Heli Skiing Silverton Colorado: Steepest and Deepest the lower 48 has to offer.

 

 

 

I had made plans to be in Alaska this March over my spring break to finally set free my inner soul and accomplish a lifelong dream of helicopter skiing that I developed at age 8 watching MSP videos.

But due to record low snow in AK this year, in combination with personal plans falling through, I was not able to make it happen, I guess all things happen for a reason right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to fill this void in my life I figured the next best solution would be a mini AK trip, and Silverton Colorado is just the place to test your game before stepping into the big lines of AK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A small operation that started in 2000 by putting a recycled double chair from Mammoth CA  up the side of a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains of South West Colorado.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silverton is essentially backcountry lift accesses terrain. Additionally this is an expert only area and with a limitation of 80 people allowed on the terrain per day and only open 4 days a week. This pretty much guarantees you fresh lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They offer guided skiing during the prime season and a small window at the begging and the end of the season of un guided skiing. The idea is you take the chair to the top of a ridge and hike 15 mins to some of the steepest and deepest terrain in the lower 48. There permit allows them to access somewhere around 22,000 acres including heli access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went for the all day heli tour which included 6 drops and it was some of the best skiing of my life hands down. Additionally the guides at Silverton are the foremost experts in their field and they always have safety as the number one priority. They also run an operation in AK and thus they have the experience and knowledge to keep you safe and show you an amazing time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The week before I arrived they had gotten close to 80 inches in a 7 day period, thus creating some big avalanche danger. The guide had pointed out a few 6ft crowns. This however did not prevent us from skiing amazing lines. Also we found some deep tree skiing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for the best, steepest, and deepest terrain in the lower 48 a trip to Silverton is a must.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The snow was deep and light and in some areas wind blown and forming super fun natural features.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The use of  heli enables you to access a large variety of terrain very quickly.