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Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing evolved in the 1960s. It is an extension of alpine ski touring, which uses a
helicopter or snowcat instead of climbing skins and muscle power as the mode of uphill transportation. Since
its inception, Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing have earned a reputation worldwide as the most exciting and
challenging form of recreational skiing. It joins mining and logging, transportation as one of the few
industries to operate in remote mountain regions during the winter months, but exerts minimal environmental impact.
Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing operations cover a large area. As various operators started their businesses, a natural
partitioning of the BC mountain areas occurred. This was dictated by geographical and logistical considerations
and a gentleman's agreement.
In 1978, the operators formed the British Columbia Helicopter and Snowcat Skiing Operators Association
(BCHSSOA) to
define standards and operating guidelines. One of the accomplishments of the association was the allocation of a
run-based license of occupation in 1983 for a ten-year period. Most of these licenses have since been rolled over
into an area-based tenure and renewed for an additional 20-year period.
The Association name was changed from the BCHSSOA to HeliCat Canada in October 2005.
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