Produced by Dendrite Studios
dendritestudios.com

Cinematography by: Athan Merrick, Anthony Bonello, and Nicolas Teichrob

Edited by: Nicolas Teichrob
nicolasteichrob.com

location: TLH Heliskiing, Gold Bridge, BC
tlhheliskiing.com/

Epic Planks skis
epicplanks.com/

skiers: alex blais, jon whelan, danny arnold
additional skiers: maxim arsenault, matt elliott

music: Marriage (Star Slinger remix) – Gold Panda

Thanks to Anthony from b4apres Media for his help
b4apres.com

Photo by Scott Martin

Jim Morrison: part poet, part musician, and now legend made his song “Riders of the Storm” by the Doors from their 1971 album L.A. Woman, infamous for his poems and lyrics..

“Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If ya give this man a ride”

Well I took his words to heart…

As I took a 10 day road trip for Untracked Guides, I played like a kid and did I ever get to ride..lots of powder.

First stop on my tour was a little known destination that lied only a few miles north of a nordic hip-town called Nelson, BC. Part of the Powder Highway, the town of Meadow Creek, BC is home to a area of mountains that bridges between the Monashees/Selkirk and Rockies, generating deep amounts of legendary snow. All good things for a Catskiing enthusiast looking to experience something out of the ordinary, which is exactly what I found.

An emerging Catskiing company called White Grizzly Adventures has been quietly building a reputation for deep powder while operating relatively under the radar. The owners Brad and Carrol have been a bit tight lipped over the years about their operation, not looking to over market themselves. Being a promoter of sorts.. just the opportunity… for me to be the one to share with the world this quiet little (11,000 skiable acres) story.

Photo by Scott Martin

No matter how much attention this amazing Catskiing Operation gets, the owners have held fast to a motto that is printed on stickers enshrined on peoples ski’s an bumpers of cars stating “Keep up or Fuck off”.

This I had to see for myself… almost sounds like a localize surf spot with powder. However when you go to the lodge you could not sense any of the attitude that I was expecting to get. Instead I was warmly greeted and promptly put through a very intensive orientation.. 1st for the lodge and how to get around and be self sufficient in using the amenities. The second one was a lengthy yet very informative fireside safety briefing.

Photo by Scott Martin

Little did I know that all of this fuss was all about 3 things. Me being happy, We being safe, and everyone getting more powder.

The quaint lodge is well kept and filled with the smells of fresh baking and home cooked happiness. Attention to detail is clearly the standard for this entire operation- in every aspect. The detailed schedule for the day and the well organized expedition each morning out the door was nothing short of a balance between a boot camp and a well oiled machine. Trust me, no one was complaining as all this effort was to get as much skiing in as possible.

With over 50 feet annual snowfall each of the guests where happy to focus all the attention to the day of skiing ahead. As we loaded into the Cat, the organized experience in the lodge continued with one of the most well kept Cats. A place for everyone’s gear and every need already thought out in advance. As you settled in the drive to the summit, you knew that you could really set your mind free.

The anticipation was only amplified by the guides stories and peaked by the snow report from the weather station confirming the white buried trees we were observing all around us. It was going to be deep and conditions very favorable from a stability standpoint. With under 12 guests and 3 guides to a group you feel very safe and well taken care of.

Photo by Lisa Dawn Photography

White Grizzly boasts over 80 runs of mostly steep tree runs with an average of 1,000 meters per drop. The first day of 3 started with a very nice and easy warm up run before we started to get the legs working. Throughout the entire trip we did get some open glades and meadows for sure, but I would suggest if your not comfortable with skiing riding in the trees, this is not a good destination for you.

All the guests were seasoned and keen tree skiers which had us keeping together without wasting much time. In my years of riding backcountry catskiing, the trees are a good thing anyway. Personally, I enjoy the perspective they give you, in what can be challenging light if its snowing. And it keeps it interesting, the snow quality is just amazing.

Photo by Lisa Dawn Photography

There are so many additional unique things that set this place apart, and honestly some things are just better to be experienced first hand. I would recommend White Grizzly to anyone who is a very strong skier (due to the sections of steep tree skiing) and looking to have the entire focus of the trip to be about the skiing. The food, lodge and hospitality (which are amazing) are a secondary reason this is such a memorable destination.

