Northern Escape Heli-Skiing has completed its own lodge for the 2019/20 season. NE owner John Forrest talks to TRAVELZONE about the benefits of the new heli-skiing location, the idea behind his catski backup and a joke that (almost) comes true at Tree Skiing.
John, Northern Escape Heli-Skiing opened its new Mountain Lodge for the 2019/2020 season. Why did you want to have another base in addition to Yellow Cedar Lodge and its private chalet?
John: We have been renting lodges for years, but it was always our goal to create something of our own. On the one hand, of course, for financial reasons. On the other hand, it's a dream for any heliskiing company to build a lodge exactly according to their own ideas and in the right place. Many accommodations are not ideally located, be it in terms of skiing, weather or accessibility. We are lucky that the Yellow Cedar Lodge is located in the heart of our ski area. But at the Northern Escape Mountain Lodge, everything is specifically geared towards heliskiing. This starts with the boot room and extends to the lounge with its fantastic view over the lake and the helipad right outside the front door.
Where exactly is your Mountain Lodge located?
Right at the base of our catskiing area. We chose the terrain especially for tree skiing. After all, you don't want to be in open terrain when it's stormy. So far, however, we have had to fly there for catskiing. That worked 99 percent of the time, but on one or two days each season the conditions were so bad that the helicopter couldn't even get there. Now our guests can get on the Cat from the lodge almost immediately and actually ski every day.
John: We have been renting lodges for years, but it was always our goal to create something of our own. On the one hand, of course, for financial reasons. On the other hand, it's a dream for any heliskiing company to build a lodge exactly according to their own ideas and in the right place. Many accommodations are not ideally located, be it in terms of skiing, weather or accessibility. We are lucky that the Yellow Cedar Lodge is located in the heart of our ski area. But at the Northern Escape Mountain Lodge, everything is specifically geared towards heliskiing. This starts with the boot room and extends to the lounge with its fantastic view over the lake and the helipad right outside the front door.
Where exactly is your Mountain Lodge located?
Right at the base of our catskiing area. We chose the terrain especially for tree skiing. After all, you don't want to be in open terrain when it's stormy. So far, however, we have had to fly there for catskiing. That worked 99 percent of the time, but on one or two days each season the conditions were so bad that the helicopter couldn't even get there. Now our guests can get on the Cat from the lodge almost immediately and actually ski every day.
Heliskiing with Kenny is perfectly organized, just as I demand as a freerider and pilot myself! Bravo!
Does the new lodge also give you access to new terrain in your area?
Our area is one of the largest not only in Canada, but in the world. The Yellow Cedar Lodge is a little south of the center. We have developed almost everything there. If we head further north, flight times will make it very difficult to get there. Our new Mountain Lodge is located about 40 kilometers north of Yellow Cedar Lodge. From there, we can reach terrain that we have rarely visited before. In the year before opening alone, we explored 50 or 60 new runs, whether for tree skiing, alpine skiing or on glaciers.
Building the Northern Escape Mountain Lodge was a real labor of love for you. What do you think when you look at the result today?
It has turned out wonderfully. You can sit on the terrace, relax and enjoy the view of the lake. In winter, there are masses of snow all around you. The lodge blends in beautifully with the atmosphere of the area. It's simply a wonderful retreat up in the mountains for you and a few of your friends.
Do you spend as much time as possible in the new lodge or do you move back and forth?
I don't accompany our guests heliskiing quite as often as I used to. Back then it was between 100 and 120 days a year, now it's 60 to 80. Nevertheless, I try to at least greet all guests personally and, if it works out, to ski with them. I have known some groups for around 30 years. I want to make sure that I'm on the road with them for at least a few days. That's why I rotate between lodges as much as possible.
Our area is one of the largest not only in Canada, but in the world. The Yellow Cedar Lodge is a little south of the center. We have developed almost everything there. If we head further north, flight times will make it very difficult to get there. Our new Mountain Lodge is located about 40 kilometers north of Yellow Cedar Lodge. From there, we can reach terrain that we have rarely visited before. In the year before opening alone, we explored 50 or 60 new runs, whether for tree skiing, alpine skiing or on glaciers.
Building the Northern Escape Mountain Lodge was a real labor of love for you. What do you think when you look at the result today?
It has turned out wonderfully. You can sit on the terrace, relax and enjoy the view of the lake. In winter, there are masses of snow all around you. The lodge blends in beautifully with the atmosphere of the area. It's simply a wonderful retreat up in the mountains for you and a few of your friends.
