Bella Coola Helisports - Eagle Lodge

Bella Coola Helisports – Eagle Lodge

The three completely different alternatives Bella Coola Helisports offers in terms of location and accommodation all have their own merits. The historically important Tweedsmuir Lodge at the edge of a vast nature park, the Eagle Lodge closer to the coast and easily accessible, and the more inland oriented White Saddle Ranch close to Anahim Lake. Two of the three locations can be combined in a ‚Safari’-Program.

The Eagle Lodge provides luxury and comfort surrounded by breathtaking wilderness. It has a capacity of eight people, all under one roof. The rooms are functional and newly renovated. The lodge offers a fantastic unobstructed view of the Bella Coola Valley and the surrounding steep mountains. You will feel at ease in this updated, well maintained lodge.

‚Ski and Board excessively and steep’ is the slogan at Big Mountain! Your costs per vertical are excellent with excitement granted.

Being located at the west of the transition zone between moister maritime and dryer continental climate, the full width of attractive snow varieties exists within the covered territory: well-binding snow packs in the west for safe steep descents and fluffy powder in somewhat more moderate terrain in the east. The licensed area of Bella Coola Helisports covers more than 10'000 squarekilometers (about the size of the Swiss Alps) and is penetrated mainly from the west when based in Mountain Lodge.  You will find your trip easy, a straight flight of an hour from Vancouver to Bella Coola at the end of the Labouchere Channel and more than 100 kilometers from the open Pacific, just adjacent to the skiing grounds. The Lodge is a five minute ride from the airport, just there in the Bella Coola Valley. 

 

 

Terrain

Bella Coola Helisports is licensed for an area of over 10'700 squarekilometers. The terrain is one of the most varied in British Columbia. The highest mountain ranges of the province with an elevation of over 4'000 Meters (around Mount Waddington), huge glaciers, alpine terrain and excellently skiable, open tree zones are at your disposal.

Huge amounts of snow provide a solid base for the entire season. Obviously, the great amounts of snow sometimes are connected with somewhat difficult weather conditions.

The guests of  Eagle Lodge are infrequently exposed to the weather systems of the Pacific. Closer to the sea, the snow is a bit wetter and binding stronger to the mountain sides, allowing for exceptionally steep and at the same time comparatively safe descents than further away from the coast line. You have the preconditions for very long and steep rides of utmost intensity.

Accommodation

Bella Coola Eagle Lodge is a traditional Canadian style building with 6 guest rooms (4 single and two double occupancy). An additional room can be provided for guests not minding to share a bathroom. The compact Building with cozy diner and living room as well as functional guest rooms has been renovated recently and meets higher quality standards. The whole facility is purely at the disposal of the heliskiing/boarding guests.

The lodge provides luxury and comfort surrounded by breathtaking wilderness. Located just five minutes from the airport and nestled between the majestic Coast Mountains, Eagle Lodge pairs top heliski and boarding adventures with exceptional accommodation and service. Free wireless provided.

The kitchen provides healthy meals of high standards and is basing as far as possible on local produce. Friendly and personal service staff make you feel at ease.

Heli & safety

Bella Coola Helisports uses the functional and powerful A-Star B2 Helicopters, which provide space for four guests, the guide and the pilot.

The pilots all have extensive flying experience in mountaineous terrain under winter conditions and work for the helicopter and heliski companies for many years.

The certified mountain guides have sound heliski guiding experience and are sworn to the high safety standards of Canadian heliski operators.

The guests will be well instructed on the rules governing skiing/boarding in alpine wilderness country, the usage of helicopters in winter conditions and the handling of transceivers and other life saving equipment in theory and practice.

Getting there

When traveling to Eagle Lodge, you fly from Vancouver to Bella Coola. The local airport serves also as an alternate in the rare cases when Anahim Lake Airport is closed due to weather conditions. The transfer from Bella Coola airport by van  to the Eagle Lodge is barely five minutes inland. Mostly you start skiing right off the airport or even from the backyard of the Lodge.

On your international trip to Vancouver you normally will fly in the previous day, where you will overnight in one of the convenient close by airport hotels or a down town Vancouver hotel to enjoy at least a spectacular evening in this most fascinating Westcoast town. Quite a few guests arrive on Thursday to discover the city during a full day and to better adjust to jet lag. – Your Saturday mid morning inland flight to Bella Coola is included in your heliskiing package. A morning transfer - even from Vancouver Downtown - to the South Terminal can easily be arranged.

Program

After your arrival at the local airport around noon you will be met by a representative of BCH. Weather permitting, he will bring you straight to the hangar, where the heli is expecting you. Alternatively, the heli will be ready after your setting up base in the Eagle Lodge. Accordingly, you should have your personal skiing equipment close by. Ideally, you are already carrying parts of your outfit and have your necessary add-on equipment in your hand luggage, in particular your ski or boarding boots.

After a short sandwhich lunch and the necessary paper work (signing of waiver) you will be equipped with skis and a day backpack with ABS, shovel and probe as well as a transceiver. This is followed by safety and security instructions for skiing/boarding and the usage of your life saving equipment as well as the respective helicopter procedures. Right after a practical training with your transceiver you will get your first heli air time and start with your heliskiing/boarding adventure.

With this early start into heliskiing you will get the chance of  ideally seven full days of heliskiing/boarding during a weekly package, since you also will be able to ski/board in the morning of the last day before your early afternoon flight to Vancouver.

Packages & prices

Dates

 

  • See 'Prices'

Options

 

  • 7 days Skiing/Boarding  // 7 nights
  • 5 days Skiing/Boarding  // 5 nights
  • Safaris and Private Arrangements please enquire

Included

 

  • 100’000 vertical feet
  • Inland flight from/to Vancouver, unless special arrangement
  • Transfers from/to Bella Coola Airport
  • Local Transports
  • Powderskis and sticks (no Snowboards)
  • Transceiver, shovel, probe and day backpack with ABS
  • Guides
  • 7 / 5 nights in double room
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

Not included

 

  • Snowboards
  • Additional vertical
  • Tips for pilot and guides
  • Taxes
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • International flights and other travel costs to/in Vancouver
  • Insurances

 

Prices

«Bigger is better!»


Season :

Early January - Mid April


7 Nights starting from C$ 13'524 tax included



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