We’re delighted to report that CMH Heli Skiing has just announced that Rob Rohn has been appointed General Manager of CMH Heli Skiing, a role which will supplement his existing responsibilities as CMH’s Director of Mountain Operations.

We think that Rob is absolutely perfect for the role; not only is Rob a super nice guy, but he is a mountain guide at heart and has been with CMH for 28 years!

Here’s the official release from CMH:-

Banff, Alberta, May 16, 2012 – CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures (CMH) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rob Rohn to the position of General Manager & Director of Mountain  operations, effective immediately. As the new General Manager, Rohn will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of CMH’s 11 operations located in the mountains of eastern British Columbia and the main offices in Banff, Alberta.

“Rob plays an important leadership role at CMH as the Director of Mountain Operations. He is extremely well-respected in the mountain community for his personal integrity as well as his operations and guiding expertise. Taking on the new role of General Manager is a logical progression as we continue to grow our company.” says Jeff Potter, CEO of Alpine Helicopters-CMH. “Rob’s focus is to ensure we continue to deliver outstanding experiences for our guests and staff, while maintaining the highest standards of safety.”

Rohn first started with CMH in 1984 as an Assistant Ski Guide where he had the good fortune to work alongside CMH founders Hans Gmoser and Leo Grillmair. Rohn was greatly influenced by both mentors, “Hans and Leo instilled in me the value of placing safety above all else; the need to relentlessly pursue excellence in every detail and the unique style of mountain hospitality that welcomes both employees and guests into the CMH family.”

In 1991, Rohn became manager at CMH Bobbie Burns Lodge and was promoted to Director of Mountain Operations in 2001, overseeing all aspects of mountain and guiding operations and area management.

Rohn is an internationally certified Mountain Guide through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. He is the current President of HeliCat Canada and a past Board member of the Canadian Avalanche Association.  Rohn resides in Canmore, Alberta with his wife and sons who share his passion for the mountains.

If you’d like to know more about Heli Skiing in Canada with CMH then please do contact Pure Powder.  

Fancy following in Kate and Wills’ this Summer? Pure Powder can still offer some spaces on CMH’s Summer Adventure trips this July and August. Choose to heli hike with the whole family or up the ante with a High Flying Adventure. Contact us for more details.

1) Powder South Heli Ski Guides are South America’s premier helicopter ski operation, located in the heart of the Chilean Central Andes. From their 30 years of experience skiing the Andes Mountains, Powder South have now run 8 Seasons of successful operation bringing world-class standards to skiers and snowboarders around the world. The location means a maritime snow pack which is dry due to the high altitude and synonymous with world-class champagne powder.

2) Choose a trip length that suits you, be it a week long or a 3 day package exploring the best heli skiing in South America. All valleys and locations can be easily accessed from Lodge Andino giving you the chance to explore a huge variety of terrain. Prices start from €5,150 per person for 3 days of heli skiing up to €7,150 for 7 days. Prices include your stay at the lodge (including all your meals), transport (excluding airport drop-off) and safety equipment. Oh, and the best powder skis to maximise the fun!

3) Stay at a luxurious, traditional, Chilean mountain lodge. Lodge Andino (or ‘El Ingenio’) boasts an outdoor hot tub, swimming pool, masseuse and gourmet food. Full of character, your accommodation is only 5 minutes flight from South America’s best heli skiing! Meals may be served outside round the fire and expect the best in Chilean hospitality. You can also add to your trip with a local horseback ride, a wine tour and just enjoying the local village to soak up the Chilean lifestyle.

4) You’ll ski with the best guides in the business. Powder South’s heli ski guides are UIAGM/IFMGA Internationally Certified Mountain Guides and have many years of experience in the heli-ski industry worldwide. Powder South was founded by Rodrigo Mujica and Joaquin Oyarzun (a former Olympic skier) and were born and raised in Chile. Pure Powder are proud that our experiences are led by guests we have a long history with: Anjan Truffer skis with our guests in Chile, Canada and Zermatt. Stefan Palm skis with our guests in Chile, Sweden and La Grave. These are some international jet-setters!

