Alterra Mountain Company To Acquire Legendary Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing

Alterra Mountain Company -- the purveyor of the Ikon Pass -- has announced plans to purchase Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing.

The deal is not yet closed, with Alterra anticipating finalization of the purchase occurring in late 2023 -- pending regulatory approvals will apply.

In an Instagram post uploaded yesterday, MWHS shared the following statement: "With today's news that we will become part of Alterra Mountain Company, we want to thank our loyal guests (many who have come every year for decades), our long-serving guides, our dedicated staff and our valued partners who helped make 'Wiegele World' so extraordinary."

MWHS is a storied backcountry skiing operation located in the heart of British Columbia's Cariboo, Monashee, and Rocky Mountains ranges. The area is home to 1,000 peaks, 1.5 million acres of skiable terrain, and, you guessed it, plentiful powder.

The arrangement for clientele at MWHS is simple: you arrive, shack up in one of the operation's 22 chalets, and then get flown around to different backcountry zones via helicopter.

On the ground (or snow), two guides lead groups of guests, helping them find powder stashes while keeping them safe from backcountry risks like avalanches. MWHS notes that it accesses "varied terrain that appeals to all levels of snow enthusiasts."

"Mike Wiegele was a pioneer in the heli-ski world, and we are excited to add another premier heli-skiing operation to the Alterra family," said Jared Smith, President & CEO of Alterra Mountain Company. "In many ways, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing helped set the standard for extraordinary guest and employee experiences that prioritized safety and quality, which directly aligns with our values at Alterra."

MWHS' general manager, Elias Ortner, shared a similar sentiment: "Alterra Mountain Company is the ideal partner to celebrate and preserve the legacy that Mike Wiegele left behind. Becoming a part of the Alterra family will propel this operation to new heights, allowing us to enhance the guest experience further and deepen our existing community and loyal guest partnerships."

Alterra plans to release more details once the transaction is completed in late 2023.

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