The Adventure Journal (or AJ for short) is without a doubt one of the best blogs out there for anyone outdoor activity inclined, whether that inclination is geared towards hiking, trekking, camping and biking or, like us, skiing. The writers at AJ have managed to give it the appearance of a newspaper’s website, with all the familiarity in style of writing as your best buddy’s blog. They have a page for nature/adventure computer wallpapers and a page for polls (which range from ‘What’s the best ski resort in North America?’ to ‘What’s the worst sport to do hungover?’). They have sections for current events, art and design and gear among others. Check out their ’15 Seconds’ videos on their film and photo page for a little time out – most definitely worth sitting down and switching off for!

15 Seconds – ‘Oh Yeah It’s Dumping’

Chillsauce

Chillsauce is a company that can help organise weekend activities and events, with their speciality lying in stag and hen parties/getaways, corporate events and of course adventure activity weekends. The Chillsauce blog is an excellent, original mix of all this, with their articles about all of the above, including travel photo blogs, the most extreme place to get married and off piste ski weekends away. (Even the off piste blog has a little quirkiness to it, with one of the preferred ski locations being on sand in Namibia, Brazil or California).

Gadling

Gadling is AOL’s US-based travel blog that is simply incredibly informative. Not all their information and posts would fit into our adventure category, but some do so we thought we’d include them. With posts about budget travel, adventure travel and travel tech coming in from their travel bloggers all over the world, there is a good chance they’ll have ‘been there, done that’ and can tell you how to do it too (who knew gelato was a typical breakfast food in Sicily? And when can I go?).

Here is a great time lapse video of Everest:

Sport Pursuit Blog

Sport Pursuit is already a loved site for any outdoor sport and adventure -type people as their flash sales of high end products can really pay off. However they also have a fantastic blog relating to all of the above. They cover equipment, nutrition and have specific sport categories for relevant articles which range from cycling and camping to triathlons, mountain biking, golf and of course, snow. Truly something for everyone. A recent post entitled ‘Reasons to Stay at Home’ is a three-parter about various outdoor activities that can be done right here in the UK. Well written and informative, it has also saved me an airfare to Hawaii advising me to try my hand at surfing this summer on our own shores. Perhaps the sun and sand wouldn’t be the same, but the sentiment is there…

If you’re spirit of adventure is geared towards off piste skiing or heli skiing (like ours) then contact the off piste and heli ski experts at Pure Powder for your adrenaline fix. 

Here’s why we think it’ such a great Father’s Day gift…

1)      Because it’s heli skiing!!

If your dad is a skier then there’s a good chance he’s been eyeing-up heli skiing as the ultimate skiing experience. Gone are the frozen journeys on steam-powered chairlifts, long lift queues and sharing the slopes with 70,000 school children. In the heart of British Columbia, your Dad can ski endless runs of incredible deep powder snow in an exclusive heli ski playground ½ the size of Switzerland.

Say hello to a helicopter at your beck and call, untouched waist-deep powder and of course, the ultimate skiing experience!

Try CMH Heli Skiing Bugaboos for the ultimate first time heli skiing experience in Canada. This is where heli skiing all began in the 1960’s and is famed for its expanse of open, alpine terrain and well set tree skiing. From £4,745 per person (excluding flights)

2)      If dad is off on a heli skiing trip, you really need to go too…

Organising a heli skiing trip for your dad for Father’s Day might seem like the ultimate selfless act, but he really should share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone.  That someone is you – on hand to take photos, shoot videos and do up his boots if he’s feeling feeble. Of course this delivers the ultimate in Father and Son bonding with the bonus being that you go ½ price if you’re under 26 years old. How could he refuse?

Next Generation heli ski trips run on selected weeks at CMH Gothics and CMH Galena in March 2014 where kids ski for ½ price for ½ the guaranteed metres. Prices start from £5,615 and kids for £2,800 (excluding flights)

3)      You might event get the old man to pay for it

Heli skiing isn’t cheap – granted, but we believe that it offers fantastic value for money.   Firstly, you’re going to be doing as much off piste skiing as your legs can handle!  On a good day it’s not unusual to heli ski the equivalent of Everest in vertical metres.  And secondly, you will be staying in a luxurious remote mountain heli ski lodge only accessible by helicopter – with only the sound of a bubbling Jacuzzi and the beautiful scenery keeping you company. Get used to the evening rituals of beers, massages and four course dinners but don’t expect it from your Mum when you get home.

