Frequently Asked Questions
AN OVERVIEW
Telluride Helitrax is one of the most experienced and personal heli-ski operations in the U.S., in operation since 1982.
What is included in a day of heli-skiing with Telluride Helitrax?
We provide six runs of guided heli-skiing (avg: 10,000 – 14,000’ vertical of skiing per day), lunch, snacks, drinks, apres ski, sunscreen, an avalanche beacon, safety equipment, powder skis (sorry, we do not have snowboards) and ski poles.
Is heli-skiing just for experts?
Advances in ski technology have opened powder skiing to a wide range of skiers.
Heli-skiers should be Advanced Intermediate, with a sense of adventure and in reasonable physical condition. Skiers should confidently ski groomed black diamond runs, as rated on the Telluride Ski resort, with a few inches of powder on them. Skiers should also, at least occasionally, choose to ski un-groomed single black diamond runs and can ski them with control (see also: What is the terrain like?).
Snowboarders should be Advanced with the ability to traverse in powder snow, following a broken ski trail. In addition, snowboarders need to have the ability to carry enough speed in a straight line to cross flatter terrain. If you have any questions about your ability feel free to give us a call.
We do not provide snowboards. Snowboarders should bring the biggest board they have and consider moving bindings back to best handle powder.
How fit should a heli-skier be?
Fitness can be more important than ability. The more fit you are, the more fun you’ll have. We ski at the highest elevations in North America, so reasonable cardiovascular fitness is particularly important.
What is the terrain like?
We operate in some of the highest ski terrain in North America: ranging in elevation from 10,000 to 13,500 feet.
Each run drops 1,000 to 3,000 feet—approximately 300-800 meters.
Our special use permit area encompasses over 200 square miles of high alpine basins, cirques and summits surrounding Telluride to the north, south and east.
Almost all of our terrain (200 square miles in San Juans) is above tree line, and is considered some of the most spectacular ski terrain found anywhere in the world. Our heli-ski operation is a moderate angle heli-skiing with most runs equivalent to double blue and single black runs, as rated on the Telluride Ski Resort.
Most days start with a low angle run, to asses the conditions and group abilities. If snow conditions, avalanche hazard and a groups ability allow, we then seek out steeper terrain, similar to double back diamond runs. We do not consider any of the runs we ski to be extreme.
There are no mandatory jumps and no fall zones.
The pace of the skiing during the day is not rushed; taking in scenery is part of the adventure, holding up the group is generally not a concern if you meet the above skier profile criteria.
Does Helitrax take snowboarders?
Yes. Snowboarders should be Advanced with the ability to traverse in powder snow, following a broken ski trail. In addition, snowboarders need to have the ability to carry enough speed in a straight line to cross flatter terrain. If you have any questions about your ability feel free to give us a call.
We do not provide snowboards. Snowboarders should bring the biggest board they have and consider moving bindings back to best handle powder.
Is there a minimum or maximum age limit?
Telluride Helitrax does not have age requirements. We have taken skiers as young as seven and as old as 75. The decision to heli-ski is based on ability, although we do request that heli-skiers younger than 16 be accompanied by an adult guardian.
Who will I ski with?
Heli-skiers ski with a guide and are sorted by reservation groups. Ability and over all group load weight are taken into consideration. Groups who book heli-skiing together will ski together provided the weight considerations (calculated by the pilot) of the flight groups are met. Most days there are four to five skiers plus the guide in each group. Helitrax may take up to 20 skiers per day; you may encounter other groups throughout your day.
What should you wear?
Guests need only to wear normal ski clothes and ski boots. Unfortunately due to weight constraints, we cannot accommodate packs.
What type of Helicopter do we fly in?
Telluride Helitrax flies a Bell 407, the same aircraft used by larger Heli-Skiing Operators for elite and custom tours. Our aircraft has two seats up front: one for the pilot and the other for the heli-ski guide. There five seats in the cabin.
How many guests does Helitrax take each day?
There are typically 16 seats available per day, although occasionally Helitrax will take up to 20 skiers. You will ski in a group of four guests to one guide. To ensure your seat, we recommend booking as soon as possible.
What should I wear for the day?
Come dressed for a normal day of skiing on the Telluride Ski Resort. Both goggles and sunglasses are a good idea every day. Dress appropriately; we do not have room for backpacks or to store additional clothing once we leave our staging area. Additional information on what is appropriate on a particular day will be give during the morning safety briefing.
Are gratuities included in the price?
Helitrax guides and staff work hard to make your heli-skiing adventure as safe & enjoyable as possible. While gratuities (tips) are always greatly appreciated they are never required. A suggested dollar amount range for a gratuity is $50 to $100 per guest per day.
Will I have to jump from the helicopter?
Never. The pilot lands allowing heli-skiers to carefully disembark.
What if it is snowing in the morning?
We evaluate the weather early every day we operate and make a determination at that time. Occasionally we will keep the trip on a “weather hold” if we deem there is a good possibility that we will be able to fly that day. You are required to keep yourself available to ski with us until 12pm, although we normally make a final determination by about 10am. On average, one out of three days are canceled due to inclement mountain weather. Reservations cancelled due to weather are refunded in full.
What about avalanches?
Although we heli-ski in avalanche terrain, our avalanche forecast program is top notch—as is our safety record. If inclement weather interferes with your heli-ski trip you can reschedule or your deposit will be refunded.
When is the best time to heli-ski?
The heli-skiing season, late December through early April, offers great backcountry skiing and riding opportunities. Operations begin when we determine we have a sufficient amount of snow, with opportunities for good powder skiing equivalent to those at other times of the year.
Our most popular time period is the last two weeks of February through the first three weeks of March, book early to ensure your seat.
What are Helitrax’s refund and cancellation policies?
Read our Terms and Conditions prior to making a reservation; we highly recommend trip insurance from Travel Guard.
