Team -
At your convenience, can you each send me a picture of yourself in your patrol gear? My plan is to use it to see if I can get us some swag for our trip.
Here's what I have so far - click here, or go to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jytv6O1J6PwN6mD53
We'll pick the best of and use those for these purposes.
Details on January 2021 Ski Patrol Heliski Trip to British Columbia
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
CMH Social Media Psych-up Material
For those of you on Facebook, check out the CMH page: "CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures"
Good to have a look at the CMH YouTube channel as well: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW7jGskb-IduN3igf5s2CDg
Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/cmh_heli/
These are from the main office. Many of the lodges have their own pages on the above platforms as well.
For example, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yDGBvLga7Y
Enjoy.
Good to have a look at the CMH YouTube channel as well: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW7jGskb-IduN3igf5s2CDg
Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/cmh_heli/
These are from the main office. Many of the lodges have their own pages on the above platforms as well.
For example, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yDGBvLga7Y
Enjoy.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Airbag Avy Gear
The question came up about avalanche airbag packs. Some data for you:
- Of course, it's completely up to you what you want to do here.
- My estimate is that about 15% of the guests use airbags these days. Was higher in past years, seems to be decreasing in recent years. If you go this route, you can buy your own, or rent from CMH. Also, note that the air-fan models are more popular now, as they don't have the travel hassles of the air-canister driven models.
- For those that don't use the airbag packs, about another 15% use the avalung devices/packs.
- The rest don't use either and ski/ride with the packs that CMH provides.
And as we discussed, CMH provides a small pack with shovel & probe, avy beacon, plus a radio for use each to use. All in a small (say 10 liter) pack for our use during the trip.
- Of course, it's completely up to you what you want to do here.
- My estimate is that about 15% of the guests use airbags these days. Was higher in past years, seems to be decreasing in recent years. If you go this route, you can buy your own, or rent from CMH. Also, note that the air-fan models are more popular now, as they don't have the travel hassles of the air-canister driven models.
- For those that don't use the airbag packs, about another 15% use the avalung devices/packs.
- The rest don't use either and ski/ride with the packs that CMH provides.
And as we discussed, CMH provides a small pack with shovel & probe, avy beacon, plus a radio for use each to use. All in a small (say 10 liter) pack for our use during the trip.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
CMH Revelstoke Travel Details
Here's a little more detailed info on Revelstoke travel details. Link here.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Passports
The question came up re: passport requirements for entry to Canada and return to U.S. Answer - yes.
See: https://travel.gc.ca/returning/travelling-to-canada
See: https://travel.gc.ca/returning/travelling-to-canada
Friday, March 9, 2018
Psyc-up Materials: Revelstoke report from the field, Feb 28, 2018
I suspect you all are watching/subscribed to:
Telecommunications in Canada
As most of you will know, cell phone providers consider Canada a separate country. So, they will require an international plan for you to have phone or data access while there. So, a couple tips:
- Typically, I don't turn on/pay for this international coverage.
- The hotel has WiFi, so for phone calls while in Canada, so I typically use What's App, Viber, Skype, Hangouts or any number of other voice communication tools that work over WiFi. Free.
- And, of course, I use the WiFi for email while at the hotel.
- Don't expect to get cell signal while we're out skiing.
Note: My experience is that the hotel WiFi gets a bit busy when we return from skiing and are all uploading videos, etc. So, it is sometimes a bit flaky for the hour or two when we return. No problems outside that window.
- Typically, I don't turn on/pay for this international coverage.
- The hotel has WiFi, so for phone calls while in Canada, so I typically use What's App, Viber, Skype, Hangouts or any number of other voice communication tools that work over WiFi. Free.
- And, of course, I use the WiFi for email while at the hotel.
- Don't expect to get cell signal while we're out skiing.
Note: My experience is that the hotel WiFi gets a bit busy when we return from skiing and are all uploading videos, etc. So, it is sometimes a bit flaky for the hour or two when we return. No problems outside that window.
Trip Insurance
Some questions have come up re: trip insurance. Here are some thoughts:
- There are 2 types of trip insurance to consider: Trip Cancellation & Trip Healthcare
- Trip cancellation tends to be expensive, but covers your trip cost if you need to bail. However, as we will likely have a waiting list for this trip, and if you need to bail at the last minute, you could likely just sell your spot to someone on the list. Your call. In my years of going, I have not gotten trip cancellation insurance. Knock on wood...
- Trip healthcare is another deal. Some healthcare providers cover emergencies in other countries, other don't. Check with yours. You'll want to look for emergency care, AND evacuation coverage (if you need to be helicoptered out, it can be expensive). If you want/need to buy supplemental coverage, there are a number of carriers who do short-term trip healthcare coverage. In the past when I've need to get it, it's typically $50-75 or so for the week. Some links to peruse:
Geoblue: https://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/
UnitedHealth: https://uhcsafetrip.com/
- There are 2 types of trip insurance to consider: Trip Cancellation & Trip Healthcare
- Trip cancellation tends to be expensive, but covers your trip cost if you need to bail. However, as we will likely have a waiting list for this trip, and if you need to bail at the last minute, you could likely just sell your spot to someone on the list. Your call. In my years of going, I have not gotten trip cancellation insurance. Knock on wood...
