North Cascade Heli Policies

All guests are expected to have read and acknowledged our policies before reserving a heli-skiing program with us.

RESERVATIONS & PAYMENTS

  • Full payment and completed registration form are required for all guests to reserve a heli-skiing trip.
  • No guest may fly if a balance is due.
  • Payment for additional runs or flight time will be collected at the end of each trip.
  • Single bookings are allowed only to fill an empty seat.
  • Specific cost and payment policies are described below for each type of program.
  • You may change trip dates within the same season up to 60 days before the trip.

CANCELLATIONS

  • If you cancel for any reason, at any time, we require notice in writing via email.
  • 50% of the balance is refundable up to 60 days before the first scheduled date of the trip.
  • No refunds are made and no credit is given on non-health related cancellations within 60 days of the trip. Some exceptions are allowed but must be approved by NCH.
  • Trips are transferable.

TRIP REQUIREMENTS

  • All guests must sign a liability waiver upon arrival to NCH 
  • All guests must complete safety training with their guide prior to embarking on a trip with NCH

WEATHER & SNOW CONDITIONS

Mountain weather and snow conditions primarily dictate the terrain that we may ski. Guests must be able to ski all snow and weather conditions and terrain that may be encountered in the backcountry including but not limited to deep powder snow, dense snow, corn snow, wind or sun crust, treed slopes, or low-angle slopes. No refunds will be given due to poor snow or weather conditions, ability, injury or personal decision to not go heli-skiing or to quit heli-skiing.

Weather sometimes delays heli-skiing operations. Therefore we require guests to be available until at least Noon on the day of their program unless North Cascade Heli indicates that it is a "no-fly" "weather" or "down" day. Credits will be issued as outlined below for partial or complete no-fly days.

CREDIT POLICY 

  • Full credit will be issued only when North Cascade Heli is not able to provide any portion of the guaranteed heli-skiing (no runs skied) due to weather and/or snow conditions.
  • Full credit may be used the same season or the following season, based on availability.
  • Full credit expires at the end of the next season (no exceptions).
  • If a cash refund is preferred when North Cascade Heli is not able to provide any portion of the guaranteed heli-skiing, the cash refund will be $825 (based on 2025 rates).
  • When only a portion of the guaranteed heli-skiing was received (partial credit), then credit will be issued at the rate of $120 per run not skied.
  • All partial credit is issued towards the purchase of a full North Cascade Heli program. For example, if a guest has three runs remaining at the conclusion of a multi-day program, then a credit in the amount of $360 will be issued, and the balance due for a full day of heli-skiing will be $1,290 (based on 2025 rates).
  • If North Cascade Heli is only able to provide 3 runs or less on a given day, guests have the option to pay $150 per skied run and retain a full day credit. 
  • Partial credit may be used the same season or the following season, based on availability.
  • Partial credit expires at the end of the next season (no exceptions).
  • If a cash refund is preferred when North Cascade Heli is only able to provide a portion of the guaranteed heli-skiing, the cash refund will be 50% of the partial credit accrued.
  • If a third-party travel insurance claim is filed for reimbursement of payment for a canceled trip, all credits from that trip will be forfeited.
  • Full and partial credits are transferable.
  • No full or partial credit or refund whatsoever will be issued for missed skiing (before or during your trip) due to ability, fitness, equipment failure, injury, personal choice to abstain from heli-skiing or any other reason.  Some exceptions are allowed but must be approved by NCH.
  • Full credit or refund will be issued for missed skiing due to illness.

North Cascade Heli reserves the right to cancel operations at any time or refuse service to anyone for any reason. North Cascade Heli may cancel, alter, or reschedule a trip for any reason, at any time (guests will receive credit as described above).

PAYMENT FOR SINGLE-DAY HELI-SKIING:

  • Full payment plus tax is required to reserve for all guests (no holding seats without full payment).

PAYMENT FOR MULTI-DAY HELI-SKIING:

  • Full payment plus tax is required to reserve for all guests (no holding seats without full payment).

PAYMENT FOR EXCLUSIVE HELI-SKIING

  • A 50% deposit plus tax is required to reserve.
  • The final balance is due 90 days prior to the start of your scheduled program.
  • For daily minimum flight times not utilized due to weather, 60 percent of the unused flight time will be credited at the rate of $7,000 (for two groups) and $6,500 per flight hour (for three groups).

PAYMENT FOR BACKCOUNTRY YURT TRIPS

  • To reserve the yurt, 4 or 8 guests must make a full payment ($1,750 per guest for the three-night program or $2,000 per guest for the four-night program plus tax).
  • Payment is due in full by August 1, 2024 for either 4 or 8 seats.
  • First come, first served (no holding spots without full payment).
  • If only 4 spots are booked, the remaining 4 spots will not be available for another group to book.
  • If we are unable to fly for the entire reserved period, a full credit will be issued that may be used the same season (based on availability) or the following season.
  • If we fly in one day late, no refund will be issued for the first day missed. If we fly out late, there will not be additional charges.

PAYMENT FOR SINGLE DAY HELI-ASSISTED TOURING

  • Full payment is required to reserve.
  • If we are unable to fly at all on your scheduled day, full credit will be issued for the same season (based on availability) or the following season.
  • Additional charges may be required for ferry time to remote areas.

PAYMENT FOR MULTI-DAY HELI-ASSISTED TOURING

  • Full payment is required to reserve.
  • If we are unable to fly at all during your scheduled dates, full credit will be issued for the same season (based on availability) or the following season.
  • Additional charges may be required for ferry time to remote areas.

GUESTS UNDER 18:

Guests under the age of 18 must have their Reservation Form and Participant Agreement, Release and Assumption of Risk form signed by a parent or legal guardian before beginning their program with us. Guests under 18 must be able to quickly and accurately follow their guide's instructions. If we deem a minor guest to be a risk to themselves or others, we reserve the right to return them to the Heli Barn with no refund. We do not recommend that guests under the age of 14 fly with us.