Last Frontier Heliskiing ends 30th season with deep snow and strong rebooking

By AI, Created 10:34 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Last Frontier Heliskiing closed its 2026 season on April 8 after a 30th-anniversary winter marked by strong snowpack in Northern BC, while operations farther south were disrupted by repeated weather problems. The company says the season helped drive one of its highest repeat rebooking rates on record and it is already taking 2027 bookings.

Why it matters: - Last Frontier Heliskiing’s northern location gave it a season advantage as heliskiing and cat skiing operations farther south in BC were hit by rain and snowpack erosion for the second straight year. - The company’s strong snow conditions translated into more usable terrain, more skiing volume and a higher repeat rebooking rate. - The season performance matters for winter tourism demand heading into 2027 bookings at Bell 2 Lodge and Ripley Creek Inn.

What happened: - Last Frontier Heliskiing wrapped its 2026 season on April 8. - The company marked its 30th anniversary winter in Northern BC. - First guests arrived at Bell 2 Lodge on January 9. - The operation covers a 10,100-square-kilometre tenure in Northern BC. - Bell 2 Lodge recorded 568 centimetres of total new snow by season’s end. - Bell 2 reached a peak snowbase of 395 centimetres at 1,000 metres. - Ripley Creek, near the Alaska border in the Coast Mountains, peaked at 450 centimetres.

The details: - Cooler temperatures and the northern position meant weather systems moved through quickly, while snow continued to build. - Cliff Umpleby, director of operations and lead guide, said southern BC operations dealt with rain events that lasted for days and forced some to shut down. - Umpleby said Last Frontier’s quick rain events to ridge top typically lasted only a few hours. - The deeper snowpack opened terrain that is not accessible in lower-snow years. - Umpleby said accessible terrain can double once bushes are buried and ground roughness smooths out. - Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee Brett Tippie visited Bell 2 Lodge this season and described his first step off the helicopter as knee-deep powder. - Bell 2’s biggest week ran from March 7 to 13, when guests logged 21,900 vertical metres. - Ripley Creek’s strongest stretch came from March 23 to 29, when guests logged 17,665 vertical metres. - The season ended with boot-top powder on the Frank Mackie Icefield. - Umpleby said the team was still skiing that terrain in mid-April. - Last Frontier says the 2026 season produced one of its highest repeat rebooking rates on record.

Between the lines: - The contrast with southern BC suggests that latitude and temperature can matter as much as snowfall totals for keeping heli-ski operations open. - Strong snowpack can improve both customer experience and business momentum by expanding skiable terrain and encouraging repeat bookings. - The record rebooking trend points to demand that may be less sensitive to short-term weather setbacks when conditions are consistently strong.

What’s next: - Last Frontier Heliskiing is accepting bookings for the 2027 season at Bell 2 Lodge and Ripley Creek Inn. - Groups remain limited to four guests per guide. - Contact options listed in the release include ski@lastfrontierheli.com, lastfrontierheli.com and 1 888 655 5566. - The company’s social links were also listed on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.