5) Safety is paramount. As it should be in all heli ski operations, however Powder South’s safety record is impeccable. Using the best guides and helicopter pilots, they also have a fulltime helicopter mechanic on site performing maintenance/mechanical checks twice a day. Details snow forecasts, daily guides meetings and ABS packs make this experience as safe as you can get skiing in the wilderness. Transceivers, shovels, probes and a mobile rescue cache are provided as standard along with helicopter training.

There is still some availability left on Powder South’s trips in July and August but you’d better be quick! Please contact us here at Pure Powder to find out more about booking your Chilean ski adventure.

You will be based at one of CMH’s remote mountain lodges, the Bugaboos or the Bobbie Burns. Both are luxury log-style cabins accessible only by helicopter – this really is an escape from the rat race. The lodges feature massage services, saunas, outdoor Jacuzzis and game rooms plus two chefs to cater to your every whim. Think delicious, hearty breakfasts to set you up for the day ahead, a picnic-style lunch in the wilderness and returning to a spoiling tea at the lodge whilst relaxing in the sun.

Trips run from 2, 3 or 4 days for those short on time or those with more time can consider the 6 day Lodge-to-Lodge trips spending your days heli hiking amidst the vast terrain on offer before hiking, walking and flying to your second lodge. Encounter the famed Grizzly Ridge which takes a full day of hiking to be met with views of the regal Bugaboo spires – worth the 15 miles of toil for one of the finest ridge walks in North America.

If you’re keen to introduce your children to the mountains, sign up to one of CMH’s Family Adventures. Exploring glaciers, alpine meadows and adventure-filled forests is the perfect introduction to hiking for your little ones. These trips are designed to please everyone as CMH have catered for very young children through to grandparents on one trip alone. Led by CMH’s specialized family adventure leaders, your family can choose to hike together or divide into adult and kid groups giving your children the chance to explore with their guide via well designed treasure hunts! Then you can meet back at the lodge to discuss your days’ adventures.

Alternatively, try one of the more challenging experiences summiting Mount Nimbus along North America’s longest and most extensive Via Ferrata route at the Bobbie Burns lodge. Designed and created by CMH’s mountain guides, the Via Ferrata (Italian for “Iron Way”) is an adventure best suited to those looking for an adrenaline fix with nerves of steel. Scaling peaks via metal rung ladders and fixed cables, this route offers spectacular views and a well deserved drink on your return to the lodge. This is not for expert hikers though and no prior experience is required as the CMH leaders will guide you through via ziplines and ropes and a gentle hand! Have a look at Brandy Yanchyk from the BBC sampling the High Flying Adventure last Summer. CMH’s Heli Hiking Summer Adventures start on 5 July 2012 so now is the time to book!

Ready to sign up? Please contact Pure Powder with your hiking requirements and we will find the right trip for you. If you’re not quite ready, you can have a look at some more heli hiking footage to get you in the mood.

I’ve discovered that the thrill of steep tree skiing causes me to break out into song. Yodelling to be precise. Apparently the reaction (similarly seen on rollercoasters) is caused by a mixture of adrenalin and excitement. In hindsight, you’d think the hazards would make me think twice about throwing myself down tree-lined pitches. But wipe visions of treacherous tree skiing in Europe from your mind as this is a different ball game altogether. CMH creates glorious tree runs from their Summer glading which means you’ll never find lines or spacious trees like this anywhere else in the world.

Find your line and stick to it: the key is listening to your guide and keeping a close eye on your ‘tree buddy’ even if it is done by the power of yodel.

CMH Revelstoke is based in town

CMH Revelstoke is different to other CMH areas that I have visited. The fact that you are based in a town and not a remote, fly-in lodge offers a welcome relief to some giving them the freedom to explore (and road-test) the bars in town. CMH guests stay at the Regent Inn, a family-run hotel in the centre of town where the Cheers theme ‘everybody knows your name’ is felt throughout. The CMH operation runs like a well-oiled machine and most of the guests you’ll see around the hotel will be fellow heli skiers. Breakfast is a particular highlight, in fact the food in general helps towards rolling your way home…the steaks are the finest we’ve ever eaten.

