Safety
Good days in the mountains begin with preparation.
At Silvertip, safety shapes the decisions behind every ski day: where we go, how we travel and when we change the plan. Professional guiding, operating standards, equipment and guest education all have a part to play.
Heli-skiing takes place in an uncontrolled mountain environment. Avalanches, changing weather and snow conditions, tree wells and other natural hazards are part of wilderness skiing. Guiding and safety equipment help manage those risks; they cannot eliminate them.
Guide Training & Mountain Experience
Reading the mountains takes more than knowing a good ski line. At Silvertip, we hire guides from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and the Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA), bringing together professional training in terrain assessment, group management, mountain travel and rescue, alongside avalanche education and first-aid skills.
Our guiding team combines that training with experience in the Cariboo Mountains. Your guide sets the route and pace, explains how the group will travel and makes decisions based on the conditions and the people in the group.
Meet the people behind your ski day on our Our Team page.
HeliCat Canada Membership & Standards
Silvertip is an accredited member of HeliCat Canada, the association representing Canada’s helicopter and snowcat skiing industry.
HeliCat Canada’s accreditation program focuses on mountain operations and safety. Members submit a yearly statement that they comply with its accreditation standards, alongside periodic independent audits and operational reviews. This provides a framework for reviewing operating practices and improving them over time.
Safety Equipment
Avalanche safety equipment is provided as part of your Silvertip ski program. Before heading into the mountains, you will receive an orientation to the equipment supplied and how it is used.
Equipment works alongside training, communication and the decisions made throughout the day. Having rescue equipment does not make a slope safe or remove the need to follow your guide’s instructions.
Please bring your helmet, ski or snowboard boots, goggles, gloves and suitable winter clothing. Our packing list will help you prepare.
Guest Safety Training
Your trip includes a safety orientation before skiing. Whether this is your first heli-ski trip or you have been many times before, take the time to listen, ask questions and become familiar with the procedures for this operation.
Your guides and pilot will explain the instructions you need to follow around the helicopter and in the mountains. Follow their directions throughout the trip, and speak up whenever something is unclear.
Decisions Throughout the Day
Weather, visibility and snow conditions can change the plan. Our guides and pilots determine where skiing and flying can take place, and may change terrain, pause operations or finish early when conditions require it.
Tell your guide if you are tired, uncomfortable or struggling to keep up. Share relevant medical information, allergies and other requirements in your Guest Information Form before arrival, and let us know if anything changes.
Before You Arrive
- Complete your Guest Information Form.
- Review the waiver linked from our Planning Your Trip page and the Booking & Cancellation Policy.
- Arrange appropriate travel and medical insurance for your trip.
- Check the packing list and contact us with any questions about preparation or equipment.