We offer a 6 day trip combining 3 days of resort skiing and 3 days of heli skiing for £2,795 (excluding flights) – contact the heli skiers at Pure Powder or call us on +44 (0)207 736 8191.

FRANCE

L’Art du Fromage Starters from £7

Like cheese? Who doesn’t – head to l’Art du Fromage in Chelsea specialising in a calorific reminder of the mountains. Serving traditional French fare expect escargots, foie gras and French onion soup all washed down with a hearty Bordeaux. Even the wine list offers traditional mountain wines alongside the classics and is regularly rotated to match seasons.

La Poule au Pot Starters from £8.50

For the ultimate in alpine romance, La Poule au Pot in London’s Chelsea is the guiding light of French eateries. Established in the 1960’s, the chalet-chic interior lends itself to settling in with a good Bordeaux and remembering those days on the slopes. Go for the classics – we recommend the bouillabaisse or the steak. If you don’t have all day, head there for the set lunch (2 courses for £20) but watch out for your wine intake. Their exceptional service means that lunches don’t stay sober for long.

AUSTRIA

The Tiroler Hut Starters from £4.70

Don’t be put off if you end up in close proximity to a hen / stag party here as the more you embrace The Tiroler Hut the more fun you’ll have! Filled with boisterous Londoners, the Tiroler Hut has been one of the most successful Austrian restaurants since it opened its doors in Westbourne Grove in 1967. Expect a spectacularly surprising menu (avoid the liver dumplings but the sauerkraut is a must) and sit back to enjoy an evening of cow bells and yodelling. Don’t forget to don your best dirndl.

Bodo’s Schloss Free entry if dressed in traditional Austrian clothes

Hitting London with aplomb in 2012, Bodo’s Schloss has nailed Austrian alpine chic for all hip 20-somethings when not out on the slopes.  Situated alongside Kensington Gardens, they don their waitresses in tight (un) traditional lederhosen, fill the menu with Austrian treats (delectable schnitzel and fluffy apple strudel) and let the games begin. The dancefloor is the place to be though. Of course the DJ spins his decks from inside a fully functioning bubble lift.

SWITZERLAND

St Moritz Restaurant Starters from £6.75

London’s oldest Swiss restaurant, St Moritz, is situated on Wardour Street and is the perfect dining experience to leave your diet at the door. With reviews such as “I’ve eaten so much cheese I’m going to die” and “cheese coma ahoy”, you can rely on one of the best fondues in town. They even have chocolate fondues if  can find the room. Head straight for the bratwurst and rösti.

Are there any other ski-themed restaurants you visit when nostalgia for the slopes hits? Let us know! We’d love to do our skiing duty and test them out… 

Contact the off piste skiing and heli skiing experts at Pure Powder for summer skiing or mountain adventures!

Here’s why April heli skiing gets our vote…

1)      Great snow and even better skiing

In Canada the winters are long and deep. Just look at the stats – this year there was approximately 2.5 metres of snowfall in CMH Heli Skiing’s exclusive heli ski terrain in April alone…WOW!  Throw a helicopter in the mix and you have the freedom to cherry-pick the north facing slopes for knee-deep powder and also ski the south facing slopes for some incredible spring snow (corn skiing). 

2)      Stable skiing conditions

Traditionally the conditions are generally more stable in April; both in terms of the general weather, and also the snowpack stability.  This basically translates to more awesome skiing up in the high, open Alpine slopes.  At this time of year it’s also possible to tackle the most aggressive lines and steeper slopes so it’s no surprise that CMH hosts its Heli Skiing Steep Camp at the end of April, when the snowpack is most stable.

3)      Long ski days

Through April you can also enjoy longer days with more opportunity to heli ski to really maximise your experience. These long heli ski days can run from a 9AM start to 6PM finish if conditions allow!

 4)      Great value heli skiing

With CMH’s demand led pricing structure their heli skiing trips in April are almost half the price of a mid-season heli ski week with 7 day April trips from CAD$7,130 – around £4,500. Considering this includes 30,500 metres of skiing, accommodation, transport, equipment plus all your food and soft drinks we think that’s a seriously good deal!

