Looking out the window during the flight from Vancouver to Terrace I was awestruck by the mountainous landscape below me. The sun was starting to set over the pacific and as the plane flew north, the size of the mountains and density of peaks increased with each passing minute. Despite having a book and ipod with me, I spent the entire flight sipping a Kokanee, staring out the window, and picking out perfect lines which I promised myself to one day come back and ski. But those lines would have to wait, as I was on my way to Northern Escape Heli-Skiing.
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.
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