Typical Itinerary for Ripley Creek Inn Package

You have the option of staying in Vancouver or Terrace en-route to Ripley Creek Inn. Accommodation in Vancouver or Terrace is not included in the package and you will need to make your own arrangements.

You’ll need to arrive in Vancouver Canada the day before your tour begins. Or you may wish to arrive earlier and do some warm-up skiing or snowboarding at Whistler near Vancouver or Shames Mountain, the local ski hill near Terrace (if the opening days line up), to make sure the legs are fighting fit ready for heli skiing!

Option 1 – Stay in Vancouver Pre Heli-skiing

Day 0: Arrive Canada
Arrive in Vancouver Canada the day before your tour begins and stay in a Vancouver airport hotel or Vancouver hotel. For 5 star luxury and the ultimate in convenience, stay at the Hotel Fairmont Vancouver Airport which is located inside the airport.

Day 1: Travel Vancouver to Ripley Creek Inn

• Fly from Vancouver to Terrace on flight AC8236 departing Vancouver (YVR) 08:25 arrive Terrace (YXT) 10:01.
• Depart Terrace Airport - 10:30 (ground transfer to inn provided)
• Arrive Ripley Creek Inn - 15:30 (approximately)

Option 2 – Stay in Terrace Pre Heli-skiing

Day 0: Travel to Terrace

• Book connecting flight AC8244 departing Vancouver (YVR) 17:45 arrive Terrace (YXT) 19:33
• Taxi to Sandman Hotel (budget approximately $20 for a taxi)
• Overnight at Sandman Hotel, Terrace

Day 1: Travel Terrace to Ripley Creek Inn

• Depart Sandman Hotel - 11:30 (ground transfer to inn provided)
• Arrive Ripley Creek Inn - 15:30 approximately & check-in
  
  

Upon arrival at the inn, you will attend an informal welcome session introducing you to the Last Frontier Heliskiing crew and run through the daily schedule. At this time your guide will also explain the liability waiver form, which ALL guests must sign prior to skiing or boarding.

Skiing and Boarding Days
Each morning a buffet breakfast is served at 08:00 at the Bitter Creek Cafe. The lead guide will provide an update on the weather, snow conditions and the specific departure times for each group.

The first day, your guide will instruct you on the use and care of the electronic avalanche transceiver and ABS airbag. Everyone has an opportunity to practise several searches. Afterwards, you’ll meet your pilot at the helicopter and receive a helicopter safety briefing. The first groups in each helicopter generally depart the lodge daily at approximately 09:15.

Mini water bottles are provided in each helicopter. Lunch is a relaxed picnic-style affair of homemade soup, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks and chocolate.

Après-ski snacks are served back at the café where you will find a good selection of beer, wine and spirits. Have a hot tub, a massage, or post brag photos on social media of your epic day out heli skiing!

Dinner is served at 19:00 each evening at the Bitter Creek Cafe.

Checkout day at the inn & last day of heli skiing
Pack your bags and check out of your room in the morning before skiing or boarding. Skiing/riding on the last day of your tour generally ends at 14:00 however your guide will do their best to ski or ride more if possible. Upon return to the lodge, there is time to shower and change into your traveling clothes.

Travel schedule:

• Depart Ripley Creek Inn - 16:30 for Terrace
• Ground transfer to Sandman Hotel Terrace provided, arrive approx 21:30
• Overnight at Sandman Hotel

The next day:

• Taxi to Terrace Airport
• Book flight AC8237 depart Terrace (YXT) 6:00 am arrive Vancouver (YVR) 7:45 am
• Departure from Canada

Always plan to depart from Canada the day after your tour ends.

Ripley Creek Inn

The Ripley Creek Inn is a restored "modern rustic" historic inn located in the town of Stewart, a little old mining town in BC on the border of Alaska that’s very rich in history. The hotel is delightfully quirky and very charming.

All rooms are nicely renovated and have en-suite bathrooms, queen size beds with down duvets, a small fridge, microwave, tea/coffee making facilities, telephones, free WiFi & Satellite TV.

Ripley Creek can cater up to a maximum of 24 clients per week and whilst packages are based on twin-share, private rooms may be available.

The inn has a unique outdoor hot tub and massage services are available. The inn also has a couple of lounge areas where you can relax.

Apres-ski appetizers and drinks and meals are served just across the road from the inn at the Bitter Creek Café. The Bitter Creek Café is a charmingly historic building with wonky floorboards and beautiful antique décor. And you can be assured of some fine eclectic cuisine and for those who are keen, some sensational seafood.

Ripley Creek Inn....

...comfy modern rooms...

