ChrisC
Well-known member
Our final destination was the small town of Kaslo, BC which sits on Kootenay Lake to ski at Stellar heli-ski. From Revelstoke, we crossed Arrowhead Lake by ferry and went by some other famous BC Cat/Heli Operations - CMH Kootenay and Retallack. And we were not far from CMH Galena, Great Northern Cat Ski, and Selkirk Cat Ski. Seems like every inch of the Selkirks is claimed by an operator.
We actually stayed a bit south of Kaslo in Ainsworth - speicifically at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort - home to the Ainsworth Hot Springs. Good Call! The hot springs includes both 1. a large pool (100f) and 2. a hot tub/cave system (105-110f). The springs closed to the public at 530pm and only hotel guests are allowed afterward. Super relaxing and fun!
Another ferry crossing of Arrow Lake leaving Revelstoke
Kaslo, BC. The Purcell Mountains.
Kaslo, BC
Ainsworth Hot Springs Restaurant - We liked the gloves used to serve mussels. Lobster guy.
Stellar HeliSki is another small group (4 persons) heli operation that caters to day skiers and longer-term visitors who mostly stay at the Kalso Hotel (also now owned by the heli operation). It is possible to even stay in Nelson (1 hr drive) and ski with Stellar. The tenure of the operation straddles Mirror Lake and includes both the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. In the Purcells, Stellar's tenure abuts CMH Bugaboos.
The staging for Stellar is a bit complex - similar to Valhalla. First, you check-in at the Kaslo Hotel in town. Next, you take a shuttle to the airport where you are assigned gear and do avalanche training. We did not get to fly out, so we were in a van shuttle up the lake to our heli pickup point. We did not start the day until 10:30 am - the latest start of the week.
There was a storm starting to move in....so there were questions about the weather. Therefore, Jason (owner and guide) chose to ski the Purcells since they are further east away from the impending storm. Also, the Purcells are higher and a bit colder - this preserves the snow. The BC mountain ranges are a bit like the US - they get higher and colder - like the Sierra to Wasatch to CO Rockies. Also, snow gets drier but decreases in quantity - like in the US. The Canadian equivalent: Monashees to Selkirks to Purcells. The Canadian Rockies are too dry and have too many National Park restrictions (rightfully so).
Despite no recent snow, Stellar's Purcell area had some of the best of the trip - deep and dry. Luckily, the weather never moved in and visibility was good enough to go into the Alpine.
Stellar HeliSki Tenure - Mirror Lake divides Selkirkls (left) from the Purcells (right)
We specifically skied the Purcell zone near town with drops above 9k ft.
Stellar Heli
Purcell's. I took a lot of video today, so fewer pics.
The lunch pit
A few more afternoon pics
The terrain was quite steep in places. Lots of nice rollovers that you had to be careful about. One by one at certain times. We kicked off a few slides throughout the day.
Lots of terrain features! Woot! Woot!
Soft pillows galore!
Unfortunately Stellar monitors everything and when they say 6-7 runs ....at run #7 we got cut off and flown back. Not the wild wild west of Eagle Pass where you just go for it - send it!
They do have an unlimited day package which I might consider if I was skiing another day. But you never know how operations work. Our vertical for the day was 13.5k feet.
Overall, I really enjoyed Stellar. Terrain, snow, guides, food were perfect. It was just too short of a day.
We took off to Nelson, BC for our final night in Canada. The road south to Nelson from Kaslo:
The town of Nelson on the Kootenay River
Nelson is a really nice place. Lots of shops and restaurants - all at a 20/25% exchange rate discount. Definitely would consider returning to ski Stellar, Valhalla and Whitewater at some point/some year.
We actually stayed a bit south of Kaslo in Ainsworth - speicifically at the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort - home to the Ainsworth Hot Springs. Good Call! The hot springs includes both 1. a large pool (100f) and 2. a hot tub/cave system (105-110f). The springs closed to the public at 530pm and only hotel guests are allowed afterward. Super relaxing and fun!
Another ferry crossing of Arrow Lake leaving Revelstoke
Kaslo, BC. The Purcell Mountains.
Kaslo, BC
Ainsworth Hot Springs Restaurant - We liked the gloves used to serve mussels. Lobster guy.
Stellar HeliSki is another small group (4 persons) heli operation that caters to day skiers and longer-term visitors who mostly stay at the Kalso Hotel (also now owned by the heli operation). It is possible to even stay in Nelson (1 hr drive) and ski with Stellar. The tenure of the operation straddles Mirror Lake and includes both the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. In the Purcells, Stellar's tenure abuts CMH Bugaboos.
The staging for Stellar is a bit complex - similar to Valhalla. First, you check-in at the Kaslo Hotel in town. Next, you take a shuttle to the airport where you are assigned gear and do avalanche training. We did not get to fly out, so we were in a van shuttle up the lake to our heli pickup point. We did not start the day until 10:30 am - the latest start of the week.
There was a storm starting to move in....so there were questions about the weather. Therefore, Jason (owner and guide) chose to ski the Purcells since they are further east away from the impending storm. Also, the Purcells are higher and a bit colder - this preserves the snow. The BC mountain ranges are a bit like the US - they get higher and colder - like the Sierra to Wasatch to CO Rockies. Also, snow gets drier but decreases in quantity - like in the US. The Canadian equivalent: Monashees to Selkirks to Purcells. The Canadian Rockies are too dry and have too many National Park restrictions (rightfully so).
Despite no recent snow, Stellar's Purcell area had some of the best of the trip - deep and dry. Luckily, the weather never moved in and visibility was good enough to go into the Alpine.
Stellar HeliSki Tenure - Mirror Lake divides Selkirkls (left) from the Purcells (right)
We specifically skied the Purcell zone near town with drops above 9k ft.
Stellar Heli
Purcell's. I took a lot of video today, so fewer pics.
The lunch pit
A few more afternoon pics
The terrain was quite steep in places. Lots of nice rollovers that you had to be careful about. One by one at certain times. We kicked off a few slides throughout the day.
Lots of terrain features! Woot! Woot!
Soft pillows galore!
Unfortunately Stellar monitors everything and when they say 6-7 runs ....at run #7 we got cut off and flown back. Not the wild wild west of Eagle Pass where you just go for it - send it!
They do have an unlimited day package which I might consider if I was skiing another day. But you never know how operations work. Our vertical for the day was 13.5k feet.
Overall, I really enjoyed Stellar. Terrain, snow, guides, food were perfect. It was just too short of a day.
We took off to Nelson, BC for our final night in Canada. The road south to Nelson from Kaslo:
The town of Nelson on the Kootenay River
Nelson is a really nice place. Lots of shops and restaurants - all at a 20/25% exchange rate discount. Definitely would consider returning to ski Stellar, Valhalla and Whitewater at some point/some year.
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