Since I started ski touring and exploring off-piste and backcountry areas, it has been a dream of mine to experience heliskiing. I mean – what skier or snowboarder wouldn’t want to be flown into beautiful mountains, dropped off at a summit, and spend the whole day riding endless powder?
My name is Lauren, I am a ski instructor and an enthusiastic (or aspiring) freeride skier. Since I did my ski instructor training in Whistler in 2018, I have been living the seasonal life in the mountains. I taught in Niseko, Japan, and did freeride-oriented seasons in Canada and Switzerland, while also studying for my bachelor’s in International Relations.
This season in Verbier, Switzerland, my heliskiing dream finally came true. After a long winter of ski touring in the backcountry, a day with a helicopter sounded incredibly tempting – even though, of course, it’s not as environmentally friendly as the classic “Earn Your Turns.”
After a conversation with a heliskiing guide in town, he mentioned that one of the best powder weeks of the whole season was coming up on the glacier – and this was in April, when we had already gotten used to spring skiing! We trusted him, put together a great group, and two days later set off with the company “Adrenaline Verbier” for heliskiing.
PREPARATION
We prepared everything the night before – which mainly meant: plenty of snacks (Backcountry = Snackcountry 😉), sunscreen, water, and most importantly: avalanche gear. This included a fully charged avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and the airbag backpack. The Alps, with their dramatic beauty and steep slopes, are unfortunately also known for avalanches, so the rule is: always be well prepared! Avalanche safety training is an absolute must before doing such tours – even though the guide knows where it’s safe, the snowpack is never 100% predictable.
THE TOUR
And then the day finally arrived! We got up at dawn to make sure we didn’t miss our briefing with the guide at 7:30 AM. There, we discussed the day’s schedule and route before taking off with the helicopter at 8:30 AM.
The flight from the valley to the glacier took 20 minutes – with a 360-degree mountain panorama and bright sunshine, every second was truly magical.
I was so excited about the helicopter ride that I almost wanted to skip skiing altogether just to spend the whole day flying through the mountains with the pilot!
But I’m glad I didn’t! We got out of the helicopter, crouched down on the ground as it flew off – and suddenly, it was completely silent. Just us and the mountains – all alone. Standing on a glacier at 4,000 meters, with the sun shining over the Alps – that was quite an breathtaking start to the day!
We carefully crossed the glacier, all secured with climbing harnesses and ropes. Up top, the snow was quite windblown and icy, and I briefly worried about the conditions. But as we rounded a corner and the first descent came into view, it was immediately clear: Our guide hadn’t exaggerated – it really was the best powder of the year!
A massive, open powder field lay right in front of us. As usual in off-piste terrain, we skied down the steep section one by one. I couldn’t wait to make the first turn! My heart was racing – we were so high up, and the way down to the valley was long. But after the first turn, all the nerves disappeared.
I skied through knee-deep, fluffy powder, and all around me, everyone was shouting with joy – it was just perfect. Steep, but not too steep, the sun shining over hundreds of kilometers of Alps – all those training seasons in powder had led up to this moment. And the best part: We were leaving countless fresh tracks in untouched snow!
As a little warm-up afterwards, our guide Chris took us into some steep couloirs – pretty challenging and technical. I was glad I’d practiced couloirs in the ski resort during the previous months, my short turns were solid, and I felt really comfortable on my skis. Our adrenaline levels shot up – which made the subsequent skiing over wide, open powder fields even better!
After the first runs through untouched “champagne powder,” right next to an ancient glacier and with no one in sight, I started wondering how I could become a heliskiing guide, just to experience this every day.
Our guides, Chris and Gilbert, were pretty sure they had the best job in the world – and I can’t help but agree!
The following day was filled with more helicopter flights, a lot of stoke, inspiring conversations with the crew, and seemingly endless powder runs – the longest being a solid 1000 vertical meters!
In our group was even a 70-year-old local who had made many of the first runs on the particularly steep and wild slopes of the region. The area is known for some of the best freeride terrain in the world. It was a great opportunity to test our French skills as he gave us tips on skiing steep slopes (yes, he could definitely ski better than us at 70!) and told us many crazy ski stories.
On our last run, the guides suddenly stopped us – we thought it was time for lunch. But in reality, we were standing right next to a hidden ice cave! We left our skis behind and walked inside – and it was absolutely surreal. The ice, shaped by the wind over centuries, was so smooth and shiny that it was hard to believe it wasn’t glass.
After, of course, taking plenty of photos for the ‘Gram, we headed out for the final descent of the day – with big grins on our faces.
But a freeride day isn’t complete without some local Swiss wine and cheese, which we enjoyed with the group before heading back home.
Truly one of the best days of my life!
IS HELISKIING SOMETHING FOR YOU?
Heliskiing is perfect for you if you love off-piste, steep terrain, and adrenaline, as these are the ingredients for the perfect day in the mountains. You’ll be skiing through incredible terrain, untouched powder, and experiencing the mountains from a completely new perspective. Just the helicopter flight with its spectacular views is reason enough to give it a try!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Like anything involving helicopter flights, extreme sports, and highly qualified professionals, heliskiing is, of course, not cheap – but absolutely worth every penny! In Verbier, a day costs between 400 and 1000 CHF, depending on the tour.
Important: As mentioned, you should definitely have avalanche equipment with you and have at least basic avalanche training – this will give you (and everyone else) a better sense of security.
Don’t forget your fat skis! Bring wide powder skis that will help you glide through the deep snow – skis that you feel comfortable and stable on.
Watch out for the altitude! I personally had mild altitude sickness because I moved too quickly on the glacier. It didn’t affect my tour, but I felt quite dizzy for a few days afterward. So, don’t make the same mistake – take it easy at the top!
Bring your friends along! Such unforgettable experiences are best shared with the people you love. ❤️