If you’re interested in a spring heli skiing break, contact the Off Piste and Heli Ski Experts at Pure Powder!

]]> http://www.purepowder.com/blog/the-joys-of-heli-skiing-in-canada-in-april/feed/ 1 http://www.purepowder.com/blog/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-heli-skier-part-iii-steep-deep-in-the-trees/ http://www.purepowder.com/blog/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-heli-skier-part-iii-steep-deep-in-the-trees/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:14:09 +0000 Claire Matheson http://www.purepowder.com/blog/?p=3701 Read more]]]> Many thanks to Pure Powder & CMH guest Craig McCulloch for the following article on his CMH Heli Skiing trip in March 2013…

Skiing with Pure Powder’s Canadian operator CMH Heli Skiing offers two very distinctive types of heli skiing. Most of us love the enjoyment of blue bird skies, no wind and heavenly high alpine skiing, but they and CMH are in the business of snow and on any given week there can be lots of heavy snow. There is therefore a mixture of High Alpine and Steep and Deep tree skiing. Some have a love/hate relationship with one or the other, but I love both and thought it best to expound the virtues of both for the benefit of those who have yet to try it. Below you’ll find a bit about skiing steep and deep trees.

Heli Skiing Deep Powder in Steep Trees

It’s our second morning at the lodge; we’ve done our stretching and are sitting at breakfast watching the snow fall at an amazing rate.  We wait with baited breath for Dave Cochrane’s daily breakfast announcement, praying that it’s not so bad that we can’t fly. Ting, ting on his glass of juice… “As you can see it’s a perfect for skiing the tress. We’ll be limited in height but we’re going to have a lot of deep snow in the trees. See you at the heli pad.”

The heli lifts off and buzzes low over the tips of the trees, the pilot’s skills apparent for all to see. Only he seems to have any sight – I can’t see a bloody thing for my seat.  The thud from the rotors tells me we are touching down, the door opens and we jump out into waist deep (and then some) snow, struggling to get the 7 steps away the heli. OMG, I think to myself this is going to be a belter.

The effort required to get our heli skiing kit sorted in this bottomless snow is significant and I tell myself this is not a day to fall. It’s really knackering just getting your kit back on with nothing to support your every move.

We head off following our heli ski guide in close formation, so as not to get lost in the poor light. Goggles on, I see Jeff drop down effortlessly and disappear into deep, soft snow which billows well above his head. Malcolm, Enrique, Daniel, Marco, Barbara and Sergio follow while I take up the rear with the camera running. The trees are all full to breaking point with every branch covered in inches of snow and hanging off every needle.

I start to turn, bouncing up and down with the snow blasting past my head and I yell with delight at the effortless pleasure of the light, bottomless snow. I see nothing but gaps, branches whiz past dumping even more snow on my jacket, it’s so deep there’s not much of a requirement to carve; it’s just point and bounce.

We reach the bottom of the trees and it opens out into a frozen lake bed, we track to the landing zone flags, laughing out loud at each other for we are all covered head to toe in snow, but ready to do it all over again!!

Read Part I of Craig’s CMH Heli Skiing experience A Day in the Life of a Heli Skier: Part I – Heli Skiing Prep and Part II A Day in the Life of a Heli Skier: Part II – Heavenly High Alpine

If Craig’s experience calls your name as it once did his, call us on +44 (0) 207 736 8191 or email us for heli skiing advice and planning.

Photos courtesy of CMH Heli Ski Guide / Photographer Geoff MacPherson and Craig McCulloch

Skiing with Pure Powder’s Canadian operator CMH Heli Skiing offers two very distinctive types of heli skiing. Most of us love the enjoyment of blue bird skies, no wind and heavenly high alpine skiing, but they and CMH are in the business of snow and on any given week there can be lots of heavy snow. There is therefore a mixture of High Alpine and Steep and Deep tree skiing. Some have a love/hate relationship with one or the other, but I love both and thought it best to expound the virtues of both for the benefit of those who have yet to try it. Below you’ll find a bit about skiing the highly demanded High Alpine.

