Prices + Booking

Tours + Trips

Peaks of Pemberton

The Details

Location: Pemberton Backcountry
Duration: 1-3 days
Cost: Customised
Dates: January - April

Currently Unavailable

Want to experience the peaks of Pemberton? Skip the lift lines and parking lot stress. The peaks surrounding the Pemberton Valley provide endless adventures for backcountry skiers and snowboarders.

Our ACMG ski guides will curate your trip to ensure you achieve your goals and get the best day conditions.

We have two multi-day programs to choose from: 
Peaks and Progression

Focus on exploring the area and expanding upon your backcountry skills (all while shredding great terrain).

  • Approximate vertical: 1200 – 1440m per day
  • Potential skills: tree skiing, route finding, glacier travel, boot packing
Mission in Mind

For those more hard-core adventurers with a particular objective who would like guidance to achieve it safely.

  • Approximate vertical: up to 2000m per day
  • Potential skills: rappelling, boot packing, use of ice axe and crampons, steep skiing and riding.

What to expect

We keep our packages flexible to line up your heli day with the best conditions. Our meeting location each day is the Whitecap office based at the Pemberton Airport.

Day one: Safety briefing, gear check, trip planning, ski touring from your vehicle

Day two: Heli briefing, heli bump to ski touring, heli pick up at the end of the day.

Day three: Objective evaluation, optional upgrade to heli bump day or ski tour from your vehicle.

Add Ons

  • Lunches
  • Pemberton accommodation
  • Transport to trailhead
  • Extra heli time
  • Additional guides

Group size

Each trip is based on up to four guests and one guide. Ideally, each group will be a private buyout to ensure we meet your daily objectives. We ask that you consider your ability level and let us know which of the following best describes your skiing or snowboarding ability:

Cruiser
You’re an intermediate-level powder skier or snowboarder but not super experienced in the backcountry. You don’t feel any rush to get to the top and are happy to enjoy the views and time together on the skin track.
Keener
You’re decent at shredding pow and are comfortable riding in all conditions, even on steep slopes. You would describe your current fitness as “feeling strong” and your backcountry experience as intermediate.
Crusher
You’re not a guide, but you can break the trail for the crew. With lots of backcountry experience,  you have a few big objectives you want to achieve but would prefer to approach them with an ACMG guide.

 

Price (Prices are for groups of four people)

  • Three days with one heli assist: $5299+ 5% GST
  • Two days with one heli assist: $4699+ 5% GST
  • One day with one heli assist: $4199+ 5% GST
  • One day with no heli assist: $1999+5% GST ($499.75/Person)
  • Extra helicopter flight time is available for $1699 per 30 minutes

*Applicable taxes will be added to rates. Credit card processing fees and fuel surcharges may apply.

These prices are based on four guests, an ACMG ski guide, daily briefings and trip planning, and concierge assistance for building your package. Please inquire for adjusted prices if your group numbers differ. 

Please email winter@whitecapalpine.ca to inquire.

 

Tenure Map

 

The areas we will be able to access via helicopter are all North of Whistler BC, surrounding the  Pemberton Valley to the North, East and South. These include:

  • Mt Currie
  • Duffey Lake
  • Marriage Lake
  • McWalt
  • Bastion (Rampart Mountain, Bastion Peak)
  • Fowl Lakes (Mt Ronayne, 7 O’clock Mt etc.)
  • Cayoosh (Cassiope, Saxifrage, Mt Oleg, Cirque Peak, 7 mile Creek, Mt. Olds, Place Glacier etc.)
  • Snowspider South (Meditation Mountain, Meadow Dome, Reflection Peak)
  • Snowspider
  • The Birkenhead
  • Prospector

Please note, your guide will work with you on the day to determine the most appropriate objective given the weather and conditions.

