MOUNTAIN LIFE
Kane Scheidegger
HELITRAX
WINTERTIME UTOPIA
Local heli-skiing operator Helitrax opens up mystical backcountry, and goes green BY MARTINIQUE DAVIS
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telluride.com | 855.421.4360
T
he serrated horseshoe of high mountain peaks and ridges that wrap around Telluride and Mountain Village delivers a backdrop that is breathtaking to behold; yet the snow-cloaked, high-alpine climes may seem out of reach to the mere mortal skiers consigned to drooling over them from the towns below. Visiting this wintertime utopia on skis is not, however, just a fairy tale. The experienced guides at Helitrax (with help from their trusty Eurocopter S350 B3e helicopter) hold the key to unlocking some of the best high-altitude ski terrain in North America. Longtime area resident Joe Shults has been
guiding for the Telluride-based Helitrax helicopter ski operation for over two decades. He says that the family-owned company’s small size and its highly experienced pool of veteran guides, combined with a nearly 40-year history providing helicopter skiing in the San Juans, allows Helitrax to tailor unforgettable ski adventures. “This corner of the San Juans has a high concentration of really, really good skiing,” Shults says. “That, in combination with our solid terrain knowledge, allows us to tailor experiences for our guests that range from mellow powder runs to more aggressive, dramatic lines.”