I for one was elated to be a “Catskier of the Storm” in this epicentre of powder and happiness called White Grizzly Adventures.

Photo by Lisa Dawn Photography

By Aliva Cortez

The smell of fresh breakfast got me out of bed. As I entered the dining area for coffee and a fresh breakfast spread, I was excited to see the clear blue sky. Getting a blue bird calm day is not typical, but when you get it, soak it in. And that is exactly what I did as I sipped my coffee while talking with my soon to be ski partners.

When I arrived at the boot room located in the lower level of one of the original lodges, it was organized chaos with plenty of staff support to get you ready for your day. Thanks to the orientation and supporting staff, everyone was getting their gear prepared to get started skiing in short order. I can see it in everyone’s eyes: excitement mixed with “All Business.”

And it’s time to load up onto the snow cats, which I can only describe as a limo on tracks. It’s truly a skiing dream; it holds approximately 12 people complete with food/drink and music. Everyone was full of excitement, whether they are repeat visitors or experienced skiers. I was the one person who had never gone catskiing and was offered plenty of comfort while chatting with our guides.

Before we reached the summit, the snowcat stopped for a very detailed safety briefing.  This really was where most of my answers were met, and all my fears or concerns regarding skiing in the backcountry where eliminated. The safety briefing covered not just my role but gave me comfort in the entire safety program and the amount of support staff Island Lake Lodge has dedicated to ensure both experience and safety of the guests.  Some of the guides have been with them over 10 years.

Gloves. Check. Helmet Check. Saftey Check. Time to go ski.

As the Cat made its way around the last turn towards the top, the breathtaking view and surrounding area was unfolding before my eyes. As we all got geared up and standing over our first run, I again was  slightly nervous about my skill level or if for some reason I would get lost. Again, the guides detailed the run and the next meeting point, we each had a ski buddy and one by one we followed the mountain call of the lead guide.

Following the sounds of the guide, I made my way down the mountain finding some fresh untouched powder to make my turns in. I quickly found myself skiing in the moment. As I was making my way down the mountain with my ski partner, the only sound I could hear was the echo of the lead guides mountain call as the snow quietly cut by my skis.

As I looked up at the tracks, the run was as wide as my smile, because I knew we were repeating this all day long and again tomorrow. The feeling really settled in when we ended the day at the bottom of our last run with a wooden case filled with Fernie Brewery beer. As we all gathered around with a cheers, I had a heartwarming smile that stayed with me well after I made my way home days later.

When we started to make our final descent into Terrace I was shocked at how quick the flight had gone by, two hours had felt like fifteen minutes.  Northern Escape is remote, but accessible.  During the winter there are multiple daily flights from Vancouver so you can get there within a few hours from almost anywhere in North America.  The Northern Escape shuttle was waiting for us when we landed, and after a quick thirty minute drive we arrived at the lodge and were greeted with champagne and snacks.

Tucked in the Skeena mountains of Northwest BC, the tenure of Northern Escape includes some of the most breathtaking and dramatic scenery on the planet, as well as one of the most reliable snowpacks.   The terrain available to heli ski is as varied as it is beautiful, full of high alpine peaks, glaciers, bowls, and trees.  Depending on the weather, all can be skied in one day.  During our visit in late March, we were blessed with sunny skies and mild temperatures.  This was great for filming, but meant we were limited to higher altitude north facing slopes.  But with 1.8 million acres of terrain there were plenty of options.  The only time we skied any line twice was at request of the guests.   Northern Escape has so much terrain that much of it is un-skied and you’ll probably get the chance to name a few runs on your visit, we did.

Speaking of filming, Northern Escape is a regular stop for popular ski and snowboard movie companies such as Matchstick Productions and Standard Films.  During our visit we did a few runs in one valley where the guides informed us that a big chunk of “Seven Sunny Days” was filmed, the majority of it during one day.  It is pretty cool to see the film lines in person and hear firsthand accounts from the guides about their knee trembling experiences while accessing the film lines.   It turns out that MSP was also back shortly after we left and should be featuring Terrace in their upcoming film “Attack of La Nina” premiering this fall.