Heli Skiing the Heavenly High Alpine

We wake to the sound of the bell being rung by the house girls walking around the Bugaboos lodge. The first sets of rings are for stretch class, the second for breakfast. Malcolm and I rise from the blessing of deep sleep with the previous evening’s joys and frivolities firmly implanted in memory by my aching head. We dress and walk down the stairs to the basement for the stretch class where people are already warming up with mats at their feet; 30 minutes of stretching and warm exercise gets your legs ready for the upcoming day of punishment.

We breakfast gazing out of the window at a bluebird day, waiting for Dave Cochrane, the Bugaboos lodge manager, to make his daily skiing announcement, normally an irony filled five minutes. Ting, ting on his glass of fresh orange juice. ‘AWESOME, as you can see its going to be perfect with 6” of new snow, no wind and clear skies, we’re all going to ski high. Let’s go.’

The various groups check their flying order to ensure that they are ready at the heli pad for their first lift. Malcolm smiles as he tells me we are in Group 1. EPIC. First out.

We scramble around grabbing all our kit and head for the drying room to pick up our jackets, boots, beacons, radio etc. We assemble at the heli pad, where Jeff our heli ski guide for the day checks our beacons. We bundle our skis and huddle up as the heli arrives – loaded and locked in, we have a 30 minute ride to the Bugaboos spires and a run called ‘Pearl’.

As the heli lifts off leaving us in silence, we take a deep breath. The mountain vista is off the scale of beauty; clear views of endless mountain landscape. Yee ha!

We track across a plateau with a shoulder drop off, and dive down following Jeff’s tracks. We’re all yelping and grinning ear to ear; the headcam is running and catches the sweet lines and billowing snow coming off  Malcolm’s and Enrique’s skis as they shred turns in front of me. The first skiing pitch really tests the legs, (ooh they need to warm up). Breakfast is still bouncing around in time to my turns. I’m glad to see Jeff stop and regroup so we can catch our breath, before he takes the lead on the next endless valley pitch.  My ears are screaming cold, but my heart is bursting with joy as my legs swing turn after turn in bottomless powder.

It’s an amazing feeling turning down high Alpine ski runs, with the whole mountain vista stretched in front of you and not another soul to be seen. Your legs go into auto pilot and your eyes scan the peaks, as you drop turn and after turn in Pure Powder.  This is what heli skiing the heavenly high Alpine is all about!

Read Part 1 of Craig’s CMH Heli Skiing experience A Day in the Life of a Heli Skier: Part I – Heli Skiing Prep

If Craig’s experience calls your name as it once did his, call us on +44 (0) 207 736 8191 or email us for heli skiing advice and planning.

Photos courtesy of CMH Heli Ski Guide / Photographer Geoff MacPherson.

Every passionate skier, dreams of bluebird days, deep powder and pristine mountain landscapes, void of people.

When I was 17 my every waking moment was spent skiing, or dreaming it. One day the owner of the mountaineering shop I worked in said ‘put this up in the window’ It read; ‘Canadian Mountain Holidays in association with Pure Powder (PSNA) present Heli High‘. I was captivated. I went along to the presentation with some friends and we all sat spellbound, watching a small group of skiers carve perfect turns in a waist-deep powder-filled wilderness. We all promised then and there that we had to do this.

I had to wait 30 years for my first experience. Malcolm, one the friends that I shared that evening with, sent me a picture postcard of him getting into a helicopter with a massive smile on his face, simply saying ‘done it, you must join me next year’. I did and I’ve been back every year since.

I get asked a lot by fellow skiers what it’s like to go heli skiing with Pure Powder and CMH. Honestly it’s an unimaginably, brilliant experience that is hard to explain. This is why I’ve put a few videos together to give a ‘punters’ eye view of what it’s like. I promise you; book a trip, experience it and you will be hooked.

Sheer excitement…..

After 12 months of waiting, Malcolm and I find ourselves stepping into the Delta Calgary Airport Hotel where we’re welcomed by grins from CMH staff at check-in. I check in, tag and bag one ski boot, choose my preferred skis from their extensive selection, knowing that in the morning everything will be awaiting for me at the original heli skiing lodge, the Bugaboos.

Malcolm and I head for the bar to look for Enrique and his brother Daniel; we skied with Enrique and his wife a few years back and on this trip his brother is losing his CMH virginity. After a few beers and stories, we part ways for the night.

