Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing’s “Single-Group” philosophy is the right way to celebrate life.
Words :: Feet Banks // Photos :: Christie Fitzpatrick / Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing
True mountain lifers understand: Beyond the core gear we need to get out there, the gift of a memorable experience will always be better than…more stuff.
Creating amazing memories is the secret to a fulfilling life. And when it comes to big life events—birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions or “just because”—can a shiny necklace or a new golf bag really ever compare to crushing unlimited laps of perfect pow with the people that matter most to you?
Truth is, they cannot. “Stuff” gets lost, it breaks, it wears out. Memories live forever in the stories we tell and the smiles we share. And one of the best ways to create those types of memories is with a helicopter, a couple dozen centimetres of untouched powder snow, and 4–9 of your favourite people. Heliskiing (or heliboarding) memories beat everything.
“When you have an amazing, life-changing experience, you want to share that joy with friends and family,” says David K, who booked his first heliskiing trip to celebrate his fiftieth birthday, got hooked for the following decade and knew exactly how he would celebrate his next big milestone.
“That nirvana moment of floating effortlessly down a steep slope in deep powder… I realized this was something it wanted to do every year I was fit enough,” David says. “And something I wanted to share.”
For his sixtieth, David booked into Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing with his sister, her husband and three kids (youngest 12) along with his own two (adult) sons, and some friends. “We all fit in the Bell 212 helicopter which meant we all skied together. No one will ever forget that holiday.”
The ability to all ski together, in a medium sized group of 4-9 people, (rather than splitting into two smaller groups/helicopters) is a point of pride for Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing, but most important is that each group have its own helicopter all day, rather than have a single chopper service multiple groups, as is common in other heliski operations.
“Having marketed heliskiing over the last 15 years in BC and Alaska, I used to swear by the ‘small-group heliskiing’ model,” says Tim Wilkinson, a 30-year ski industry veteran. The operations he worked for said that skiing in a small group in a helicopter having to service multiple groups offered the best balance of value and fresh tracks.”
“But after joining Tyax, I realized, it’s not about the size of the group, it’s about having the helicopter to yourself without having to buy a private package. When there’s only one group using the heli, the experience is so much better. ”
When multiple groups share a single helicopter, downtime between runs is inevitable—and if your group takes a slower lap, there’s added pressure knowing others are waiting (or frustration if you are in the faster group). The experience can feel rushed, with a constant sense of go, go, go! as the helicopter shuttles between multiple groups.”
At Tyax Lodge and Heliskiing this is never an issue. And there are other benefits to the single-group system as well. “If someone falls and loses a ski, or tweaks their knee and wants to sit in the heli for a run or two, it’s OK,” says Tim. “There are no other groups using that helicopter. It just makes things less stressful and more fun.”
Another big advantage of single-group heliskiing is there is no waiting for a different group to fly out ahead of you—you’re first to lift off in the morning and last to return, maximizing ski time. This is important, because all Tyax’s packages include Unlimited Vertical (so when your group exceeds the included number of vertical feet skied, you just keep skiing…for free). And with 830,000 acres of terrain available, every run is exceptional.
“We are lucky here with the terrain,” Tim explains, “because we straddle two zones. We have the nice cold temperatures coming off the Chilcotin plateau and smashing into those big wet storms we’re used to here in BC’s Coast Mountains. So the snow dries out as we head eastward. And with just a single group in each heli we can easily skip over and check out another zone without having to shuttle mulitple groups to get there. Think about this, if you’re the third group shuttling, the heli neeeds to make five flights before you start skiing in the new zone. With single-group heliskiing it’s one flight. It’s just so much better.”
“For Maria’s fiftieth birthday we treated ourselves to a few days at Tyax. Not only did we amply exceed the vertical guarantee, we had amazing conditions, sun every day, and because we were the last group of the season it also felt like a tailored experience. Ski trip of a lifetime. —Paulo G, Spain
There are, of course, other heliskiers present at Tyax Lodge—that’s one of the joys of lodge life, to meet other pow lovers from around the world—but they’ll have their own heli, their own guides, and their own schedule. With 28 rooms, the lodge can hold three separate groups of skiers/snowboarders to compare epic tales and photos at dinner or après. .
Built on the shores of Tyaughton Lake (or “lake of the jumping fish” in the language of the Tsilhqot’In First Nation), Tyax Lodge started as an old hunting and fishing camp until the mid-1980s outdoorsman Gus Abel, Swiss entrepreneur Urs Villiger and local contractor Scott McKenzie teamed up to build the incredible, and huge (34,000 sq.ft.) log lodge that still houses guests today. Originally a summer destination, the lodge welcomed its first heliskiers in the early 1990s, and by the turn of the millennium Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing was globally renowned for incredible skiing in a classical Canadian wilderness setting.
“It’s definitely wild up here,” Tim says, “but it’s certainly not rough. The Spa at Tyax is probably the best of any heli lodge in Canada. We have the outdoor hot tub and massage rooms that many other heli operations have, however, our spa’s real point of difference is that we have three different types of sauna—a eucalyptus steam sauna, an infrared sauna, and a dry, Scandinavian-style one. The Spa at Tyax is a perfect place to rejuvenate after a big day of shredding. Oh, and we also have a cold water lake plunge!”
“It is the most wonderful privilege to be in the wilderness without the noise of traffic, or even seeing roads or power lines,” says David. “That part of Canada is blessed with huge snowfalls and the skiable area is awesome.”
Another option, for those life-celebrating powhounds in search of a more exclusive experience, is the Platinum Program at Tyax Lodge’s Spirit Bear Chalet (a nominee for “Canada’s Best Ski Chalet” at the Word Ski Awards).
“It’s super high end, “It’s super high end. Guests stay in a private 9-bedroom chalet, away from everyone else,” Tim explains. “The Platinum caters to nine skiers/riders (additional non-skiers are welcome), and you get a private chef, private concierge, two guides and pilot, as well as your own helicopter that will bring you directly to Tyax from the airport in Vancouver. The Spirit Bear has a sauna, wine cellar, outdoor hot tub, and a private helipad on the lake, right in front of the chalet. It’s so awesome!”
The further we travel down life’s path, the more we realize what matters most to us. It’s usually people—family, friends, those who inspire our hearts and bring smiles to our faces. Heliskiing might be a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence for some, or an annual must-do for others. But when it comes to planning those life-affirming adventures, Tyax Lodge and their “one group per helicopter” philosophy helps get you more pow for the punch and make the kinds of memories that don’t fade easy, or ever.
Hit up Tyax Lodge & Heliskiing to enjoy single-group heliskiing in some of BC’s most incredible terrain and make some memories of your own. And be sure to check out Tyax’s list of the Top 9 Reasons Why Single Group Heliskiing Is Better.
