Extra Vertical Policies

EXTRA VERTICAL

Our Small Group Vertical packages included a specific number of vertical feet/metres as part of the per-person package price. The amount of vertical included depends on the season and the number of nights you choose to stay. Vertical is not limited to each specific day. Instead, the total amount included is available to be used throughout the duration of the ski program. Some days you may ski more and some days you may ski less.

When you reach the amount of vertical included in the package you can decide whether to keep skiing or not. On average guests can expect to ski approximately 8 - 12 runs per full ski day (depending on the location, weather, and time of year). Runs are generally 2,000 - 4,000 vertical feet (609 - 915 metres) in length but can be shorter or longer in certain cases.

On average, guests tend to ski approximately 15% more than the amount included. In very good weather and snow conditions, it is possible to ski upwards of 50% more vertical than is included in the package. It is also possible to ski less than the vertical included. In these rare cases, guests can choose either a credit for a future season or a refund for any un-skied vertical.

Extra vertical can be purchased at the following rates:

Winter 2023/24

- $69 per 1000 feet/305 metres

Winter 2024/25 

- $72 per 1000 feet/305 metres

ADDITIONAL HELICOPTER HOURS

Our Private Packages and Single Group Buyouts include a specific number of helicopter hours as part of the group package price. The number of helicopter hours included depends on the property, the season, and the number of nights you choose to stay. Helicopter hours are not limited to each specific day. Instead, the total amount included is available to be used throughout the duration of the ski program. Some days you may fly more and some days you may fly less.

Flight time is recorded by the Hobbs meter, which is only activated when the pilot pulls power on the collective and the helicopter takes flight. The amount of flying per day will vary by the length of the ski day, the weather and snow conditions, and the objectives of the group. On average groups should expect to fly 15% more than the flight time included.

Additional helicopter hours can be purchased at the following rates:

Winter 2023/24

Tweedsmuir Park Lodge (A-Star) - Single Group Private $4,480 per hour. Two Group Private $4,180 per hour.

Pantheon Heli Ranch (Bell 212) - Single Group Buyout $5,780 per hour.

Sand Creek Ranch (Koala AW 119) - Single Group Buyout $4,780 per hour.

Winter 2024/25

Tweedsmuir Park Lodge (A-Star) - Single Group Private $4,780 per hour. Two Group Private $4,380 per hour.

Pantheon Heli Ranch (Bell 212) - Single Group Buyout $6,080 per hour.

Sand Creek Ranch (Koala AW 119) - Single Group Buyout $4,980 per hour.

CREDIT & REFUND POLICY

The helicopter costs are by far the most expensive part of operating a heli-skiing week and we cannot afford to fly with an empty seat. This necessitates a strict policy that states that each guest is responsible for all costs associated with their seat.

If you decide to sit out a run in order to rest, or get injured and are unable to continue skiing/boarding, your vertical account will register the amount skied by the group you were assigned to, not the vertical you actually skied. We sympathize with those that miss out on skiing, but this policy ensures that we are able to continue flying and are able to fulfill our obligations to the other guests.

By way of further explanation, imagine that your helicopter is a taxi and you are four friends taking a ride. If one or two people ask to be dropped off halfway to the destination, the overall cost of the taxi ride does not change. 

Similarly, if for whatever reason you request to fly back to the lodge or your guide deems it necessary for you to be flown out; you will be billed for the costs of the extra flying time incurred by the company in returning you to the valley before the heliski day is finished. The costs will vary depending on the amount of flight time required. If it does become necessary for you to be flown out because of an injury, we suggest that you submit the costs of the evacuation to your insurance company. 

There is also no refund for down days per se; however, if bad weather or mechanical breakdown prevents us from providing you with the total vertical or the flying time included in the program, we will refund according to the formulas listed below.

 

Small Group Packages - Vertical Feet/Metres Per Person

Small Group Vertical programs include a designated amount of vertical feet per person, depending on the length of the program, to be used throughout the duration of the program. As an example, a 7-night Classic Vert program at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge Includes 100,000 vertical feet, of which we Guarantee 80% or 80,000 vertical feet. 

If at the end of your program mechanical issues or weather conditions have prevented you from achieving the Included or Guaranteed amount vertical feet you will be presented with two options at check-out:

For the purpose of this example, let’s assume at the end of your program the actual vertical feet you skied was equal to 70,000.

  1. A Lodge Credit to be used towards a stay with us in one of the two following seasons. Credits are calculated based on the following formula:

Included vertical feet - Actual vertical feet x $69 per 1000 vertical feet

E.g.) 100,000 minus 70,000 = 30,000

30,000 / 1,000 = 30

30 x $69 = $2,070 as a Lodge Credit

2. A Cash Refund to be used towards lodge incidentals, gratuities, or to be returned to your account. Cash refunds are calculated based on the following formula:

Guaranteed Vertical - Actual Vertical x $69 per 1000 vertical feet

E.g.) 80,000 - 70,000 = 10,000

10,000 / 1,000 = 10

10 x $69 = $690 as a Cash Refund 

 

 

Private Packages & Single Group Buyouts - Flight Hours Per Group

Private programs include a designated number of flight hours per group, depending on the length of the program, to be used throughout the duration of the ski/snowboard program. 

As an example, a 7-night Private program at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge Includes 8 flight hours, of which we Guarantee 80% or 6.4 flight hours. 

If at the end of your program mechanical issues or weather conditions have prevented you from achieving the Included or Guaranteed number of helicopter hours you will be presented with two options at check-out:

For the purpose of this example, let’s assume at the end of your program the Actual flight hours your group flew was equal to 6.

  1. A Lodge Credit to be used towards a stay with us in one of the two following seasons. Credits are calculated based on the following formula:

Included flight hours - Actual flight hours x *$4,480 per 1 flight hour

E.g.) 8 minus 6 = 2

2 x *$4,480 = $8,960 as a Lodge Credit

2. A Cash Refund to be used towards lodge incidentals, gratuities, or to be returned to your account. Cash refunds are calculated based on the following formula:

Guaranteed flight hours - Actual flight hours x $4,480 per 1 flight hour

E.g.) 6.4 - 6 = 0.4

0.4 x *$4,480 = $1,792 as a Cash Refund

*Please note that the rate per helicopter hour varies based on the helicopter type and the package purchased.

Knowledge is pow(d)er.
Like +8,000 other ski freaks, get the latest heli-skiing info, sent on average once a month. Spam-free.