Do you spend as much time as possible in the new lodge or do you move back and forth?
I don't accompany our guests heliskiing quite as often as I used to. Back then it was between 100 and 120 days a year, now it's 60 to 80. Nevertheless, I try to at least greet all guests personally and, if it works out, to ski with them. I have known some groups for around 30 years. I want to make sure that I'm on the road with them for at least a few days. That's why I rotate between lodges as much as possible.
Do you have a favorite spot in the Mountain Lodge?
I like to sit on the couch near the fireplace. From there, you can look out through windows that are almost five meters high. If someone brings you a drink, it's a great place to sit back and relax.
Despite all the amenities, sooner or later your guests "have" to leave the lodge, and not even bad weather can save them. How did you come up with the idea of installing your own catskiing backup?
When heliskiing became increasingly popular a few decades ago, the majority of guests came from Europe. Many of them lived in the mountains and therefore had a good understanding of the weather and external conditions. Today, this is no longer necessarily the case. Sometimes people don't have the sense that it's dangerous to fly into the mountains on certain days. In addition, all heliskiing guests used to book a seven-day package. If we couldn't fly one day, we stayed in the lodge, played cards and had a great time. Today, North American guests in particular tend to book four- or five-day packages. If there's a down day - or, God forbid, two down days - it immediately lowers the mood. With the Catskiing program, we make sure that our guests can ski almost every day. And that makes them happy.
Is there ever a time when the cats don't come out?
Basically, the safety of our guests always comes first, whether it's heliskiing or catskiing. Sometimes we get so much snow that it's simply too dangerous. Sometimes the weather is simply too bad, for example when it has rained all the way up to the summit. You can always get to the top with the snow groomers - but there are days when you just don't want to be out there.
Is your catskiing offer exclusively for your heliskiing guests?
Yes, because that way the Cats are always ready for action if the weather deteriorates. What's more, we don't have to avoid the tracks of other skiers and snowboarders. That makes our offer very exclusive.
What would you say to someone who thinks Catskiing is just another down day alternative?
That it's true if you're a heliskier. But it is absolutely the best alternative. When it's storming hard and four, five, six centimetres of snow an hour are falling, the conditions between the trees are fantastic. There's this joke that sometimes you need a snorkel for the powder. For us, that's often almost the reality.
Despite all the amenities, sooner or later your guests "have" to leave the lodge, and not even bad weather can save them. How did you come up with the idea of installing your own catskiing backup?
When heliskiing became increasingly popular a few decades ago, the majority of guests came from Europe. Many of them lived in the mountains and therefore had a good understanding of the weather and external conditions. Today, this is no longer necessarily the case. Sometimes people don't have the sense that it's dangerous to fly into the mountains on certain days. In addition, all heliskiing guests used to book a seven-day package. If we couldn't fly one day, we stayed in the lodge, played cards and had a great time. Today, North American guests in particular tend to book four- or five-day packages. If there's a down day - or, God forbid, two down days - it immediately lowers the mood. With the Catskiing program, we make sure that our guests can ski almost every day. And that makes them happy.
Is there ever a time when the cats don't come out?
Basically, the safety of our guests always comes first, whether it's heliskiing or catskiing. Sometimes we get so much snow that it's simply too dangerous. Sometimes the weather is simply too bad, for example when it has rained all the way up to the summit. You can always get to the top with the snow groomers - but there are days when you just don't want to be out there.
Is your catskiing offer exclusively for your heliskiing guests?
Yes, because that way the Cats are always ready for action if the weather deteriorates. What's more, we don't have to avoid the tracks of other skiers and snowboarders. That makes our offer very exclusive.
What would you say to someone who thinks Catskiing is just another down day alternative?
That it's true if you're a heliskier. But it is absolutely the best alternative. When it's storming hard and four, five, six centimetres of snow an hour are falling, the conditions between the trees are fantastic. There's this joke that sometimes you need a snorkel for the powder. For us, that's often almost the reality.
Strong enough?
Not sure if you're strong enough for heliskiing? Get in touch with us. We're also happy to do a video check-up. We have been heliskiing with thousands of skiers and know all the areas. So we can assess with you where you will have the most fun in the powder!
To the heliski check-up Mountain Lodge @ Northern Escape Heli-Skiing
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