Only got a day to play? And $2,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Then do it right with Purcell Heli-Skiing and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, now just a stroll from hotel room to heli-pad.
The cushiest part? There’s a cap of six people (plus two guides) in what’s usually a 10-seater Bell 205 heli, guaranteeing extra legroom inside but, most important, more untracked pow for an ultra-exclusive private group. Icing on the cake: only one group goes out per day, no rush, no competition—and 2,000 sq km of untouched B.C. backcountry.
Says Purcell Heli-Skiing’s Katie Gertsch, “Typically, you must share the operation and at least the terrain, often the helicopter, with other groups, which puts natural limits on where you can go, how fast you move, etc.”
One of the perks of being a top dog at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Matt Mosteller nabbed a coveted spot on the chopper during its launch last season. “You could not have better powder partners; as well, this location gives quick access to one of the biggest heli-ski terrains in the world, places you won’t see another track for miles,” says Mosteller. “One group, one big playground, a whole lotta fun!”
The handy heli-ski package can include a stay at Copper Horse, the resort’s most luxurious on-slope log lodge that’s kitted out with spa-like bathrooms, deluxe Euro-style featherbeds and down duvets, and a ritzy restaurant. Or if you’re as selfish about your lodging as your powder, Purcell will find you a luxury timber home nearby with grand views, spacious kitchens, steam rooms, hot tubs and game rooms. And if you feel like name-dropping afterward, you can share downhill dibs with PM Justin Trudeau, who’s ridden private Purcell powder in his pre-politics past. purcellheliskiing.com/packages/
by LOUISE HUDSON in Buyer’s Guide 2020 issue