You drive to the helipad

The luxury of heli skiing with CMH is the hop, skip and jump to your helicopter each morning spoiling even the most seasoned heli skier. Revelstoke runs a little differently but don’t let that put you off.  The CMH vans meet you outside the hotel bright and early and drive you to the helipad. This can be anywhere between 5-15 minutes but this gives more flexibility in inclement weather as they can drive you to other valleys and get the heli to meet you there. Down days are few and far between here with Revelstoke benefiting from the least down days of any CMH area.

If the heli can’t fly, you have the longest vertical in North America on your doorstep

Within 3 turns of skiing Revelstoke Mountain Resort this year, it had already become the highlight of my piste skiing. Boasting boot-deep light, fluffy powder, Revelstoke Mountain expects over 50 feet of snow each Season, reason enough for any keen skier to visit. It’s pretty steep at the top, in fact, it’s the perfect heli ski warm-up and you’ll be amazed by the amount of terrain on offer with over 100 skiable runs. If you’re feeling super fit, the search for powder nirvana can be found over the back bowls a mere 20 minute hike away (a big breakfast is recommended beforehand).

In Conclusion

CMH Revelstoke opened my eyes to some of the best skiing of my life. I have found myself saying the same thing after every CMH trip, but I was amazed by the variety of terrain in offer at Revelstoke as well as the depth of snow (Revelstoke historically receives 40-60 FEET of snow each year!). The guides were excellent as always and can be relied on for a steady hand if needed. Don’t think this isn’t for you – if you can ski off piste at all in Europe then you’re more than ready for this. The only problem is skiing anywhere else afterwards!

If you would like to learn more about CMH heli skiing trips, then please click here to contact Pure Powder for more details.

For those of you who are tentative about taking the plunge and booking your first trip trip, here are 5 things that I learnt from my first ever heli-skiing experience:

1. Safety first

It was clear from almost the moment I stepped foot in the Regent Inn that safety precautions were at the forefront of the whole CMH operation.  We were whisked into a safety demo, including a 20 minute film on the various safeguards.  The subtle juxtaposition of making the group feel safe and at ease, but at the same time never playing down the risk factor involved with heli skiing, was extremely effective and ensured that everyone was fully prepared.  Indeed, by the time we took flight on our first helicopter drop-off, the whole group were confident they knew what to do if an avalanche was to occur.  Whilst on the mountain, I was well aware of the guides selecting the area and terrain to match the conditions, which seemingly gave the same piece of mind to me as a first timer, as to those in the group who had been dozens of times.  Not only this, but with the addition of an extra safety guide in all CMH areas, it gives great comfort in knowing there is another guide on hand should you need it!

2. Fear factor

I have always found, regardless of whether you are skiing on piste or off-piste, the degree of confidence you are feeling greatly affects your skiing technique. I am sure that all skiers have experienced that moment at the top of a black mogul field where your legs turn to jelly and you ski down with the grace of a donkey on ice-skates.  Needless to say, for a first time heli-skier such as myself the concept was exciting, albeit still rather frightening.  For starters, the chances are that you’ve never been close to a helicopter before, let alone one which is now landing inches from your nose.   Moments later, you emerge from a snow storm caused by the rotor wash, and are met by powder that is beyond anything you could have imagined.  On our first day, we were skiing through the trees and this is when my legs started to wobble.  This was down to one concept which was demonstrated to us perfectly by our guide Jeff, as he stepped waist deep into a tree well.  At this point I let the fear take over and took the first run down at a sloth-like pace.   This fear undoubtedly stems from the true British cliché of underestimating our skills.  However, I finally realized that this approach was merely expensing energy so, with a kind but firm nudge from both our guides, I relaxed into it, letting my legs run without trying to force the movement.  By the second day, all anxiety and fear had faded away and what was left was a feeling of total elation, enhanced by the therapeutic feeling of being completely away from it all.  Consequently, what I learned was that an intermediate skier like me, who is reasonably fit and has had some experience in powder, can enjoy the experience to the absolute full and at the same time enjoy an abundant feeling of self-satisfaction.

