scotth2510
This review is my actual email to the owners of TLH after our trip from 2013. It is long, but accurately depicts our entire experience with the company and the staff, in particular the Sales Manager, Shanna Selinger. Yes, it is long, but if you want truthful knowledge about TLH, please read this. To answer your next question- yes, we have already booked with TLH for 2015. I wanted to express my deepest thanks for one of your staff members; Shanna Selinger. Her dedication, professionalism and going above and beyond for our group was the single reason that we selected TLH for our first, of many, heli trips. About a year ago, I started researching a heli trip for my best friend's 40th birthday. We have an annual tradition of kicking off each ski season by attending Warren Miller's latest ski movie. Every year, a special segment or sponsor is a heli company. For the last 10+ years we have said, "next year, that's us". Well, of course life tends to get in the way, we both have two kids, and nothing ever materialized. However, this year was different as he was turning 40 and I was turning 45. Darn it, we're going. I am a bit of an OCD research freak and Googled all the heliskiing outfits in BC and TLH was one of the 15 that I started calling. Several were receptive, some answered my calls and a few even called me back within the same week. Most blew me off as this was just another guy calling and looking for info, without any real intention of moving forward. Shanna, however, answered with a smile on her face and became my "Director of Answers". I had so many question about what to do, how to do it, what equipment you had, conditions, vertical feet, spa, amenities, blah, blah, blah. She was a rock, never let me down and answered every one of my emails, and there ended up being about 100, my phone calls and smiled through her clenched teeth for seven more months. In addition to the heliskiing, I wanted a "one stop shop" that could handle all my needs. From hotels, ski rentals, lift tickets, transportation and local knowledge. She said, " I can do it". I had no idea whether this was your SOP, but she made it seem so. When it came time for me to book, there never was any question of whom we were going to book with; TLH, was the only answer. She was the only answer and the reason that we did. So, after many months of back and forth, we booked. We arrived to a great driver with a sign and smile, ready to take seven, loud, we had a few beverages on the plane, guys to the hotel in Whistler. He was friendly and very professional. At the hotel, there was a problem with one of the rooms- it was not there. "Who you gonna call" (Ghostbusters theme) Shanna. Within 10 minutes, she called us back and we were taken care of. The hotel was clean, had a great bar (Ric's) and our lift tickets for us the next day. Score! We took the T-Bar and hiked the glacier in 6" of fresh all day and loved every minute of it. Shanna gave us some suggestions and we thoroughly enjoyed the bars, err, I mean, our stay. Then the snow kept falling and falling...no flight to TLH. We had to take a bus ride with 12 others for the next 5 hours. Oh, joy rapture. When we arrived at the lodge, Shanna and the staff were there to meet and greet us. It felt like a sort of homecoming after the many months and numerous emails. Little did we know that due to the storm the people slated to ski that day never were able to go out. Big bummer for them, and we felt pretty bad. Our 'bad fortune' of having to take the bus ride created the window for a fantastic, make that epic, three day heliskiing trip. At this point, I need to digress and say something about the staff. Wow- everyone from the bartender, Danielle, to self-proclaimed, "Director of Fun", Katie, and the incredible massage therapists, Ingrid and Dena, was so very cheerful, smiling, laughing, outgoing and fun to be around. I have many trips where guests and staff are not encouraged to interact. Well, those places need to stay at your lodge and see how a great group of staff members and the guests can create a fun, social and friendly environment. Without their involvement our trip would never have been anywhere near as much fun. Last point, then I'll let you get back to actually working. Your guides were studs! We had Matt and Trevor and Mark as the pilot. They made us feel like we were in the TGR movies. We were well prepared by them for all avalanche conditions, they took safety and all preparations very seriously and we skied 94k vert in 3 days, where it snowed two of the three days. Not bad at all for a bunch of old guys. Their attention to the group, keeping us together and yet, letting us go, was the perfect balance of giving us enough rope to hang ourselves and the gentle nod from a parent when we strayed too far. The food for lunch was excellent as well as the 'espresso maker'...LOL. Skiing is great and that is why we came, but your people, Shanna in particular (don't let her go or we may follow her, hint, hint), spa, amenities, most excellent food and stellar guides will be the reason that we come back. There is snow everywhere and there are other heliskiing outfits, but there is not another TLH anywhere. I wanted to express my sincerest thanks for making this a most special trip, that far exceeded our expectations. So, thank you for your very well run company, your staff, the amenities AND a big THANK YOU to Shanna; without her, the trip would never have happened.