Whitecap Alpine Adventures Makes Major Backcountry Acquisition

Consolidation is afoot in B.C.’s backcountry-tourism world, and it’s a powder-friendly one. Whitecap Alpine Adventures has acquired Coast Range Heli-Skiing, Tyax Adventures, and select government licences from Blackcomb Helicopters, purchasing the company’s entire tourism division for an undisclosed amount.

The deal adds serious terrain to Whitecap’s portfolio. Coast Range Heli-Skiing brings private and small-group ski and snowboard adventures in the Coast Mountains, while Tyax Adventures contributes floatplane-assisted mountain biking, hiking, air tours, and remote cabins in the South Chilcotins.

Founder Dave Andrews has been hosting guests at his fly-in McGillivray Pass Lodge north of Pemberton since the early 2000s, operating on a rare piece of fee-simple alpine land with a 32,000-hectare tenure for skiing and hiking. The newly acquired tenures are adjacent—and massive. Coast Range’s is roughly ten times larger than Whitecap’s original footprint, while Tyax’s spans entire mountain ranges. Some of the new terrain even comes with road access, opening the door to more flexible touring options.

Whitecap currently generates under $10 million annually, with Andrews suggesting the acquisitions could multiply that several times over. Staffing changes will be modest, leadership teams will stay in place, and for now the focus is on integration rather than reinvention.

Bottom line? One of B.C.’s most established backcountry operators just got a whole lot bigger—and skiers, riders, and adventurers stand to benefit.

Source: BIV & Whitecap Alpine Adventures