Cost of guided backcountry skiing: Heli vs Cat vs Guided Ski Touring

If you regularly read this blog you are likely already aware of the attraction of backcountry skiing; landing on a remote peak to ski an untouched glacier, surfing bottomless powder through perfectly-spaced trees, topping out on a ridge and taking a moment to soak in the view before dropping into a mountain gully. While many recreationists opt to rely on their own skills to keep themselves safe in the backcountry, those without training are best off using a guided service. That can be either by heliskiing, cat skiing, or by self-propelled ski touring, all with their own pros and cons. The cost of guided backcountry skiing varies significantly between the different guided services, as does the amount of vertical and versatility in different weather.

Heliskiing – the ultimate backcountry skiing experience

Let’s start with the cream of backcountry skiing – heliskiing! No other vehicle can achieve as much skiing vertical in a day, nor can they match the thrill of riding in a helicopter across a mountain range in seconds. That convenience also comes at a cost: a very expensive aircraft requiring fuel, a trained pilot and regular maintenance. Heliski operators scale their rates quite differently, for example, Last Frontier Heliskiing offers packages for four, five or seven day trips whereas other operators closer to ski resorts sell single-day packages of three or four runs. Taking sample data from three BC heliski operators (including our own) and taking the typical amount of daily vertical and associated cost, we can calculate the cost per each vertical metre:
Heliski operator 1: $0.43/m (based on single-day trip)
Heliski operator 2: $0.33/m (based on single-day trip)
Heliski operator 3: $0.39/m (based on multi-day trip including accommodation and food)
(all prices in CAD estimated before taxes)

This averages out to $0.38 per metre of vertical powder skied. Doesn’t sound like much, but with the express lift of a helicopter, it adds up quickly.

Cat Skiing – the all-weather alternative

Cat skiing uses modified snow grooming machines to transport around 12 guests at a time to the top of the slope. It’s a lot slower than heliskiing but is also weather proof – snowcats can climb hills if it’s dumping 5-10cm of snow per hour. Helicopters can sometimes fly in inclement weather but it depends if the terrain is suitable.

Cat skiing operator 1: $0.21/m (based on single-day trip)
Cat skiing operator 2: $0.16/m (based on single-day trip)
Cat skiing operator 1: $0.18/m (based on single-day trip)
(all prices in CAD estimated before taxes)

Cat skiing averages out to $0.18 per metre of vertical powder skied. That’s less than half the cost of heliskiing, but that’s normal given guests are being driven, not flown.

Ski touring with guide – earning your turns

For some the experience of simply walking on snow in the backcountry – free of any mechanical noise – is a reward in itself. When you reach the top however, the sense of accomplishment as you drop into your ski line is something money can’t buy. Ski tourers need to climb every one of their vertical metres skied, meaning most of the day is spent journeying uphill and fatigue sets in much earlier. For this example we take a reasonably fit skier climbing and descending 1,400 metres with a guide.

Ski touring operator 1: $0.16/m (based on single-day trip)
Ski touring operator 2: $0.16/m (based on single-day trip)
Ski touring operator 1: $0.14/m (based on single-day trip)
(all prices in CAD estimated before taxes)

Ski touring with a guide works out to approximately $0.15 per metre of vertical powder skied. While that number may make cat and heliskiing look more attractive for not needing to slog up the hill, remember that ski touring you spending majority of the day climbing on your skis.

This calculation is very approximate and doesn’t take into count the holistic costs. For example, while the ski touring and catskiing amount per metre may be close, you can’t book a day of catskiing for much less than $550. A day of ski touring with a guide starts closer to $200. A four-run package with a heliski operator is as high $1,200.
Whichever method you choose to enjoy the backcountry, remember that conditions are not always the same as those pictured on websites and brochures. Make the most of it, whatever the weather.