Steeped in info

A reality of heli-skiing is that there can be down days, ones where the chopper cannot fly due to weather….and today was unfortunately such a day.

In addition to some serious relaxation time, this is steep camp so Northern Escape maximized the day, allowing us to get the in’s on how they pick which lines we’ll ski and pointers on avalanche recovery techniques.

It truly a valued experience to learn from the guides themselves just what goes into the assessment of terrain and the value of a day in the mountains. “Experience is everything when it comes to approaching the mountains," explained long time Association of Canadian Mountain Guide Al Ducros. “It’s not just about firing up the bird, getting on the skis and hitting the slopes. There is a lot of information, analysis and experience that comes into play,” explained Ducros as he worked us through the weather and avalanche reports located in the guide’s office here in the lodge. Twice daily, once in the morning and evening, the guides rally to cross-examine the weather and conditions.

As for when you are on the snow, avalanche safety is crucial and the guides treated us to a scenario and some demonstrations on the art of recovering potentially your buddy from the snow.

The biggest things I picked up where:

When you come close to locating the victim-where the beacon reads to about 1.5 meters or less, mark your boundaries around the burial - you've got to give yourself a road map on where to probe. Actually draw lines or a circle in the snow in and around the strongest signal point.

Use the probe in a spiral fashion, working from the point of the strongest beacon response out by 30 cms, again in a spiral form.

Dig a ramp to the person- coming in at the side to the probe, don't shovel directly over top of them. If you just dig from where the probe hits something, you will just be digging a pit. This will not allow for an effective recovery. “If you were digging and hit a foot, how are you going to work your way through that pit to get the most important part, their head – so they can breathe,” asked Ducros.

“Working as one team is important, stay together and move from there. If you are all spread out its chaos, communication is the key,” explained Ducros.

Even though it’s a bummer that we couldn’t get up in the bird, this education from folks who have 10- 20 years of experience running around and loving life in the mountains is invaluable.