Dream Catcher Heliskiing

With over 40 years combined experience in the high mountains around the world, as both mountaineers and skiers, the founders of Dream Catcher Heliskiing searched for a land base that would inspire us, challenge us and provide first descents "into the next century."

After decades spent on skis, in most of the wilderness areas of Western Canada, we knew what to look for - a big mountain location with natural ski slopes and extensive glaciation above, a small town with essential services below, and quick access from an international airport with minimal road travel. Since 2003, Dream Catcher Heliskiing has been offering the most exciting heliskiing in the world.

Heliskiing and snowboarding is our personal passion, and one that we offer commercially with care and expertise. But that is only one-half of the story. Our operation, from both the land and the water, gives you the opportunity to experience one of the greatest wilderness regions on earth.

Canada's Coastal Mountains rise far above the world's largest intact temperate rainforests that hug Pacific Ocean inlets. Where the sea meets the sky, glacier clad mountains are blanketed in 80 feet of winter snow. While the killer whales and sea lions play in the deep protected waters below, our skiers play in the deep powder snow of the Bella Coola mountains.

Dream Catcher Heliskiing is where people and passion meet.

Opening Date:	January 2008
Closing Date:	April 2008

Along British Columbia's western edge from the Alaska panhandle to Vancouver stretches a vast alpine wilderness that ranks as one of the largest and least known on earth. Hidden in the mists beyond the head of long, dark inlets, this sea of mountains is so isolated that hundreds of major peaks remain unnamed and much of the territory was unexplored until the closing decades of the twentieth century.

The name "Bella Coola" refers to the valley, village, airport and First Nations people (most recently they call themselves the "Nuxalk Nation"). While the BC Coast Mountains have been home to these First Nations people for nearly 10,000 years, the alpine regions have seldom been explored in any season by anyone.

For most of their length, the Coast Mountains rise abruptly above a coastal strip, facing the Pacific Ocean with rugged slopes and tremendous relief, most extreme where glacial action cuts fjords up to 192 km long (one of only four such occurrences in the world). The inlets are home to our boat tours, and the Bella Coola village and valley are home to our hotel-based tours. The Bella Coola Wharf is at head of the South Bentinck arm.

The Bella Coola Valley is home to some 2,000 people, living in small villages and on rural properties. At the head of the valley is Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and the "hill" that takes one to the Chilcotin Plateau (elev. 4,500').

Bella Coola is 400 miles north of Vancouver by air or 475 km west of Williams Lake by road (Highway 20).

Mark Whalen, Owner/President/Lead Guide
One of the first few Canadian born Mountain Guides to join the ranks of a European tradition; Mark became a fully certified Mountain Guide (UIAGM or IFMGA) in 1979 with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and is a Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. His great talents in guiding and area development for heliskiing and snowcat operations assisted many of our competitor operations prior to developing Dream Catcher Heliskiing ski terrain management plan. Mark owned and operated M&W Guides, a mountain guiding and climbing school operation based in Canmore and Banff, Alberta. Mark and his wife Wendy Rockafellow are the founders of Dream Catcher Heliskiing.

Mark Stewart, UIAGM/IFMGA Guide
Mark has been a ski guide for 15 years, and a Full Guide since 2000. Prior to starting his own guiding company, Cirrus Mountain Guides, he worked with Dream Catcher Heliskiing, Island Lake Lodge, M&W Guides, Yamnuska in Canada, and for Cham-X, Jagged Globe and Zermat Guides Office in France, Italy and Switzerland. Mark lives in Exshaw, Alberta with his wife and teenage daughter.

Todd Craig, UIAGM/IFMGA Guide
Todd has 15 years of heliski guiding experience for many heli and cat skiing operations in Western Canada, including CMH, RK Heli, Peace Reach and Chatter Creek Cat Skiing. Todd has been an UIAGM/IFMGA guide since 1998, and is a professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Todd lives in Golden, BC with his wife and two young boys.

Brian Webster, UIAGM/IFMGA Guide
Brian Webster, founder of Mountain Ascents Canada, is an internationally certified mountain guide (UIAGM/IFMGA). Brian's career as a professional mountain guide has taken him to many exceptional mountain ranges worldwide, but he always returns to the mountains of Western Canada where he has been guiding full-time for 15 years. Brian lives in Canmore, Alberta with his wife and two young children.

Quinn Castillo, ACMG Ski Guide
Quinn has a degree in physics and a passion for all things skiing. Since 1994 he has been working at ski areas and for backcountry ski lodges as a ski guide throughout British Columbia. Quinn currently lives in Revelstoke, BC.

Greg Franson, ACMG Ski Guide
Greg has spent most of his adult life climbing and skiing in North America and Western Europe. He has extensive experience in alpine guiding and avalanche safety training, and has guided in BC, Alaska and on international expeditions. Greg and his wife live in Whitefish, Montana.

Helicopter Base and Airfield. Twelve km to the east of the village is the Bella Coola Airfield, as well as a heated, indoor hangar where our helicopter crew is able to work on the machine nightly. Dream Catcher Heli Boarding uses Bell 407 helicopters on all tours that seat 4-5 passengers plus pilot and guide.

Dream Catcher Heliskiing is pleased to offer a variety of different ski or snowboard packages of 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 day options that are unique to the industry. You can view the specific tour details through the links on the left.

 

All heliski packages are in $CDN dollars and prices are per person (except for Private Tours).

 

All packages include:

• 4-5 skiers with 1 guide in small helicopters (Bell 407)
• Return flight from Vancouver to Bella Coola via Pacific Coastal Airline.
• Meet and greet at the Bella Coola Airfield and local transport during your ski tour
• Three meals per day (packed lunch), snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
• Double accommodations at the Bella Coola Valley Inn
• Single accommodations on Ocean Explorer 1
• IFMGA (UIAGM) and/or ACMG certified guides
• Use of avalanche transceivers, powder skis and poles
• Ski and snowboard tuning
• Use of steam, fitness centre and/or whirlpool tub (hot tub) as is available at the hotel or boat

 

• • Dream Catcher Heliskiing
    General Delivery
    Bella Colla, British Columbia, BC V0T 1C0
    
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• • Phone: 250-640-5279
    
  • Fax: 1-866-800-3161
    
  • Toll Free: 1-888-799-5278
    
  • Email: info@dreamcatcherheliskiing.com