3. Terrain

Once I had got over ‘the fear of the unknown’, I was also able to fully take in the whole experience.  What first hit me was the vastness of the untouched snowy landscape around me; this immense, silent mountain world.  Every time the helicopter dropped us off, I was astounded by how fresh and crisp everything was, as if it had been made just for our enjoyment.  With the snow dumping down, we were taken into the trees where the scenery was better than a postcard.  What bemused me the most, was that even if we repeated a run twice, there would be absolutely no sign of any tracks before us.  Indeed, there was such a vast amount of terrain that there was definitely no need for squabbles amongst the group; creating fresh tracks was a given.  I also became aware of how varied the terrain was.  I was anticipating skiing vertical drops between very closely placed trees.  In reality, we tackled some steeper tree skiing as well as a bit of hero skiing through wider spaced gladed trees and alpine runs, which meant that the whole group were satisfied.

4. Powder, powder… and more powder

On our first drop-off, I had to pinch myself.   I looked at the snow around me, so uniformly smooth that my eyes could not even find one irregularity to pinpoint. I thought that this feeling of utter amazement may fade as the day progressed but after every run, we would all look around at each other as if we had never seen anything like it.  Of course in my case I hadn’t; I thought my bits of off-piste powder skiing in Europe would have prepared me for this, but the snow was just incomparable.  As I descended down the mountain, I had the sudden realization that I wasn’t really skiing at all- but merely floating down a sea of powder.  The powder was so light that it gave me a complete sense of weightlessness, as if I was bouncing on air.  To top it off, the K2 Pontoons that the guides suggested I try were so miraculous that they even allowed a neophyte like myself, to shred powder like I’d been heli skiing for years.  What stunned me was the reaction to the powder from those amongst the group who had heli skied many times before- it was almost as euphoric as mine!  Then I had a sudden revelation- the elation that I was feeling wasn’t something that was experienced only by first timers, it was a feeling that never went away!

5. Group Dynamics

I had always thought that I would find heli skiing within a group of strangers extremely intimidating.  Probably my biggest fear as a newbie was that I would not be able to keep up with my group, or worse, they would have to slow down in order for me to keep up!  My anxiety only grew more still when I found out that I was the only first timer in the group.  After the first run however, I realized that this fear had been completely in vain.  I can only describe the atmosphere in the group as transcendent.  You begin the first run as strangers and by the second pick up you’re immediately connected because you are undergoing this amazing experience together.   Indeed, as the day progressed there was more and more high fiving going on at every pick-up.  Furthermore, the disposition of the group was so friendly and unpretentious that it put me at complete ease; I was never once made to feel like I was holding anyone up.  The bond created whilst skiing together continued into the lodge, where we enjoyed a wonderful supper together and I found myself to be rather sad when having to say goodbye, albeit a little bit envious of those who would be skiing the next day.

I found this blog difficult to write as it is very challenging to describe the feeling generated from heli skiing.  In other words, the sensation of skiing powder such as this is one that definitely has to be experienced and not obtained through a description on paper.  The self-satisfaction, the excitement, the high of doing something so out of the ordinary- it’s a safe assumption that I am likely to have the same fate as many before me- to become hopelessly addicted to this sport.

Want more information on heli skiing in Canada?  Please click here for more information or contact us for further details.

1) The ultimate heli skiing adventure… Heli Skiing from a Luxury boat off the coast of Patagonia

For a truly unique Chile heli ski experience, hop on-board an incredible exploration yacht with two helicopters at your disposal to explore the un-touched powder skiing wilderness of Patagonia!   With 32 staff members on hand to make sure that every element of your trip is covered expect the best in private chefs, spa facilities and most importantly the top mountain guides primed to sniff out the deep stuff.

Available from EUR 9,000 per person to join a group of 28 guests or from EUR 290,000 for exclusive charter for up to 20 guests.

 2) A heady mix of Andes heli skiing by day and cosmopolitan Santiago by night 

 Do you love your heli skiing but don’t want to miss out on the city lights? Then this unique option is  for you…Stay in the impressive ‘W’ Hotel  in Santiago and enjoy the luxury of a rooftop heli-pad  flying to your heli skiing paradise just 20 minutes away each morning. Then you can fly back to immerse yourself in the fast-paced cosmopolitan culture each night.