Despite the fact that there wasn’t fresh snow during our visit, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of fresh tracts to be had.  Northern Escape gets pounded every winter.  There slogan, “it’s deeper up here” is true.  Seriously.  We lucked out with the span of clear days which was perfect for filming but the reality is that it dumps pretty much all winter.  So much snow is fantastic for heli skiing, but sometimes makes flying tough, which is why a few years ago Northern Escape started using cat skiing as a backup.  They have implemented an amazing system where they guarantee guests will ski everyday of their trip.  If the sky is clear you’re heli skiing, and if they can’t fly then you’re cat skiing.  They seamlessly integrate the two in one day as conditions change.  So you might start your day cat skiing while it is dumping in the morning, then when the storm rolls out and the skies clear up, the helicopter is there waiting to pick you up at the bottom of your run instead of the cat, and you start flying.  This brilliant idea allows Northern Escape to guarantee you’ll ski every day of your visit.  A lot of operations boast big snowpacks and tenures, but if the weather doesn’t work out you might end up spending your heli ski vacation bowling and watching movies.  At Northern Escape you’ll be skiing, guaranteed.

Northern Escape flies A-star helicopters which are perfect for giving guests the “small group” heli skiing experience.  The accommodations are first class with gourmet breakfast, après ski snacks, and dinner in the beautiful lodge.  For breakfast ask for the “mancakes”, they are fantastic.  Lunch is served out in the mountains, typically in some secluded valley with views that few have ever seen.  A stay at the Northern Escape lodge feels more like staying at a friend or relatives house.  For meals, everyone eats together (guests, owner, guides, pilot) and it is not uncommon for the owner John to open a bottle of wine and share it with the guests.

Overall, I highly recommend Northern Escape to anyone unsure of where to book their next heli skiing trip.  The terrain is fantastic; the odds of perfect powder are stacked in your favor; the staff is professional and accommodating; and you’ll be skiing every day.  If that is not enough, there is also the added benefit of being able to brag to your buddies while watching the latest ski movie, “yeah, I skied there last winter”.  There is a reason why the film companies keep going back to Northern Escape.  You should check it out too.

To vote for John, click the Facebook Like button on this page.  The finalist with the most ‘Likes’ by May 30th at 5:00PM MST, will win the following:

The Prize:

• 2 days of cat skiing in Whitefish, Montana at Great Northern Powder Guides for 2 guests
• 2 nights accommodation in Whitefish, Montana for 2 guests
• 1 pair of Epic Planks skis or a snowboard

Other finalists include:

Regan Teat: http://untrackedguides.com/epic-powder-prize-finalist-regan-teat

Tucker Colvin: http://untrackedguides.com/epic-powder-prize-finalist-tucker-colvin

To vote for Regan, click the Facebook Like button on this page.  The finalist with the most ‘Likes’ by May 30th at 5:00PM MST, will win the following:

The Prize:

• 2 days of cat skiing in Whitefish, Montana at Great Northern Powder Guides for 2 guests
• 2 nights accommodation in Whitefish, Montana for 2 guests
• 1 pair of Epic Planks skis or a snowboard

Other finalists include:

John Semeyn: http://untrackedguides.com/epic-powder-prize-finalist-jon-semeyn

Tucker Colvin: http://untrackedguides.com/epic-powder-prize-finalist-tucker-colvin

To vote for Tucker, click the Facebook Like button on this page.  The finalist with the most ‘Likes’ by May 30th at 5:00PM MST, will win the following:

The Prize:

• 2 days of cat skiing in Whitefish, Montana at Great Northern Powder Guides for 2 guests
• 2 nights accommodation in Whitefish, Montana for 2 guests
• 1 pair of Epic Planks skis or a snowboard

Other finalists include:

John Semeyn: http://untrackedguides.com/epic-powder-prize-finalist-jon-semeyn

Regan Teat: http://untrackedguides.com/epic-powder-prize-finalist-regan-teat

Trips book up fast at Northern Escape Heliskiing, so make sure to jump on this deal! For more information, visit: http://www.neheliski.com/

Thinking about taking the powder skiing trip of a lifetime next season? If so, take a second to read through these tips about what to do (and what not to do) when you visit a heli skiing or cat skiing operation.  This is just a starting point, so feel free to add comments with your own Dos and DON’Ts and any questions you have about heliskiing and catskiing in general.

