By Max Schmidt
Great Bear Heli Skiing is exceptional in many ways. Canada's newest heli-skiing lodge is one of the most beautiful in the world. Not only we say so, but also our well-traveled customers, like Reto and Philipp. The lodge on the Dean River near Bella Coola is truly a gem. Accessible only by helicopter, Great Bear Lodge in the Coast Mountains is a genuine boutique resort - charming, luxurious and distinctive. And this is thanks to a whole host of powerful women!
Great Bear Heli Skiing is run by Mandi Blewett and her daughters. Mandi's family has decades of experience as hosts. After all, the family has been in the fly fishing business for a long time. Since 2022, their fishing lodge has been transformed into a heliskiing lodge at its finest in winter.
The feminine touch is visible in many loving details. Particularly impressive is the cozy interior of the log cabin lodge on the edge of the forest and the homely guest cabins. The lamps made from driftwood are true masterpieces.
Their strengths complement each other perfectly
The cuisine at Great Bear also truly deserves the term **gourmet cuisine**, which is overused in North America. Mandi has been cooking herself for a long time and still has an eye for the dishes. This pays off for gourmets! Mandi now concentrates on managing the business, together with her daughter Dyllan, who acts as co-manager. The third daughter and co-owner, Zoe, takes care of marketing.
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When it comes to heliskiing, **Operations Manager** Ken Bibby also relies on strong women: Fannie is a permanent member of the guiding team, as is Ken's wife Lara, who is currently still working as a tail guide but plans to take her exam to become a fully licensed ski mountain guide in 2026. Lara is also responsible for social media work.
There are also an unusually high number of women in top positions in the technical area: Allison is chief pilot of the helicopter fleet and Sarah is responsible for helicopter maintenance and safety as **Helicopter Engineer**.
There are also numerous women in the spa, in service and in the kitchen. So much female power is an absolute rarity in the heli-skiing business and a big plus for Great Bear Heli Skiing!
Who is Great Bear Heli Skiing suitable for?
From our personal experience, we recommend Great Bear Heli Skiing to experienced and good freeriders. The area is varied and offers challenges with couloirs, forest runs and long runs with views of the fjord. At the lodge, you feel like part of the family and are warmly welcomed and pampered by Mandi and her team. At the moment it is still an insider tip and always worth a visit.
