Greenland Heli Skiing – 2013

This season we will based out of Kulusuk – the skiing will be on the satellite islands formed as the ice retreated, runs are between 800m and 1100 metres long.

The terrain is spectacular, skiing down towards large ice bergs and picking up from each run on the waters edge is unique to this region. Usually we work our way back up the fiords or explore different islands and sometimes check out small Inuit Villages in the region.

This seasons video  CLICK HERE

Contact me:    Kevin.Heliskiing@xtra.co.nz

Kevin Boekholt

Costs for 2013 etc.

Please e-mail for the total cost ( @ 06/2012) which includes:

• Accommodation and meals, lunches etc
• Guides & Pilots plus expenses
• Safety equipment

• 12.5 hrs helicopter time.
• Re location costs of heli from West Greenland.

 

 

Payment Shedule:
On signing of the Greenland Air Contract on Dec 10th I need to make a deposit to guarantee a helicopter.  To cover everything I will need a 50% deposit before Dec 10th and the remaining 50% to be paid by March 1st.

Refunds Situation:
Air Greenland require payment for a minimum amount of hours and this is non refundable. The other big cost in the package is the Greenland Airport Authority which charges us on a weekly basis for flight recording and basically to be able to operate commercially within the country. This cost is also non refundable.

If however we have problems with the weather and we do not fly the minimum hours then I can usually sell them as extra hours to another group in which case if I have extra hours paid at the end of my contract I can refund groups that did not achieve their hours.

Equipment:
As per normal heliski, temperatures range from -10 to + 5 although it can get colder. I will supply avalanche transceivers and harnesses (for skiing on glaciers) unless you have your own. I can also provide ski’s and poles and ABS trigger and gas cartridges small back packs and shovels and probes. I will take care of any other safety equipment that is required.

Airline Tickets:
Faye (my travel agent) can organize this plus accommodation if you would like, she will be in contact. You do not have to feel obliged to use her services; it is just a convenience for you as she does my flights and bookings it saves you having to work out how to meet up etc.

Insurance:
It is best to get full trip cancellation insurance as Air Greenland have a no cancellation policy once a payment is made. In the past I have had people waitlisted for the trips but this is not a guarantee.

Kevin Boekholt.
Shinsetsu International Limited

Overview

The heliski area is on the East Coast in a region called  Angmagssalik. The mountain ranges are between large fiords coming off the Greenland ice cap. The highest peaks in the region top 2000 meters but generally most of the mountains are around 1000 meters but rise immediately from the ocean. The fiords are mostly ice filled and the surrounding ocean is pack ice making the region only accessible by boat in the summer months after the ice breaks up.

The skiing is on the satellite islands formed as the ice has retreated, runs are between 800 meters and 1100 meters long. The terrain is spectacular, skiing down towards large ice bergs and picking up from each run on the waters edge is unique to this region. Usually we work our way back up the fiords or explore different islands and sometimes check out small Inuit Villages in the region.

Spring is the best time to visit these regions as there is more snow on the glaciers and the snow pack is usually well settled meaning less avalanche problems. This is especially important when we are skiing new regions along way from anywhere.

This Season

At our base in Kulusuk (East Greenland) we have the hotel well set up to cater for our needs. We have a substantial amount of gear in Greenland including a limited supply of ski’s poles and snowboards if guests do not have their own equipment or in the case of lost luggage or breakages.

We have some secura fix touring bindings and skins for ski touring and will have some touring ski’s available as well however if guests have their own gear it is a good idea to bring this with them.

Depending on what the group wants to do there is the possibility of an overnight in a small Inuit village again this season. Other cultural opportunities include an evening performance at the hotel of local drum dancing

The group:
I try to put together a compatible group of people who will also get along well socially and have similar ski ability and fitness. I am keeping the group to 8 people for efficiency however groups of 12 also work if a larger group wanted to book.

Heliski History

I spent the first 2 weeks in May 2005 in the region and we had a very good trip. The snow conditions were a mix of powder and corn and the weather was reasonable allowing 9.5 flying days out of a possible 14 days. The snow conditions were perfect for exploring which was the nature of the trip. In 2006 I spent 3 weeks in the region arriving the last week in April. We had good powder skiing and some spring skiing the first week, a mix again the 2^nd week and perfect spring skiing on the 3^rd week. As we were leaving the snow was powder again. The spring skiing was by a far the highlight although it nice to have a mix of conditions. In 2006 we flew 17 out of 21 days.

In 2007 we had a bad week where we only got out on 3 days however the weather then cleared and stayed fine for 13 days allowing us 16 days Heliskiing out of 21.

In 2006 &2007 we did overnight trips to a small Inuit village approx 100 Km to the North and stayed in the local school house. This was quite an adventure but involved arranging sleeping bags and catering to be supplied as well as a lot of logistics but it did make for a fantastic cultural experience and a chance to explore some amazing terrain.

In 2008 we had a delayed start due to our helicopter being stuck by weather in Southern Greenland. It had left a week earlier from the base in Nuuk but a persistent storm prevented its arrival until mid week. On arrival the weather was settled and over a 4 week period we had 20 flying days out of 28. On bad weather days we got out ski touring almost every day and on occasion combined ski touring with dog sledding to access different terrain.

Hotel

In Iceland my preference was the Hotel SAS1919 which is centrally located and close to the domestic airport where the flight to Greenland departs.  There are a number of other options available at varying prices depending on location to the center of Reyjkavik. Hotel costs in Iceland are not included in the package.

In Greenland we stay in the hotel Kulusuk which is a new hotel with good facilities close to the Kulusuk Airport. The dining room has an amazing outlook over the sea ice toward the mountains.

It is 30 minutes walk into the small Kulusuk fishing village. Kulusuk is one of the last hunter gatherer communities left in Greenland and the village is an interesting place to visit.

Helicopters

We have chartered a B3 helicopter with emergency floats etc from Greenland Air. Air Greenland owns a fleet of very new helicopters which are predominantly used to service transmitters surrounding the numerous small villages and for mineral exploration. In recent years there has been a lot of heliskiing on the West Coast which has covered the traditional quiet season. I have been impressed with the quality and maintenance of the aircraft and the flying skills of pilots I have had to date.  An engineer based nearby checks the machine every week.

The helicopters are comparatively more expensive to charter than anywhere else I have been (except Antarctica) and we have to pay a location cost to bring the machine from the base in Nuuk on the west coast. It is big contract to sign and involves a bank guarantee for extra flying and a minimum number of hours paid in accordance with an advance schedule.

We are on the East Coast of Greenland and helicopter arrivals etc can be delayed by weather and mechanical problems can cause longer delays! There are backup aircraft in the region and the helicopters are the newest most modern machines I have ever flown in.