DOs:

• DO Tip your guides. These guys are using their personal knowledge of the mountain to get you to the absolute best goods they can provide.
• DO Listen to your guides. They’re not trying to limit you, they’re keeping you safe and making sure the group has the best day possible. Once in a while, you get a jerk who ignores the guides and does something stupid such as riding past the known stop point, getting himself into a cliff band and making the rest of the group wait while the guides fish him out. Don’t be that guy.
• DO Pay attention during avalanche training. If worse comes to worst, it could be up to you to lead a successful rescue. Know how your avalanche beacon works, and the proper steps to take if a slide happens. Every operation will include an orientation at the start of the day to brief you on the basics.
• DO Take out an insurance policy to cover your trip, including riders for hazardous activities and emergency evacuation. People get hurt while skiing, and if you need a lift out of the backcountry via helicopter, the bill could run into the Lamborghini range. Insurance is cheap, and worth it.
• DO Verify your equipment rental in advance. Many times, the operation will be able to loan or rent you boards that will be the best tool for the job. However, if you plan to use operator gear, tell them when you make your reservation, and call a day or two before your trip to verify the plan.
• DO Pay attention to last-minute deals. If you stay can flexible on timing, you can often score discounted rates for unfilled seats.

DON’Ts:

• DON’T Bum rush the line. The whole point of a cat or heli trip is that everyone has untracked lines, all day long. Take your time, and take turns going first in following the guide. It’s frustrating when every newbie in a group pushes off immediately following the guide, riding shoulder to shoulder and competing for lines.
• DON’T Ski too close to a photographer. An operation will often provide a professional photog to snap shots of you ripping the pow. These guys have big lenses, and it’s not necessary to get close to get the best shot. Riding too close makes them jumpy.
• DON’T Be afraid to tell your guides what you want to ski. They’re there to show you a great time, and if you want to huck a few cliffs, they might be able to lead the way.
• DON’T Expect a run to take an hour to complete. Each run on a cat skiing or heli skiing trip will likely average 1,000 to 2,000 vertical feet, which you will descend in about 10 or 15 minutes, including regroups on the way down. Once within the operating area, most rides back to the top in a snowcat take another 10 or 15 minutes, giving you time to rest and grab a snack. If you’re lucky enough to be in a helicopter, of course, hold on for the ride. You’re going to be tired.

What are we missing from your list of heli skiing and cat skiing DOs and DON’Ts? Let us know.

Under the watchful eye of new ownership and a dedicated staff, TLH Heli Skiing has re-established itself as one of the premiere heli skiing destinations in the world. Recent improvements include multi-million dollar upgrades to the Tyax Wilderness Lodge, a beautiful log “cabin” easily capable of accommodating the 20 or 25 guests that may be present at any given time. They’re now placing an emphasis on drawing in the core skier by offering unlimited vertical and assigning only one group of riders to a helicopter to eliminate waits while the bird drops off another group or heads off to refuel. With only one group to a helicopter, you can fly farther out into the massive tenure right off the bat to get to wherever the snow is best that day. The average day includes about 10-20 runs, between 7,000 and 10,000 vertical meters, and if you’re up to it and the weather cooperates, it doesn’t have to stop at “just average.”  At 830,000 acres, TLH Heli Skiing is 27 times larger than every ski resort in Colorado…. combined.

Skier: Matt Elliott

“Bon appetite, bitches” beams pro skier Alex “Blazer” Blais when we realize what’s in store for dinner on the night of our arrival. With a nightly four-course menu reading like that of a gourmet restaurant, every bite is a treat. (Breakfast is no slouch either, and lunch is enjoyed picnic-style in the mountains). Dinner’s followed up with a cocktail or Whistler Pale Ale from the full bar, and relaxing or a game of pool in one of the ample lounge areas. With full bellies and maybe a bit of a beer buzz, everyone heads off to bed to try to get a few winks of shuteye while dreaming of the coming day’s events.