- Trip healthcare is another deal. Some healthcare providers cover emergencies in other countries, other don't. Check with yours. You'll want to look for emergency care, AND evacuation coverage (if you need to be helicoptered out, it can be expensive). If you want/need to buy supplemental coverage, there are a number of carriers who do short-term trip healthcare coverage. In the past when I've need to get it, it's typically $50-75 or so for the week. Some links to peruse:
Geoblue: https://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/
UnitedHealth: https://uhcsafetrip.com/
Lodging in Kelowna on the day of arrival & Day 1
As you saw, it's best for us to stay at the Four Points Sheraton in Kelowna. It's right up the hill from the airport and an easy shuttle ride.
Unless you want a private room at the Sheraton, we should pair up to save costs. CMH usually makes the reservations at the Sheraton for us, but I have Kerry looking into this for us to see if she can get a better rate, etc.
Depending on our arrival times, we should plan on getting together for dinner on the 6th. Best is likely at the Sheraton, as it's easy. If we like, we could go into Kelowna if we want to do an Uber/Taxi into town. We can discuss/decide when we know our arrival schedules a in a bit more detail.
And finally, on the morning of the 7th, the CMH bus leaves directly from the Sheraton, so we just need to wake up (early), drop our bags at the bus, grab a quick breakfast (I believe this year, CMH is giving us a grab-back breakfast. Past has been a breakfast at the hotel restaurant. So, we'll see), and then jump on the bus.
Our bus ride to Reve is a couple hours (appx). On arrival, we grab our bags, settle in our rooms, and then join the CMH lunch. After lunch, we put our ski gear on, head out to the helipad, do a required avalanche transceiver drill, and then go skiing for the afternoon.
The transceiver, probe & shovel (and small backpack) is provided by CMH, so no need to bring our own.
Unless you want a private room at the Sheraton, we should pair up to save costs. CMH usually makes the reservations at the Sheraton for us, but I have Kerry looking into this for us to see if she can get a better rate, etc.
Depending on our arrival times, we should plan on getting together for dinner on the 6th. Best is likely at the Sheraton, as it's easy. If we like, we could go into Kelowna if we want to do an Uber/Taxi into town. We can discuss/decide when we know our arrival schedules a in a bit more detail.
And finally, on the morning of the 7th, the CMH bus leaves directly from the Sheraton, so we just need to wake up (early), drop our bags at the bus, grab a quick breakfast (I believe this year, CMH is giving us a grab-back breakfast. Past has been a breakfast at the hotel restaurant. So, we'll see), and then jump on the bus.
Our bus ride to Reve is a couple hours (appx). On arrival, we grab our bags, settle in our rooms, and then join the CMH lunch. After lunch, we put our ski gear on, head out to the helipad, do a required avalanche transceiver drill, and then go skiing for the afternoon.
The transceiver, probe & shovel (and small backpack) is provided by CMH, so no need to bring our own.
What's Included
There have been some questions on what's included in the trip. The CMH datasheet covers most of it, but in short:
- Skiing (71,000 vertical foot "guarantee", i.e. if we ski under 71K feet, we get a refund on unused vertical. If we ski over that, we can choose to continue to ski, and we pay for that extra vertical. Costs in the datasheet).
- Lodging. At the Regent Hotel. Pretty standard hotel rooms. Unless you want a private room (some extra cost for this), we can pair up.
- Food: All meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, plus snacks mid-moring (called "helisnacks), and when we get back from skiing before dinner (called "tea goodies").
- Powder skis for use during the trip. We will have a choice of 3-4 types of skis. And we can change from day to day if we choose.
We each need to bring ski clothes et al, plus our boots.
- Skiing (71,000 vertical foot "guarantee", i.e. if we ski under 71K feet, we get a refund on unused vertical. If we ski over that, we can choose to continue to ski, and we pay for that extra vertical. Costs in the datasheet).
- Lodging. At the Regent Hotel. Pretty standard hotel rooms. Unless you want a private room (some extra cost for this), we can pair up.
- Food: All meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, plus snacks mid-moring (called "helisnacks), and when we get back from skiing before dinner (called "tea goodies").
- Powder skis for use during the trip. We will have a choice of 3-4 types of skis. And we can change from day to day if we choose.
We each need to bring ski clothes et al, plus our boots.
Airline Travel
As we've discussed, it would be good to organize travel together. Kerry Stendell is looking into this for us. Stay tuned...
I anticipate Kerry will get back to us with a plan, but here's Kerry's info in case you want to contact her directly:
Kerry Stendell | Mountain Adventure Travel LLC
I anticipate Kerry will get back to us with a plan, but here's Kerry's info in case you want to contact her directly:
11260 Donner Pass Road STE C1 PMB 527 Truckee, CA 96161
CST # 2129949-40
Revelstoke Weather Links
Here are some handy links I use to check on Revelstoke weather:
https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-65_metric_e.html
http://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/conditions/weather-forecast
http://opensnow.com/state/BC/forecasts
https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-65_metric_e.html
http://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/conditions/weather-forecast
http://opensnow.com/state/BC/forecasts
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