NB Selkirk Powder Guides Heli Skiing is no longer operating, but you can go
cat skiing instead.
Join Selkirk Powder Guides on an epic day or two or more of heli skiing in the Selkirk Mountains near Schweitzer Ski Resort and Sandpoint Idaho (or Priest Lake Idaho). The Selkirk Powder Heli Skiing is situated in the sweet spot of America’s Northern Rockies, where geography and snowy weather patterns combine to make a powder skiing and riding paradise.
The Selkirk Mountains are renowned for the large concentration of cat skiing and heli-ski operators, and the southern portion of the Selkirk Range features a reliable, deep snowpack with plentiful powder days.
Selkirk Powder Guides Heli Skiing offers small group helicopter skiing and you can choose from semi-private day skiing packages where you can join as a solo or small group. Or for the ultimate, get your posse together for private heli skiing (maximum 8 guests).
Safety
Selkirk Powder Guides are a licensed Level II Alpine Ski Outfitter, and also operate a professional division of National Ski Patrol. Their ski and snowboard guides are well seasoned and specially trained.
Helicopters
Selkirk Powder Guides fly Bell 407s and Eurocopter AS350 B2/3 “A-Stars”, which are powerful and have great speed as well as lift capacity ensuring maximum efficiency.
Where is Selkirk Powder Guides Heli Skiing?
The Selkirk Powder Heli Skiing tenure is in the southern portion of the Selkirk Range in the northern panhandle of Idaho USA, not far from the border with British Columbia Canada. Selkirk Powder Guides heli skiing is part of the
Selkirk Powder Triangle, along with powder skiing spots in BC near Nelson that are also part of the Selkirk Mountains.
One of the heli staging areas is at Sandpoint Airport which is a few miles north of the town of Sandpoint and 10 miles southeast of
Schweitzer Mountain Resort (where the
Selkirk Powder Cat Skiing is located). The major gateway airport is Spokane International Airport, which is 78 miles southwest of Sandpoint in Washington State.
The other heli port is at Priest Lake which is an hour drive northwest of Sandpoint.
Snow
The Selkirk Powder Heli Skiing snowpack is generally reliable and consistent. The area draws moisture from the north and south, so it is usually in the path of storm systems all season long. That equates to over 300 inches of snow during an average season, with a stable snowpack averaging about 120+ inches in depth holding from February through to April (measured at 6350', deeper at the higher elevations).
Heli Skiing Terrain
The Selkirk Powder Guides heli skiing terrain is located in the unspoiled Idaho State Forest land. Terrain consists of everything from cornice topped alpine cirque bowls and huge powder fields developed by a historic forest fire, to narrow rock lined chutes and the famous Selkirk snow ghost covered runs from treeline.
Runs range in length up to 2,200ft and a day of heli skiing typically includes 10,000 to 14,000 feet of vertical, but it reality it comes down to the group's desires, level of fitness and ability.
Ability Level
The heli skiing terrain is varied, offering runs for the likes of pro athletes to mellow cruisers. Skiers and riders should at a minimum be high intermediate and feel comfortable riding in a range of snow conditions and uncontrolled terrain.