Morning dawns, and we’re all bummed to see the surrounding mountaintops shrouded by clouds. It seems doubtful that we’ll even be able to fly that day, but at around 10:00am the weather begins to break a bit and we get word that we’re going to give it a shot despite the cloud cover. That turns out to be TLH Heli Skiing’s M.O. – while another heli operation might leave you sitting in the lodge while waiting for better conditions, TLH Heli Skiing is confident that they can get you safely out and back under less than ideal conditions. That’s good, because while many heli skiing operations have cat skiing backup, TLH Heli Skiing does not because it would take the machine at least a couple of hours to reach the tenure area. For next year, they’re talking about adding rally car driving on frozen Tyaughton Lake as a regular down-day activity, adding to other existing activities such as a game of darts, movies, ice hockey, snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross- country skiing,  foosball, the spa, the hot tub, and of course, drinking heavily. On our trip, those concerns went by the wayside and we were able to fly every day.

With a stable of five helicopters, TLH Heli Skiing will put you into a nimble A-Stars or Bell 407s for smaller groups and Bell 212s for larger groups. At ten riders, two guides, and a pile of gear, our group maxed out the capacity of the 212, a twin-turbined machine that can maintain cruise speed for 30 minutes even if one engine goes out (“Dude! There’s plenty of time left for one more run!”). For our first drop, our pilot Steve and lead guide Greg put us on top of a playground of steep trees and pillows, which were promptly shredded.  Jon Whelan, an Epic Planks rider fighting out of Nelson, B.C., made it look purdy for the camera down a nice pillow line. Danny Arnold, a young Epic Planks athlete from Michigan drafted for his talent in the park but with a newly discovered big mountain jones, decided to carry a bit more than the recommended “average speed” from the top. The result: an intended 20-foot drop turned into a 40-footer and Danny nearly introduced his back door to the tip of a beckoning evergreen while on final approach. No matter – with meters of fresh superhero snow on the ground, it could have been 80 feet and he would have been fine.

Skier: Danny Arnold

Historically, popping for a heli trip has meant you’re going to experience a lot of alpine glacier skiing, which TLH Heli Skiing has plenty of and is a ton of fun. On a flat light day with recent heavy accumulations, though, it’s a good bet to stick to the trees to enjoy better visibility and snow stability, which we ended up doing for the first two days. The drop points we encountered on those days, along with our guide’s go-get-‘em attitude, confirmed the expanded opportunities for those looking for a bit wilder terrain than has been traditionally available. If your group is up for it, TLH Heli Skiing can put you in some terrain (both below treeline and in the alpine) that will give you all the excitement and challenge you can handle. If you prefer sticking to the mellower glacier skiing, that’s fine too and your guides will be happy to get you to the loads of classic goods.

Like the first day, the second day dawned a bit cloudy, but this time we were able to take off as scheduled at about 8:30 am and were soon exploring large gulleys with multiple drop options, nice steep ridgelines, and pillowed meadow runouts to the bottom of the valley. Near the end of one run as we wrapped up a shoot, we turned to see our pilot Steve hoofing it up towards us, with skis strapped to his back. Taking advantage of our slower film pace, he’d brought his own gear for the day and hiked for turns, meeting us maybe 400-meters up from the bottom and leading the gang gleefully back down to the bird, bouncing through waist deep pow while whooping it up all the way. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the thing dream jobs are made of.  As the day progressed, the weather began to break, and on our flight back to the lodge we were treated to our first views of the alpine that we would attack on the third day. That night, with word from the guides that the snowpack had stabilized and the clear skies were staying, we knew that we would soon be getting into some of the steep alpine goodness that ski movies are made of.

Anthony Bonello filming from the heli

As hoped for, the following morning we shot straight to the top of a glacier for a mellow warm up and some sweet powder turns amidst bluebird skies. Words can’t even describe the size of these glaciers – simply immense. At the bottom of our second creamy run of the morning was a 500-meter headwall that the guides had spied for some serious bizness lines. While we waited for the film crew to get set, another group dropped down an untouched portion of the same glacier, with ample fun evidenced by the daffy popped off by the last of the group to pass. Meanwhile, Matt Elliot and the Blazer were dropped to the top of the headwall for the first poke, with Matt seamlessly etching turns down a beautiful spine and Alex picking a steep line to a 30-footer exit, each stomping their lines and hooting on the glacier runout. Maxim Arsenault then put his game face on and nailed a seriously exposed descent, opening it up halfway down and screaming off a 50-footer while Steve put the heli into a banking dive so the film crew could nail the shot while hanging halfway out the door, courtesy of climbing harnesses. Following high fives and a fun run through a gully out to the helicopter, we flew to a run named Magic Mushrooms for glory shots and airs over boulders doused in 15 feet of snow. A great day, indeed.