...Bitter Creek Cafe

Rates, Inclusions & Add-Ons

2021-22 Rates

MIXED Group Prices in CAD per person (ex taxes)
Package	Dec & Jan	Feb & March	April	Average Vertical (m)	Guaranteed Vertical (m)
7 Days/7 Nights	$13,600	$14,500	$13,500	42,672	30,500
5 Days/5 Nights	$10,100	$11,000	$10,700	28,956	22,000
4 Days/4 Nights	$8,400	$9,300	n/a	22,860	17,500

PRIVATE Group Prices in CAD (ex taxes) *per person price based on full group
Package	Group Size	Heli Hours Guaranteed	Group Price  Dec & Jan	*Per Person  Dec & Jan	Group Price Feb - Apr	*Per Person Feb - Apr
7 Days/7 Nights	1 group/4 people	7 hours	$93,200	$23,300	$109,400	$27,350
7 Days/7 Nights	2 groups/8 people	14 hours	$134,300	$16,767	$154,860	$19,357
5 Days/5 Nights	1 group/4 people	5 hours	$69,100	$17,275	$80,700	$20,175
5 Days/5 Nights	2 groups/8 people	10 hours	$102,300	$12,787	$118,800	$14,850

• based on twin-share per person
• base/invoice currency is Canadian Dollars
• A 2.5% GST (tax) is charged to non-residents of Canada and 5% GST is charged to residents.
• Extra vertical, over and above package guarantee, is charged at CAD $180 per 1,000 vertical metres
• See Terms & Conditions for deposit & cancellation policy     
• All guests will be required to sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement prior to skiing.

Inclusions

• Twin/double-share lodging at the Ripley Creek Inn
• Daily breakfast, lunch, apres appetizers & dinner
• Daily small-group guided heli skiing (max 4 guests per group)
• Return transfers - Terrace / Ripley Creek Inn
• Use of avalanche safety equipment & fat skis

Add-ons

• Private room upgrade (subject to availability) - $enquire
• Additional vertical over allocation - CAD$180/1000 m

Not Included

• Flights in/out Smithers (YYD) - search for cheapest flights here
• Travel insurance - buy travel insurance online here
• Alcoholic beverages

COVID-19 Special Conditions

Updated: May 26, 2020

2021 Updated Booking Policy

Our team has put their heads together and run multiple operating scenarios for the leadup to next winter. In order to make planning easier for you [and more challenging for us!] we have decided to relax our 2021 booking policy as follows:

Seat Holds

Based on availability, seats can be held without a deposit until a predetermined date.

Deposit Payments

Depending on when your trip was booked, the following deposit conditions apply:

Between 2-APR and 30-SEP-2020: Fully refundable until 30-SEP-2020. No questions asked.

After 30-SEP-2020: Non-refundable.

Balance Payments

Balance payments are due 60 days before your trip start date [2021 season only].

Should you have to cancel your 2021 heliski trip to comply with COVID related border, travel or quarantine restrictions* after your balance payment has been made, you have the following two options:

Move your entire payment to the 2022 season and maintain 2020 pricing for your new booking.

Move your deposit to the 2022 [or 2023] season and receive a refund of your balance payment. Your 2022 [or 2023] balance is then due 90 days prior to your new trip start date and subject to our annual price increases. The same options apply if Last Frontier has to cancel the 2021 season to comply with COVID related border, travel or operational restrictions (for example but not limited to: physical distancing, quarantine advisory).

Private Tours

A deposit of 20% of the tour price is required at the time of booking and a total of 50% of the tour price is due 120 days prior to the trip. The full balance is due 60 days before the trip start date. These payment conditions apply to the 2021 season only and are subject to the above COVID cancellation policies.

For bookings, please use our handy trip builder, or give us a call: 1 888 655 5566 [USA & Canada] | 1 250 558 7980 [International]

Summer Operations @ Bell 2 Lodge The gas station at Bell 2 Lodge remains open to the public as an essential service and we are currently offering take-out food services and accommodation to any travelers heading north or south.

Small Print, But Important

Last Frontier reserves the right to cancel any heliski tour at any time (non-COVID related). This policy has not changed. A full refund will be given if this is the case. Covid or non-Covid related: Last Frontier is not responsible for any costs outside of your heliski package (e.g. international or domestic flights and hotels). Rebooking is subject to availability. Name changes are permitted on rolled over deposits / balances at no cost. Last Frontier Heliskiing reserves the right to change this booking policy at will and without notice.

*COVID-19 Terms

We will not review any COVID-19 related cancellation requests until a 60-day window prior to your trip start date. COVID-19 cancellation requests must meet one of the following criteria:

A border closure or advisory against non-essential travel that prevents you from leaving your home country or entering Canada.

A government imposed mandatory quarantine period that makes travel unfeasible.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 [or come into close contact with someone who tested positive] within two weeks of your trip start date.

Any cancellation request outside of the above COVID-19 clauses including injury and sickness will not be considered as part of our 2021 COVID-19 exclusion. Consider purchasing trip cancellation / interruption insurance to cover yourself for those risks.