Ideally, you will have a buyout (exclusive use of the helicopter for one to four guests). Therefore, you will know the other people in your group and be on the same page with your goals and abilities.
If you would like to be part of a mixed group, we ask you to pick the category that best represents your capabilities:
Cruiser
You’re an intermediate-level powder skier/ border but not super experienced in the backcountry.  You don’t feel any rush to get to the top and are happy to enjoy the views, enjoy the company and enjoy your envious selection of snacks.
Keener
You feel that you’re pretty decent at shredding pow and are comfortable riding in all conditions, even on steep slopes. You would describe your current fitness as “feeling strong” and your backcountry experience as intermediate.
Crusher
While you’re not a guide, you’re happy to break the trail for the crew. With a solid amount of backcountry experience under your belt,  you have a few big goals and objectives that you want to achieve, but you would prefer to approach them with an ACMG guide.

Great!
We are able to bring in extra guides and do multiple flights for the same drop. The ideal scenario would be multiples of four, with a four:one guest to guide ratio.
However, each guide can take up to six guests. Each helicopter flight can take up to four guests. As an example, if you only want to bring six guests, then you would still need two flights and the cost per person would be higher due to the empty seats in the heli.
Send us an email with your ideal scenario and we can go from there: winter@whitecapalpine.ca

Yes, you have the option to BUYOUT the heli and bring less than four people.

 

If you would like to be part of a mixed group, we will need a full helicopter of four people to keep the per-person pricing as  listed. If we cannot fill the helicopter, you will be given the option to change your dates or keep the dates and split the cost of any empty seats. Failing that, your deposit will be refunded if we cancel the trip due to lack of interest.

Ski Gear
  • Ski touring boots or snowboard boots
  • Skis or split-board snowboard
  • Ski poles
  • Adhesive climbing skins (fitted to width and length of your skis/ snowboard
  • Ski crampons (options but advised for when conditions warrant)
  • Backpack with capacity of 30 – 40 litres (2000 – 2400 cubic inches)
  • Avalanche probe
  • Snow shovel
  • Digital avalanche transceiver
  • Spare transceiver batteries (purchase new ones and check for correct size)
  • Snow goggles
  • Glacier glasses/ sunglasses
  • Insulated water bottle 2 litres
  • Small thermos (optional)

Ski Clothing

  • Ski pants
  • Long underwear, shirt and bottoms (polypropylene or wool blends)
  • Mid layer for insulation and wind protection while being active
  • Ski socks
  • Thin ski touring gloves
  • Ski gloves/ mitts/ waterproof outers
  • Gore-tex jacket/ parka (with hood)
  • Down/ synthetic jacket (warm, ‘puffy’ type jacket)
  • Beanie (touque) and sun hat (baseball, sombrero, whatever floats your boat)
  • Neck gator/ buff for face protection

Other

  • Personal first-aid and blister kit (second skin, combed, athletic tape, personal medications, Ibuprofen, etc.)
  • Sunblock (high SPF rated)
  • Repairs and spares kit (works for your own model of A/T, telemark, or split-board system)
  • Headlamp
  • Lots of food/ snacks. Lunch is available as an add-on

If the weather is bad, there are two other days to fly. However, if no days are flyable, the heli portion will be refunded and your guide will find the best options for vehicle access ski touring.

Our program is designed to be flexible giving a three day window to do the heli lift. Your guide and pilot will review the forecast and line up the day they feel would work best. If we can still not fly, they you will do three days of ground access and you will get a kickback for the unused heli portion of your trip. The amount will vary based on the custom pricing model used.

A $300 deposit, per person, is required at the time of booking. This is non-refundable. The full amount is then due 2 weeks before arrival. If cancelled within 2 weeks – 24hrs the trip is 50% refundable. If canceled within 24hrs, it is non-refundable.
Whitecap always recommends that guests purchase travel insurance.

At Whitecap we only work with the best ACMG certified Ski Guides. All of our guides are knowledgeable about the terrain and the snow conditions they will be taking you in. Assessing snow stability and evaluating avalanche hazard is always our first priority. You can meet our guide team here.

Tips are not mandatory but always appreciated. You are welcome to tip your guide in cash, or request that we process a tip for you in our accounting program.

How long can your legs last for?! We will ski as long a light and conditions allow.