Skier: Alex Blais

So what’s a regular day in the life of a TLH Heli Skiing guest? You’ll sleep in a very well furnished private room or suite, one of many divided amongst three floors of lodging. Breakfast is served buffet-style starting at around 7:00am, and you can wake up a few minutes before that for stretch class if you’d like. The guides give a weather and game plan update at around 8:00am, and if all goes well you will take off at around 8:30 and ski for a few hours before lunch, which you can either eat in the helicopter or slow down and enjoy while taking in the scenery. Skiing lasts until about 4:00pm, and an après-ski meal of soup, stew, fruit, or coldcuts awaits your return at about 5:00pm. A dinner that will probably blow your mind is served at about 7:00pm, after which the night is up to you. You could go relax in the lakefront Jacuzzi, or maybe a massage in the spa is in order. The world is your oyster at TLH Heli Skiing.

You can get into the TLH Heli Skiing experience for less than you may think, with weekend packages starting at $1,650 per person in the early or late season (for one day of skiing and two nights of accommodations). Of course, you could also spend as much as you’d like, as did one elderly European woman with an apparently bottomless bank account and her own private helicopter for the week. (Our inquiry into her need for a 30-something boy-toy was politely ignored, or this story may have been drafted from the deck of a yacht moored in Monte Carlo.) Other options include 3-to-7 day trips, heli-assisted touring, and package deals including lift tickets and accommodations at Whistler before making the trek to TLH Heli Skiing. Access to the lodge is quite easy if the weather cooperates, with air transport provided from Vancouver or Whistler to the Tyax Lodge. If the weather is socked in and the air transport can’t fly, you’re looking at a roughly 4-hour shuttle transfer from Whistler.

Other good stuff to know:
You can fly at 240 km/hr for 10 minutes and still be within skiable tenure at TLH Heli Skiing. All patrons are outfitted with high-tech ABS airbag backpacks, which inflate at the pull of a ripcord to help keep you above the snow in the event of an avalanche. Standard Avalung systems (not the full backpack) do mesh nicely with the ABS backpack for extra safety measures, but aren’t provided, so you may want to bring your own if you have one. A complimentary demo fleet of powder skis and boards is available, but bring your own boots, and let them know in advance of your needs. Tips at TLH Heli Skiing are handled at the end of your stay, so don’t worry about tipping your guides, servers, and bartenders every day – you just tab out (credit cards are fine) at the end of your stay, and the tips are divvied up. Don’t be cheap – the staff does a great job, and deserves a good tip. To ease travel, TLH Heli Skiing recommends that all international travelers stay in Vancouver or Whistler the day prior to arrival and on the day of departure from the lodge.  Finally, Alex Blais is not one to be messed with in foosball.

About our merry gang:
Dendrite Studios released its debut ski film, “Out Of The Shadows,” in the fall of 2010. Though filmed with an extremely limited budget compared to the competition, it promptly began winning awards, including Best Big Mountain Film in the Open category at the IF3 Awards in September 2010. The Dendrite guys expect to release their follow up feature length film in 2012, and in the meantime publish regular webisodes that are definitely worth a watch. A special thanks to Nicolas Teichrob of Dendrite Studios for all of the photos in this article.

b4apres Media was formed in 2009 as a result of the founders’ eye-opening trip to Kashmir, which resulted in the beautiful and poignant documentary “Azadi Freedom.” Also a multiple-award winning film, Azadi Freedom explores the relationship between skiing and the recovering social and economic culture of Kashmir, a region torn by conflict between Pakistan and India in the 1990s. Go watch it. Better yet, go buy it. You won’t be disappointed.

Epic Planks is a Michigan-based ski and snowboard manufacturer that began selling its first model, the Crop Duster, in 2010. By building extensive partnerships with strong skiers around the world, the company is focused on building handmade skis that compete with the best out there. Standard features include wood cores for light weight and pop, and graphic design unlike anything else. Look for the Crop Duster under the feet of cat skiing and heli skiing guides near you. Upcoming models include the Sherpa, a burly all-mountain or tele choice, and the Spinner and Khione, each perfect for the park and your all-mountain adventures. The Stash snowboard rounds out the 2011/2012 lineup.