretty busy, he is also working toward a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Geological Engineering at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He mountain bikes, kite boards and climbs but he also loves his friends and adventure.

Every year in the Christmas holidays he heads up to Asulkan Hut, Rogers Pass to ski tour and take on a few challenging runs. Conditions aligned and they had a window before a storm rolled in allowing him and his friends to ski an alpine couloir called Forever Young.

New Years is all about friends and having fun and when you are a heliski guide you get access to choppers so what did Michael do…. went heli ski touring and skied a line on Seven Dwarf.

Michaels philosophy is built on four principles: safe travel through the mountains; building long lasting relationships with clients, friends, family, and industry partners; continual professional development and skills training, and offering his customers a ski/snowboard experience that you’ve always dreamed about.

Elysia Gibb (SLH Manager)

Article Written by Southern Lakes Heliski, New Zealand. March 16, 2016.

https://www.heliskinz.com/blog/

My Top Ten Reasons to Heli-Ski In New Zealand

My top ten reasons why I love to heli-ski guide in New Zealand and why I think it’s a great adventure for you:

10.  Surfing!  New Zealand offers the chance to go surfing and Heli-Skiing/Boarding on the same vacation.  

9. Watching an All Blacks Rugby match in a pub, or in Auckland at Eden Park, is a an electric event.  New Zealanders’ are very proud of their All Blacks and it’s a great multi generational and gender social event. 

8. Going on a wine tour with your friends.  Central Otago valley has some amazing wineries that make for a great day of wine tasting, sight seeing and enjoying the local culture.

7. Drinking exceptional espresso at a local café and eating a pastry made by a local.  New Zealand has some amazing independently owned café’s that can’t be missed and it is nice to support local.

6. Enjoying the breath-taking scenery.  Bring your camera and enjoy the postcard scenery. 

5. Flying with Alpine Helicopter Pilots is an excellent way to get a new perspective and a time efficient way to get the most powder on your vacation.  

4. Going mountain biking in Wanaka or Queenstown on a day off from the slopes.  

3. Pushing your comfort zone with an adrenaline packed activities. Down days happen and New Zealand offers exceptional activities like bungee jumping, zip lining, luge track, paragliding and more. 

2. Opportunity to ski/snowboard in Northern Hemispheres summer.   Heli-Skiing or Heli-Snowboarding is a great way to cool off and continue to make friends on a powder day.  There are ski resorts close to Wanaka and Queenstown where you can train for your Heli-ski/board day(s).

1. Simply going Heli-Skiing/Boarding!  That simple and its amazing every time. 

Southern Lakes Mountain region offers some of the best Heli-ski/board terrain in the Southern Hemisphere.  Southern Lakes Heli-Skiing Company has the largest tenure within this region, experienced guides, safely operating for 30 years and partners with Alpine Helicopters. 

The combined synergy of the top 10 reasons to come heli-sking/boarding in New Zealand almost guarantees a trip of a lifetime.  All you need to bring is the right attitude, a thirst for adventure and some time to enjoy it.  The Kiwi perspective! 

by Michael Shynkaryk (October 2015)