Santiago Heli Skiing – Available from EUR 9,900 per person (based on 8 people)

3) Boutique Hacienda Heli Skiing in the Maipo Valley 

For an authentic Chilean experience, stay in the lovely family-run ‘hacienda’ (aka boutique hotel) which is oozing with local charm and situated right in the heart of the heli skiing terrain in the stunning Maipo Valley.   Just five minutes flight-time away and you’ll be skiing huge big alpine heli ski bowls and gorgeous un-touched powder.  At the end of the day you can come home to delicious home-cooked Chilean specialities – some nights prepared out-side on an open fire – and washed down with a glass of Carménère red.  Magic.

Heli Skiing Chile – Lodge Andino - From EUR 7,150 per person (based on 12 people)

 4) Ski the pistes of Portillo and be part of Chile’s skiing heritage

 Portillo is South America’s oldest ski area and has been drawing people in from all over the world since the 1940s.  Centred around the ski-in, ski-out Hotel Portillo, there are 14 lifts in the resort providing access to 35 pisted runs and much more off-piste terrain.   This place has a really warm and friendly feel to it, and with 80% chance of sunshine at the resort and only 2 hours from Santiago it’s a no brainer!

7-day all inclusive trips from US$ 1,790 per person (including hotel, meals and lift tickets).

Feeling inspired? For more information, have a look at what off piste or heli skiing in Chile has to offer or contact Pure Powder directly to book 

What happens when you take CMH’s Monashees heli ski area, which is world renowned for its steep tree skiing, and bathe it in glorious sunshine for a week?!  Answer:  you get to experience the (relatively) unchartered yet spectacular alpine heli skiing terrain above the tree line…

As Rooster the maintenance guy told me when we were chatting over the Monashee terrain maps “there’s huge amounts of alpine skiing here – it just rarely gets skied.  Many of the other CMH areas would die to have the skiing we have up here”.   Given the mythical allure of Soards Creek (home to endless classic, steep tree runs over 1,000 vertical metres), the alpine skiing in the Monashees is often over-looked.

But for us the sun shone.  And every morning our incredible pilot Dave would somehow find a gap in the valley fog and punch a way through, thus transporting us to a heady selection of perfect powder just waiting to be skied.

Despite there being no fresh snow on our week the experienced guiding team led by the un-flappable Dean (who’s been a heli ski guide with CMH for over 15 years) were able to sniff out the fresh tracks and the best snow.  This is where heli skiing really comes into its own; the helicopter enables you to get to places you otherwise couldn’t dream of.  If the conditions don’t look great over there – no problem, let’s jump to a different elevation or aspect.  And the skiing, as it so often is in the British Columbia interior, was for the most part sensational.  Light ‘hero’ powder on the alpine mixed with deeper powder on the steeper pitches in the trees.

And after a hard days of skiing, what better place to re-charge the batteries than the Monashee Lodge itself. The newest addition to the CMH fleet, the Monashee lodge is a pretty impressive structure that sits on the edge of the Columbia River, with a viewpoint to some of the area’s classic runs like ‘Elevator’ (a stone’s throw away from the lodge).  And where better to plan the next day’s heli skiing adventurers, but sitting in the open-air roof-top hot-tubs, with arguably one of the best views in North America…

Tempted to plan your own trip to the Monashees and experience the steep tree skiing that it’s famed for? Please contact us here at Pure Powder for more details.

The Pure Powder team, Arc’teryx and Ellis Brigham have joined up to offer you the amazing opportunity to win a ski or snowboard weekend in Europe plus £500 worth of Arc’teryx clothing for you and £500 worth of clothing for the person who joins you.  However, this will not be your average, run-of-the-mill ski trip, but rather a unique off piste experience with the finest mountain guides, who are dedicated in finding the best powder and the ultimate terrain.  The ideal trip to perfect those exaggerated powder turns.

All aspects of the trip will be taken care of for you, including 3 days off-piste skiing with a qualified Guide, 3 nights of accommodation and transfers for 2 people.  You will get to choose from one of our four infamous alpine resorts; Zermatt, Chamonix, Klosters or La Grave, each of which boasts great off piste potential.  It is safe to say that you will not be disappointed by the accommodation in your chosen resort- all our hotels are at as high a standard as the skiing, with one hotel recently being acknowledged by the Michelin guide.

If you’re not sold already, take a peek at the finest ski getups available at both Arc’teryx and Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, to get your juices flowing.

An opportunity not be missed, we can assure you. Winners will be drawn once all entries have been collected on the 25th March so hop to it!

