North Cascade Heli-Skiing, Washington
It was as good as it gets skiing with North Cascade Heli—plenty of deep, cold snow, boatloads of sun and not a lick of wind. Check out some shots here from the day.
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The day starts here at the Heli Barn in Mazama, Washington. Gear is issued and you’re taught a lesson on how to operate in and around the helicopter as well as how to respond to an avalanche incident. For more information on North Cascade Heli-Skiing, check out www.heli-ski.com.
Guide Jerry Laverty gives a quick lesson on how to search for an avalanche victim in the heli barn.
Our chariot for the day was the ASTAR B3—the Lamborghini of the heli world.
Pilot Seamus O-Daimhin had no trouble dropping us on knife-edge ridges. Guess it’s a tad easier than getting shot at in Vietnam. He inspired confidence in everyone.
Our guide for the day and co-owner of North Cascade Heli, Ken Brooks, calling the shots in shotgun. He got us to the goods—over and over and over…
Guide and co-owner of North Cascade Heli, Ken Brooks, shows how it’s done.
Guide Ken Brooks says “follow my tracks.”
The view from high atop the Pacific Crest was killer. This is looking west over North Cascades National Park. The peak on the far left is Glacier Peak, one of Washington’s most active volcanoes.
Guide Ken Brooks takes it deep.
Jason Tross in the black and white room.
Jason Tross spreads his wings.
Jason Tross doing his best referee impersonation atop a pillow.
Laura Wilcox couldn’t contain her snowy smile. Neither could anybody else.
The sticks of choice today were the K2 Darksides. These conditions are what these skis were built for. And damn were they fun.
Jason Tross taking flight.
We washed the day down with some real food and fresh brews at the Twisp River Pub just down the road from Mazama in Twisp. A great way to end a perfect day.
