A Heli-Ski Guide’s Perspective: Cliff Umpleby

Few experiences in skiing rival the thrill and freedom of heli-skiing. For those who seek untouched powder, vast mountain landscapes, and the rush of carving through pristine terrain, heli-skiing in Northern British Columbia is the pinnacle. To gain deeper insight, we spoke with Faction ambassador Cliff Umpleby, ACMG ski guide and Director of Operations at Last Frontier Heli-Skiing at their base near Vernon, BC, in this wild and sparsely populated region, blessed often with deep powder falls arriving from the Pacific Ocean.

With 26 years of guiding experience, Cliff shares what makes heli-skiing in this region unique and how Last Frontier curates experiences with Faction equipment central to their arsenal. Over the years, numerous famous skiers and media houses have been hosted at this lodge, including the likes of Teton Gravity Research.

The Journey to Becoming a Heli-Ski Guide

Originally from Scotland, Cliff immigrated to Calgary, Alberta in 1982 with his family. It was there, in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies, that he first developed his passion for skiing and mountaineering.

“Living near the Rockies is where I started to sort of cut my teeth and learn all the mountaineering skills,” he says.

What began as a love for the outdoors quickly turned into a profession. Like many guides, Cliff started with ski touring and climbing before realizing that guiding could be a career. Over the years, he worked in a mix of ski touring, heli-skiing, and expedition guiding before settling into the world of heli-skiing full-time. Over the years, he pursued professional guiding, gaining certification and honing his skills in ski touring, heli-skiing, and expedition work. Eventually, he gravitated towards the heli-skiing world, where he now oversees operations at Last Frontier’s Bell 2 Lodge and Ripley Creek Lodge.

A Day in the Life

As Director of Operations at Last Frontier Heli-Skiing, Cliff manages two lodges—Bell 2 Lodge and Ripley Creek Lodge—each offering a unique skiing experience.

“Bell 2 skis a lot in the Skeena Mountains as well as the North Coast Mountains, whereas Ripley Creek is mostly in the North Coast Mountains,” he explains. “Our tree skiing at Ripley Creek tends to be a lot more aggressive, so when we have skiers looking for vertical and technical trees, we’ll often direct them there.”

A key part of Cliff’s job is ensuring that guests are paired with the right terrain for their ability level while balancing safety and the thrill of skiing untouched powder, for what is often a life-changing experience for them.

“We have skiers across a whole spectrum,” he says. “Some are first-time heli-skiers happy on moderate terrain, and others want the steepest, biggest lines possible. The challenge is walking the middle line and keeping everyone happy.”

Balancing Safety and the Thrill

Every day in the field presents a unique set of challenges. Avalanche risk, snow conditions, weather, and guest expectations all play into the equation.

“Sometimes guests arrive expecting to ski the biggest, steepest, gnarliest terrain out there, but avalanche conditions might mean we can barely ski a 30-degree glacier,” Cliff explains. “Managing expectations is a big part of the job, and open communication is key. We often tell guests, ‘We’d love to take you there in a few days, but not today.’”

Through experience, Cliff has learned the importance of sticking to his instincts. “I remember an incident when I was younger,” he recalls. “I had guests pushing to ski something steeper. I thought, ‘Okay, maybe I’ll try this slope over here.’ As I was approaching, the whole thing fractured and took off on me. That was a real lesson in trusting my gut.”

The Importance of the Right Gear

For a heli-ski guide, the right equipment is essential. With long days spent in ever-changing terrain, Cliff selects his skis to maximise versatility, stability, and predictability.

“When I’m guiding, the last thing I want to think about is skiing,” he says. “I need something that’s easy-turning and forgiving because I’m often carrying extra gear or dealing with other factors.”

This season, his go-to ski has been the Faction Agent 4, a ski that balances float in deep powder with maneuverability in trees.

“There are days when we start off in steep trees, and by the afternoon, we’re on open glaciers with 30 or 40 centimeters of fresh snow,” he explains. “If I’m on a ski that’s too short, I’ll be struggling in the deep snow. If it’s too big, I’ll be fighting it in the trees. The Agent 4 is a nice middle ground.”

For touring days, he transitions to the Faction Agent 3, appreciating its consistency across different setups. “When I switch between the 3 and the 4, there’s no adjustment period—it just feels natural.”

What It’s All About

Heli-skiing is more than just a sport—it’s a lifelong dream for many guests. Some have spent years saving up for their first trip, and when conditions align perfectly, the experience is nothing short of magical.

Despite the technical aspects of guiding, the real reward for Cliff is sharing life-changing experiences with guests.

“I’ve had guests in tears because they’ve been saving for 20 years to do this, and suddenly they’re skiing perfect powder under bluebird skies,” he says. “It’s like winning the skiing lottery–They’ve been skiing their whole lives, but nothing prepares them for the vastness of Northern British Columbia—where it’s just endless mountains, no infrastructure, and run after run of untouched powder.”

And with 10,000 square kilometers of skiable terrain—roughly a third the size of Faction’s native Switzerland—there’s always new ground to explore. Some of his guests even get to name first descents.

“We’ll be flying far out into the tenure, skiing something for the first time, and I’ll tell the guests, ‘Alright, you get to name it.’ That run name stays on the list forever—it’s part of heli-ski history. Cliff fondly recalls two Finnish clients who skied between two towering rock formations. Inspired by the comedy show Between Two Ferns, they named the run Between Two Finns—a piece of ski history forever linked to their adventure.

“Consistent snowfall, big mountains, and the ability to truly get away from it all,” Cliff says. “You get a storm cycle, then clear skies, then another storm cycle—it keeps the snow fresh. And there’s just so much terrain.”