We have accommodation partners in both Whistler and Pemberton.
Pemberton:

We encourage you to say local with us here in Pemberton. We partner with two fantastic accommodation providers that offer varying rates and experiences.

Ancient Cedars Lodge is a private log home with luxurious furnishings for groups of up to ten. This private lodge has four King beds and one Queen bed with five Bathrooms. Surrounded by ancient cedar trees, this is the ultimate addition to your Pemberton adventure. We can arrange a private chef or on-site yoga class as an add-on. Make the experience unique to your group.  

Whitecap guests receive 10% off direct bookings. Contact us for a promo code. 

Pemberton Valley Lodge provides our guests with comfortable and affordable accommodation. Whitecap guests receive up to a 20% discount off advertised rates, subject to the hotel’s terms and conditions. Contact us for a promo code. The property has an outdoor pool and hot tub, situated with a stunning Mt. Currie backdrop.

Whistler:

The Crystal Lodge in Whistler has an unbeatable location and award-winning service. Not to mention a pool, hot tub, and sauna room to wind down after a big day on the skis. Whitecap guests are eligible for up to 15% off their best available rate, subject to the hotel’s terms and conditions. Contact us for a promo code.

You can either pack your own lunch or you can add on a local packed lunch from arguably the best bakery in Pemberton, Blackbird Bakery.

If you would like to take the driving out of the equation we partner with an awesome local shuttle service Approach Angle 4×4 Shuttle. You can add on the shuttle service from anywhere in the Sea to Sky Corridor.

There are various options, from full door to door service each day, or drive yourself to the airport here in Pemberton and Approach Angle 4×4 Shuttle will do the rest, getting you to and from the trailhead on the days where you decide to leave the heli parked up!
Please note, if you decide to drive yourself, you must have a winter road worthy vehicle, with decent tread left on your winter tires to make it safely to and from the trailhead.

Signing up for the Evacuation Fund covers the cost of the helicopter evacuation in an emergency if you fall ill or get injured and need to immediately be taken to a higher level of care.

$50 per person, per trip, to be paid prior to the start of your trip date. Depending on the trip package you book, the evacuation fund could be included in the price of the trip. Please ask if you are unsure.
The evacuation fund is only available for McGillivray Pass Lodge and Peaks of Pemberton trips.  Without it you could be left to pay the bill for the helicopter if you are not otherwise insured. The cost of the flight will depend on flight time. You should expect this to be somewhere in the realm of $2000.

If you buy trip insurance make sure the provider knows that you will be backcountry ski touring and ask them if helicopter evacuation is covered.
For those with MSP, helicopter evacuation may be included in some cases, but the process will need to go through the proper chain of command via a 911 call and then be passed on to Search and Rescue. Having access to the evacuation fund allows us to bypass a potentially lengthy process and not take up the volunteer SAR resource. We go directly to our helicopter provider for the quickest possible extraction from the field. All our guides are certified Wilderness first responders and the decision to fly comes under the guidance of our Medical Directors.

Yes, where possible we can arrange for trips to be organised outside of the dates listed. 

No, this is not heli skiing, it is heli-touring.
Otherwise know as heli-accessed ski touring. The helicopter will provide you with a lift to get you higher and or deeper into the mountains than would usually be possible for a foot propelled day trip. From this point on you will tour (i.e. earn your turns) for the rest of the day. 

We proudly partner with Blackcomb Helicopters, who as of January 1, 2019 became the first full-service helicopter operator in the world to offset 100% of its carbon footprint.

Through a significant contribution to a forest conservation project on Quadra Island, as well as local green tech and travel initiatives, BH is offsetting its carbon footprint through the sequestration of greenhouses gases by preserving forests, encouraging greener travel for commuters, and incorporating energy savings and lower emissions in new building design.

You can learn more about Blackcomb Helicopters’ ‘Fly Carbon Neutral’ program here: https://blackcombhelicopters.com/carbon-offset-program.

Have Questions?
Call us at 604-907-7937 or email us at info@whitecapalpine.ca

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