Quaking in your ski boots?  Then please answer one simple question and enter now.

Skiing in one of the finest resorts in Switzerland may conjure up grand ideas of royalty and fur headwear but I was pleasantly surprised when I visited Klosters last weekend for a Pure Powder Off Piste trip. The snow had an unbelievable base 3 metres deep so I was pretty excited to be out skiing but our first day on piste was met with teeth shattering temperatures of -22. My advice to anyone skiing in this weather is never to remove any item of clothing: if there is a good photo to be taken and that glove needs to come off don’t do it. It’s not worth it (hence the lack of photos of our piste days).

I was staying at the stunning Hotel Walserhof – a Relais and Chateaux hotel that has been known to house rather eligible royal guests in its time.  Situated 5 minutes walk from the centre, it has great access to the shops and slopes. The rooms are great and nicer than many of the other hotel rooms I saw. Remember this is an award-winning restaurant so portions are dainty and that second helping of muesli comes in handy with a tough day on the slopes ahead.

The trusty skills of the Gotschna Sport staff kitted me out with fabulous K2 skis that gave me a great mixture of on and off piste terrain. The shop is only 2 minutes walk from the main Gotschna lift ideal for those, like me, who don’t relish a long walk carrying skis. You can also leave your skis and boots here overnight meaning the days of walking back to your hotel in ski boots is long gone. What bliss!

Klosters offers some wonderful piste action. The Gotschna lift provides access to the Parsenn/Gotschna ski area with famous runs such as the Weissfluhgipfel; one of the longest runs in Europe spanning 12km down to Kublis. The Parsenn bubble also has some fun runs to it and I was surprised by how wide (and empty: blame the temperature!) the runs were here. Add to that some of the finest mountain restaurants offering treats such as their infamous Rösti (a fried potato dish with cheese and bacon) that will weigh you down the mountain after lunch.  Family-friendly skiing can also be found on the Madrisa side of the mountain suiting for those looking for a gentler ride.

When it comes to off piste delights, Klosters has it is in spades. With dozens of snow-covered meadows to choose from, the right conditions mean endless possibilities off the beaten track. Meeting our Pure Powder guide, Markus, at Gotschna Sport early gave us plenty of time to get our skis set up with touring bindings, skins and ABS packs. Kitted out, we made our way up the Gotschna bubble and were soon made to take our skis off and start walking up a cliff. Being met by local mountain goats with rather large horns (called Steinbock apparently but at this point I wasn’t that keen to study them up close) we then skied the gmeindböden down. This is a rather steep run to start off with (and a little crusty on the day) but finished off with superb tree skiing down to Parsenhutte.

We then scaled the Weissfluhgipfel starting with a superb black run but we veered off course at the top to ski the steep diretissima. This is when you’re faced with the endless expanse of off piste terrain on offer as the diretissima overlooks the back of the mountain and you can see Arosa in the distance. At the bottom is a ghost village of old ski lifts that look like it’s been stuck in time. Putting our skins on, we then started climbing up to drimachenspitz (about 1 ½ hours of walking) which wasn’t too steep until the last stretch.  Markus, our guide, cleverly provided a chocolate bar about an hour into the journey providing ample sustenance to keep us going! The skiing down from here was magical. Large meadows are the norm in Klosters and these make for a real treat. Skiing down to Kublis we were just in time for a train back to Klosters Platz (the ski guides know all the train timings and travel is free compliments of your ski pass). Lunch was a quick bite to eat back at the famed Chesa Grischuna before jumping on my train back to Zurich. I wouldn’t recommend turning up at Heathrow still with your ski gear on – it makes for some funny looks.

So Klosters has become one of my new favourite European destinations as although it’s expensive it’s more than worth it. Apres ski here is pretty good (pop into any of the traditional Schwendi bars on the ski home as the hot chocolates have alcoholic additions), nightlife is scarce but fun can certainly be had at Casa Antica, but my main pull back to Klosters would definitely be the skiing. Easily accessible from London with a simple train journey from Zurich, this is the off piste destination of choice!

Want to test the Klosters powder for yourself? Pure Powder still have off piste trips running to Klosters in the 2012 Season. Please contact us for more details