Unlike the previous year, when we were based in Lake Louise, this year we'd decided to stay in Panorama village itself and the constant sight of the helicopter leaving every morning full of lucky, lucky punters was really starting to get to me. I booked a 5 run package for Wednesday 24th January, exactly a year to the day since my first heli day. That had to be a good omen I kept telling myself? It had to be. The snow in Panorama wasn't in the best condition and rumours about the quality of the heli terrain were rife on the ski hill, so I was understandably a bit anxious.

Me in the BC powder.

The morning of the 24th arrived and armed with my Visa card and my Dads video camera I set off to the heli plex gazing nervously at the low clouds above the village. I collected my transceiver, scoffed my complimentary breakfast and checked out everyone else to try and work out who I'd be flying with. Once sorted out into our relevant groups we paid careful attention during transceiver practice and paid even more attention to Kris's "if the helicopter crashes this way, you can escape by...." briefing. Once our group had been introduced to Rod, our guide, it was time to go.

There were to be 3 groups of 11 using the same helicopter, but as we were the expert group we got the pleasure of riding to the first run in the heli, while the other groups were bussed to the intermediate pickup point. Once we'd punched through the low cloud there were clear blue skies as far as the eye could see. Another bluebird day, courtesy of R.K.Heli. We spent our first 3 runs before lunch on "Blockhead" in the Cauldron zone. 2900 feet of glacial powder heaven interrupted by a number of crevasses that we had to traverse round. The snow was in fantastic condition, not the deepest snow I've ever ridden by any means, but all untouched and in fantastic condition.

Midway through a hot pickup.

Blockhead: Site of our first 3 runs. This shot was taken from the Cauldron Glacier.