Early doors, the 5:30am breakfast is gulped down –  the excitement is high as we all get on the bus for the two hour journey to the Heli-staging area. We’re 15 minutes away when the safety video starts playing, setting the scene for all the avalanche, heli and safety drills we’ll be doing later.

We arrive at 9:00, where the guides and lodge staff are busily loading a helicopter with our bags for the first trip. They smile and give the thumbs up against the noise of rotors as our Bell 212 takes to the sky.

We’re appointed to a load group for the heli transfer and as we load up I look at Daniel’s face. It’s a picture of amazement, even though we’ve spent the last two hours telling him how brilliant this is going to be.

We buzz across the pristine mountain landscape to the tune of the rotor blades, which echo as we drop towards the lodge landing zone. This is it, another powder adventure begins. As we enter the lodge Leanna, the head of housekeeping, greets us all and briefs us on safety drill times. (this unassuming girl telemarks deep powder effortlessly at high speed).

Safety first

Once we’ve sorted out our kit in our rooms, we all meet for safety drills. First we get helicopter inductions; how to approach, load and unload, close and open doors and emergency safety features – all are covered with a light hearted touch of humour.

Next we have some practical drills on mountain safety which include beacon locator operations, personal radio controls and of course avalanche drills which covers location, recover probing and shovelling.

Back at the lodge a light lunch awaits, (CMH hospitality means it’s actually massive…), before getting our things together and meeting in our groups for a afternoon of amazing skiing.

…then fun

We scrabble to get our gear on in the big, heated kit drying room. I pick my skis up, checking they have my name on them, (they will be mine for the week), and walk, dragging them as shown in the drills, to the heli pick-up outside the lodge.

The heli’s rotor blades are idling, as we check in with our guide Hans for the day. Hans checks our beacon locators and then we bindle our skis in a pile for loading.

My tummy is ready to explode with excitement, as we head up to the high alpine with blue-bird skies. We land on ‘Pearl’ one of the highest routes in the Bugs, and get our skis on. We track across 100m before it drops into our majestic first tracks of the week. With wild yelping and hoots of joy the adventure begins…

See what the rest of a week heli skiing looks like – Part II of Craig’s trip to follow!

If Craig’s experience calls your name as it once did his, call us on +44 (0) 207 736 8191 or email us for heli skiing advice and planning.

Photos courtesy of CMH Heli Ski Guide / Photographer Geoff MacPherson.

Two guests recently back from their heli-tastic honeymoon reinforced our views on the subject – ‘As a honeymoon it really couldn’t have been any better – we have so many happy memories and wonderful reasons never to forget it…’

When planning a heli skiing honeymoon, you must first consider what type of skiing and après ski you are in the mood for. Do you fancy slower, softer descents with long afternoon hot tubs? Or perhaps fast-paced steeps and all the vertical metres you can ski? Maybe you crave a quiet, intimate lodge setting, or the pleasure of eating and drinking with friends every evening. Whatever you desire, the heli skiing experts Pure Powder can provide you with the perfect start to married life.

‘Brilliantly organised, great fun and most importantly absolutely fantastic skiing.’ – Honeymooner Nick sums up his recent trip to CMH Heli Skiing’s Revelstoke base. He also came back with the ultimate ski shot to show his friends (see below!)

Calgary, the starting point for a Canadian heli holiday, is within reach of so many excellent resorts in the Rocky Mountain Range that it can be difficult to decide where to warm up your skiing legs, if you decide to do so. Or do as Nick’s new wife Zoe did and learn those vital heli skiing powder skills on a Girls’ School Powder Introduction for a few days beforehand. She was then ready to join Nick skiing this powder nirvana together as man and wife!

If this sounds like an ideal honeymoon for you and your other half, call us on +44 (0) 207 736 8191 or contact us by email for all your heli skiing needs and get your planning cared for. As Nick said, ‘Definitely better than the Maldives – just so glad I married the right woman who agrees with me on this…’

Getting there:

-Flying to Geneva: I recommend flying the night before you plan on arriving in Zermatt. There are numerous hotels near the airport, many of which offer a free shuttle to and from, as long as you arrive before 22:00.

