Sweetwater Heli Reviews

Logistics - How to Optimize Skiing & Accommodations 

We recognize that Sweetwater Heli is not a destination heli-lodge or resort town, and therefore does not have its own accommodations. It would make absolutely no sense for Sweetwater to develop accommodations. This is not a "destination" location, like Park City, UT or Whistler or Revelstoke, BC.

Sweetwater is a "Day Heli" program. And any similar program is more than happy to accommodate your booking request for a multi day trip.

That leads us to the question of accommodations.

Currently, the Sweetwater operations is requesting that you arrive on location at 7:30 AM. Considering that you should fuel up before you go, you're probably talking about a 6:00 AM wake up call. Unless you get up extremely early and drive some distance, it's likely that you're going to overnight in or near Bridgeport, prior to your day of heliskiing.

En route between Mammoth Lakes and Reno, we have driven through Bridgeport at least a dozen times, passing by a handful of motels. We Have never chosen to stay there.

NOW...travel requirements are different! So, where to stay?

We assume that, as we advance in the booking process, Sweetwater Heli will reveal their preferred accommodations list. In the meantime...

A quick tour on Tripadvisor for Bridgeport accommodations reveals:

• Virginia Creek Settlement Motel: With 418 reviews and a 4.1 star rating, this establishment seems to have the largest variety of room choices.
• Silver Maple Inn: With 250 reviews and a 4.0 star rating, this may work! You may choose from a typical menu one king or two queens.
• The Willow Springs Resort: With only 15 reviews, we may exercise some caution on the 4.9 star rating. It appears to be an RV park with rooms. It also appears to lack king size beds.

Imagine that you had a good night's rest and enjoyed an amazing day of heliskiing!

Now that you're done with your day of heliskiing, it's probably not too big an ask, to drive North, back to your point of origin.

It's a "no brainer" to head South on the 395 to get back to Mammoth by dinner time. Sadly, it's time to pull out that IKON pass again for tomorrow.

OR...rinse and repeat!

On their website, Sweetwater Heli describes their mountain range as one of the least explored areas in California. Most of our team is born and bred in this state and would be inclined to agree. As one travels up and down that 395, your eyeballs tend to be attracted to all the peaks West the highway. This is certainly the case in the Bridgeport Valley. A passenger in the car is literally seduced by a panoramic, awe inspiring, ever ascending landscape that culminates into massive peaks out to the West of the valley. The same passenger spends little energy looking east. Yet, the Sweetwater range is on the East side of the highway!

The Sweetwater Mountains - California's newest heliskiing tenure!

Sweetwater Heli apparently has been permitted to utilize the entire mountain range as their tenure, which spans 288 square miles, or approximately 184,320 acres. The terrain contains SIX mountain peaks, reaching over 10,000 feet! Mount Patterson, which stands right in the middle of the tenure, is included in this list. It caps out at a breathtaking 11,673 ft. As a matter of comparison, the top of the Panorama gondola at Mammoth Mountain is at an elevation of 11,053 ft.

So they have the necessary altitude in their tenure for sure!

Although we are unfamiliar with the Sweetwater Mountains microclimate, the snowfall is likely more than adequate, considering that the average snowfall throughout the Sierra Nevada is more than 300 inches per year.

In our experience, the Eastern Sierras present plenty of pitch - more acute and vertical than the Western side. Afterall, Mt. Whitney rises straight up to 14,505 ft. on the East side. There is no comparison on the West side. Given stable snow conditions, we gather that plenty of nice steep descents exist in their terrain!

However, in our experience, the tree skiing on the Western side of the Sierras is superior to that of the eastern side. For instance, comparing Palisades Tahoe to Mammoth Mountain, most would agree at the tree skiing is a more robust, dense and playful experience on the West side.

And this is simply an observational guess...but we suspect that the tree line is lower and more defined on the West side.

Additionally, the winds are generally less problematic on the West side.

All of that said, in our opinion, there are TWO key ingredients for extending the use of terrain for good heliskiing during periods of low precipitation (lack of snowfall):

Cold temperatures and an abundance of North facing slopes!

During longer spells without fresh storms, that remaining snow layer must stay cool & dry!

The Eastern Sierras are typically cooler because of what is described as the rain shadow effect. This occurs when storms moving in from the Pacific rise over the mountain peaks and release more of their moisture on the West side of the Sierras. As a result, the air is cooler and drier on the East side.

That said, The Sweetwater Mountains should benefit from this effect. And we're certain that with a tenure of this size, there are enough North facing slopes to preserve plenty of shadowy powder stashes for hungry powder hounds!

Certainly a full report is due after we sample the terrain!

Sweetwater Heli Offers small-group heliskiing.

The helicopter commonly utilized in this capacity is the AS350, typically referred to the squirrel or A-Star - the industry's workhorse!

With two seats in the front used for the guide and the pilot, the four seats in the rear are for the heliskiing guests. This small group of four skiers (and one guide) in one aircraft makes it easier - more ideal for each skier to pick their own unique, fresh powder line down the descent on each run. Frankly, that's what you're paying for!

We do not yet know how many groups of four (4) skiers / riders utilize each helicopter.

At a base price of $1800 a day for 6-8 runs, we suspect that there are two to three groups for each helicopter.

On Sweetwater's website, here is mention of an upgrade to unlimited vertical, if weather permits. It's more common in the industry for the operator to simply charge you for each additional vertical foot or meter skied.

As is usually the case with Heli ski operators, Sweetwater Heli also offers a private charter package as well. It's your helicopter & guide(s) for the day; use it as you wish!