SAFETY
When you visit us be assured your safety is paramount!
PNH uses only the finest in safety equipment and we are continuously updating our protocol with recent advancements in technology.
All guides are certified by the Heli-Ski US Association and adhere to its procedures and protocols.
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All of our guides have extensive training in emergency care, with either a Wilderness First Responder, EMT, Paramedic or MD certification. We are lucky enough to have our own medical director on site all season. Every guide holds at very minimum an AIARE Avalanche 2 certification, most having a Pro 1 or 2 certification. They have all received extensive training in mountain safety, glacier travel, high mountain rescue techniques, and helicopter operations. Every guide at PNH has been trained by the foremost experts in the field. Several of our guides are certified to the highest standards of the AMGA, CMGA, and even IFMGA.
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Points North Guides maintain a rigorous training regime with an annual preseason training as well as regular training sessions throughout the season to keep their skills sharp. It’s not a matter of if, but when, and when is not an option. With over 25 years of refining our techniques, the PNH guide staff runs as smooth and efficiently as any team in the business.
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PNH procedures for avalanche management include monitoring weather data 365 days a year. Daily snow observations begin when the the guide staff arrives in Cordova, and direct field observations come from snow pit data collected by guides each day in the field. Any and all pertinent observations are shared instantly through radio and Garmin GPS communication while in the mountains.
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Each day PNH has pre and post ski day meetings for its guide staff to compare notes and discuss what is happening in the field. It is important for our documentation to have all information from our guides.
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We utilize an industry-leading, state of the art customized GIS-based mapping system built on ESRI’s ArcGIS that allows guides to share information about our skiing and riding zones as well as snow conditions.
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We also pioneered the sharing of this information with the other co-holders of the USFS “holy grail” permit for the SE Chugach National Forest to ensure that safety of all skiers and riders in the zone is paramount, regardless of which operation they are skiing with.
Guest Briefings
At the beginning of each week, guests go through an extensive safety briefing. This includes the use of avalanche transceivers, helicopter protocols and how to safely move through the mountains. These briefings are for your insurance that you will be comfortable in the surroundings you are about to embark on.
Each day that we enter the field, guests will be briefed on the plan for the day and all safety gear will be checked prior to entering the field.
Your safety and the safety of our staff is paramount to us here at Points North. Rest assured, after 25 years in the business, we are among the safest and most highly trained in the business.
More Information
Avalanche Resources from AIARE – Great resource of info and answers regarding Avalanches.
View the PNH GEAR list on the FAQ page to see what equipment we recommend.
IN SPITE OF OUR BEST EFFORTS, THERE ARE INHERENT RISKS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH HELI-SKIING THAT ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND THAT YOU MUST SHARE WITH US. ALL GUESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A LIABILITY RELEASE FORM.