-Trains leave frequently from Geneva airport to Zermatt with typical Swiss efficiency, and the journey is only four hours

-On your arrival in Zermatt, hotels can be called from a free phone in the station, and a driver sent in a ‘resort-capable’ car to pick you and your luggage up (real cars aren’t allowed in the town).

Where to stay:

Zermatt has a lot of hotels to choose from. A lot. If you’re overwhelmed by your choices, feel free to ask our advice as we have a few highly recommended ones. Personally I was floored by the 3* Hotel Perren, where a buffet breakfast of muesli, yogurt, eggs, bacon or sausages, cold cuts and cheese, loaves of bread, croissants and home-made jams is included. Many of the rooms have large balconies with an unobstructed view of the endlessly impressive Matterhorn.

Other benefits of the Perren include:

-Excellent location: the Perren is far enough from the main drag in Zermatt that it has a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. It’s a 10 minute walk to the Gornergrat and a 4 minute walk to the Sunnegga train, and the buses that ferry skiers to all the lifts about town are close at hand too.

-Half-board: like many others in Zermatt, the Perren offers half-board – a five-course dinner is available with a set menu every night, to truly remove the nuisance of having to even think about what to eat. The delectable food is only CHF 30 a head and each evening the menu suggests one of their local wines, not included in the price. The Favi rouge and the dry, white Heida were amongst my favourites, but try as many as possible as these wines aren’t available outside Zermatt.

The mountain:

-Skiing: although there is always the possibility of a white-out, there are ways to enjoy the fresh snow that usually accompanies one. For example, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise can be taken to the top, wind permitting, and if it can be managed skiing into Cervinia can be really astounding. The snow collects well on the Italian side and as it’s a different valley, it can host a completely different weather system (lift passes automatically cover both resorts). For more adventurous types, Zermatt has incredible off piste skiing and heli skiing. ABS-toting and skin-wearing skiers can be seen trekking all over the mountain on clear days while helicopters take skiers even farther afield to find fresh powder.

-Eating: Many of the moutain’s own restaurants are excellent for lunch as they offer quick, easy and full plates of pasta, rosti, soup and salad and more, for those wanting a short break between runs. If a longer lunch is to your liking, a classic example of a Zermatt lunch spot is the Adler Hitta. With a mountainside view of the Matterhorn and the Gornergrat area, it is sheltered enough to allow diners to enjoy their wine and Swiss specialities on the terrace when it’s sunny but still chilled. It is in the Sunnegga area, off the Findelbahn chair, so is accessible to all levels of skiers.

Whether you ski off piste, ski on piste, almost ski, après ski, or merely need a rest, all can be done at Zermatt. And all from somewhere on the mountain with the Matterhorn looming in the distance (a plethora of restaurants and bars can be reached by train or lift, so skiing is not needed for descent after the first beers of the afternoon).

Can’t wait to get theret? Find out all you need to know on Zermatt and then give us a call on +44(0)207 736 8191 or email us for help planning a last minute spring skiing getaway!

Pure Powder has created a trip to help you get the most out of the experience, including arranging transport to and from Geneva Airport, accommodation on either end of the trip and setting you up with a guide, Matthieu Desprat. Matthieu is a fully certified IFGMA mountain guide who has nearly 20 years of guiding experience under his belt, and knows the Haute Route like the back of his hand.

To begin with, you will be picked up from Geneva Airport and driven up to Chamonix, where we recommend a stay at the 3* Hotel Faucigny. We’ll have you kitted out with all the necessary touring gear before a warm-up day, skiing the excellent slopes of Chamonix.

As part of this snow-tastic expidition, you can expect…

* Long ascents on skins to some of the most walked yet empty and tourist-free peaks in the Alps

* Equally long descents through virtually untouched powder on similarly empty slopes

* Gorgeous rustic, alpine cabins and huts in impossibly high places

* Scrumptious meals, many with multiple courses, in all the cabins along the way

* Spectacular views from every climb, peak, run down and window

Arriving in Zermatt by way of glacier, your luggage will find you at your hotel, (we suggest the lovely Hotel Butterfly), for a relaxing afternoon in town under the Matterhorn.

Email us for any Haute Route or off piste skiing information, or give us a call on +44(0)207 736 8191