Archive for the ‘Hobbies’ Category

Helicopter Skiing Canada – Are You Ready?

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

If you ever hear a skier talking about finding the highest and most exciting mountain peaks to ride then you can be absolutely sure that they are not going to use anything other than a helicopter to get there. Even though there are other ways of getting up the mountain such as with snowcats, there is really no other way that is faster and more comfortable than a helicopter. Heliskiing is definitely one of the most wide spread sports around the planet with everyone from celebrities to business men and college students trying to get their heli boarding or heliskiing reservations for the upcoming season. A friend of mine once told me that I must be out of my mind for riding down a mountain without any direction signs or rules. The reality, however, is that for the people that become infatuated with heliskiing and heli boarding, this is the very reason. You can think about the situation like this, you become interested in skiing, you practice with every chance you get and after a period it starts to become boring since you are no longer able to find any thrills in it, and this is when helicopter skiing Canada comes in.

Instead of getting on a ski lift together with absolute beginners you get on to a helicopter and ride in style to the starting point which can by the way be as high as you desire. There are vertical limits for any helicopter skiing Canada service package you choose but you can go even higher, provided that you are willing to pay extra the extra fees that are required. Chances are, however, that on your first ever helicopter skiing Canada trip you will be more than content with what the company is offering you. Like with any other types of vacations, when you start planning a heliskiing or a heli boarding trip you need to make sure that you allocate enough time to make the reservations and not wait until the last minute. Choosing a helicopter skiing Canada company is quite easy these days because of the internet, but it will still take a certain amount of research to find the right one.

You simply need to browse a few websites for certain companies and decide which one has the right service for you. The prices for heliskiing trips usually range around one thousand dollars but you should always prepare for additional costs given that you want to extend your stay, go higher up the mountain, and so on. There is really nothing else you should be worrying about as most companies that specialize in this type of service welcome their adventure seeking customers with high quality accommodations and all the luxuries you could ask for. Meals are of course included in the service packages together with a certain amount of air time. You should also remember that most of these companies are willing to present their customers with better price deals if they come as large groups.

Ever Thought About Going On A Snow Cat Skiing Adventure?

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

For those of you that might not know yet, powder cat skiing or snow cat skiing is just the best version of skiing you are ever going to find. Powder cat skiing is basically skiing on fresh snow in remote regions of a mountain where there are no regular tourists. Also, there aren’t any kids crowding the slopes simply because there aren’t any slopes. This is the reason why so many people are being drawn to this almost extreme sport. I say almost extreme because even though many people might see it as just that, the reality is that in many countries around the world, like Canada for example, you can always find a portion of the mountain that is suitable for your level of skill.

Snow cat skiing makes good use of the snowcat which is a fantastic piece of machinery that can get you up and down the mountain comfortably and fast. You can forget about those uncomfortable mountain chairs or always over crowded cable lifts because as long as you are inside a snow cat skiing vehicle you will feel quite comfortable and warm. This all changes when you reach the starting point, and this is basically the moment when you have to activate all your senses and reflexes, because a powder cat skiing descent will require them to be at maximum levels.

It would be highly inaccurate to compare powder cat skiing to regular skiing because everything is taken to the limit, your reflexes, your ability to change course in a split second and so on. Because powder cat skiing requires you and your friends to ride down a portion of the mountain with freshly fallen snow, there is an increased risk for an avalanche and this is the vast majority of companies specializing in snow cat skiing require that each group is accompanied by a well experienced expert that knows how to navigate through the most dangerous situations. For example, getting across large openings will always be done by one skier at a time to minimize any risks of provoking an avalanche.

There are also safety meetings held to educate everyone not only on the risks they face and ways to minimize them but also how to act in certain circumstances and use the safety equipment that is supplied. If you don’t already have a pair of skis that are especially created for snow cat skiing descents you don’t have to go out and buy a pair immediately because every resort that specializes in offering tourists this type of service will always have a few pairs available for rent.

Depending on the mountain region you plan to make your powder cat skiing descent on, there might also be other requirements. For example, in more dangerous regions the service providers will most likely require each one of their customers to wear safety helmets. If you are not yet convinced of the great opportunity available through snow cat skiing, then you will most likely be after your first day spent on the mountain.