I guess the title interested you a loat. So, for those who do not rotate in the world of mountain extreme sports, I should first clarify what is a heli-skiing in general and what they get from this exact kind of tour.
Heli-skiing (English “heliskiing”, which means “descent from the remote mountain slope on skis, which can reach only by helicopter), or heliboarding (” heliboarding “- descend the slope on the board) – a type of skiing , freeride, the essence of which is downhill, the presence of intact human snow slopes, far away from prepared slopes with a lift to the top of the descent by a helicopter. Using a helicopter to lift allows you to find different options for the going down from the mountains in a pristine nature, which otherwise risse quite rapidly, there is no possibility of.
Heli-skiing as a kind of sport emerged in the 1960s, and since then has become more and more popular. Depending on the type of helicopter and its carrying capacity in a group of skiers it can hold a medium size amount of people (from 15 to 24). The group necessarily has an experienced guide or a few guides – professionals who know particular descent on certain slopes. In order to do heli-skiing without consequences for themselves, their physical and emotional state, skiers must be proficient in technology descent on virgin soil on the slopes of varying steepness.
To ensure safety, each skier must have a beacon, avalanche probe, shovel and other necessary equipment to quickly search for people caught in an avalanche – and it is not a rare phenomenon in mountain conditions. And this is the main way how the skiiers are getting themselves safe during the overall process.
Currently, the most popular in the world of mountain regions, providing opportunities for training heli-skiing, are Canada, Alaska (USA), Iceland, Greenland, New Zealand, the Himalayas, mountain areas in Northern Europe – Norway, Finland, Sweden, some areas Alps in Switzerland and France, the Chilean Andes, the Caucasus (the area of Krasnaya Polyana and Elbrus), Kamchatka.
But … we will not go on holding programs heli-skiing somewhere in Norway or Iceland, where you will be faced by the cold weather but instead to the warm, good-natured and friendly Central Asia, and specifically the Central Asian states such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Within these three countries such extreme sport can be practiced on the slopes of the West (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) and North (Kazakhstan), the Tien Shan.
In Uzbek, Kyrgyz and Kazakh mountains, they will provide you with all the conditions for good quality time spent and prepared holiday. You will need only to trust the hosting companies and the tour guides and set off towards adventures. In fact, it does not matter you are a professional skier, or just beginning to learn this sport, most importantly in this case – the courage, resourcefulness, a desire to experience something extraordinary and released from the depths of his body as much adrenaline.
Certainly, the success of the program of the heli-skiing is directly dependent on the weather conditions, snow conditions and the level of avalanches. And, unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you wille be provided a cool extreme or will get in connection with the “force majeure” circumstances. Therefore, in case of bad weather, you willl most definitely be offered a variety of options for changing the program or the location of the sporting.
Thus, if the Tien Shan meets you up with bad weather, you can ride the trails of ski resorts or take a tour of the ancient cities of Uzbekistan (or Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) – Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent, exotic and oriental flavor which does not leave anyone indifferent, and especially those who are fortunate enough to visit them. They even say that the travel experience turns out to be one of the most unforgettable ones.
To implement the program of heli-skiing, a specific type of helicopters is being used . Those are Russian helicopters Mi-8 MTV “, which are considered to be the best options among the all. Helicopters of this model have a powerful engine and are ideally suited for use in the mountains. Maximum in a helicopter can accommodate 15 – 16 people to ski including the trainers themselves. Pilots are highly experienced and are well-familiar with areas that are suitable for the implementation of the heli-skiing, and possess the skills of flying in the mountains. Group is accompanied by at least two guides, one of whom is an engineer.
In the helicopter there is all that is necessary to get the equipments. As for the safety is also includes everything necessary for the rescue and transportation equipments, GPS, satellite phone.
For driving on snowy slopes for skiers need to have personal equipment and clothing as well as avalanche beacons (bippery “), avalanche probes and avalanche shovels. By the way, some equipment can also be ordered, but only in the case of a provisional application. Insurance is mandatory for skiers. Moreover, it is necessary to purchase insurance, the maximum cover risks, and carefully check out how it works in the area where you go. This means that you must be ready to go through a list of territory testings and find the necessary location not only in the terms of the skiing comfort, but also the level of the desired security.
The minimum age for engagement for the heli-skiing or heliboarding is 18 years, however, it can be lowered to 14 years if the child is riding with their parents. But this is being done in some exceptional cases and also for only a few of the locations where the safety is guaranteed.
And finally what else is left for you to know: Do you have the desire to feel like a pioneer of mountain expanses, kind of like Columbus of the Tien Shan Mountains? Then go ahead – towards the virgin expanse of white snow. Do not hesitate. The old Central Asian Mountains are awaiting for your arrival. In corresponse they will try to meet you with good weather and a little fluffy piece of the snow for the heliskiing.
Image : http://passport.jetsetter.com/index.php/2010/09/27/12-epic-outdoor-adventures/
http://www.adventuretravel.ru/travels/eng/heliskiing/kyrg_heli.htm
