All three Haines heli-ski companies—Alaska Heliskiing, Alaska Mountain Guides (AMG) and Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA)—are planning to operate this March. Operators have filed COVID-19 mitigation plans with the borough, but it’s unclear how many guests and guides will travel to Haines. One operator said they are keeping guests from traveling to town.  

This year, all Haines Borough tour permit applicants are required to submit a borough-approved COVID-19 mitigation plan in order to receive permission to operate. Right now, the state has no requirements for travelers entering Alaska, and the borough has a set of recommendations that suggest travelers either get vaccinated or get tested before entering Haines.

Alaska Heli-skiing owner Sean Brownell said his plan exceeds state and borough requirements.

“Our guests, guides and pilots are staying at separate locations outside of town and are not to be mingling around downtown or visiting bars or restaurants, or stores. We have a runner that does the getting and brings items to the guest accommodations,” he said. Guests and guides are housed separately. Brownell said the only time the two groups would come within six feet of each other is during helicopter and vehicle rides, when masks will be required.

He described the heli-ski industry as the “guinea pigs of Haines tourism,” and asked for cooperation from all parties as the company works to keep the community safe.

Last year, one of the best snow years in a decade, the heliski season shut down in mid-March due to pandemic concerns and increasingly stringent state and federal travel regulations.

This year, heliski operators are easing into the season, with later than normal start dates.

“Usually, we try to start at the end of February. We pushed ours back because of all the uncertainty with COVID 19, so we’re starting mid-March,” AMG owner Sean Gaffney said. He said bookings are decent through late April, the season’s end. ”It’s not as strong as last year, but it’s still a good season for us. We’re excited about it.”

SEABA said they’re also planning to begin operations in mid-March.

Brownell said in an interview Monday, his 2021 season was scheduled to start March 1. He said weather is likely to push guests’ arrival until later in the week.

Brownell said the number of guests and guides is below average.  

“I would call it somewhere between a dull roar and a loud squeak at this point, but there is lots of interest, and we are actually getting more bookings than normal for next year, which is unusual,” Brownell said. 

He said he thinks people are reluctant to put down large deposits during such uncertain times, so as a work-around, he’s lowered the deposit requirement.

“That has helped our booking increase. It’s a tricky time to be in the tourism business and a very risky business endeavor due to the high costs of chartering a helicopter and expensive fuel. We are hoping for the best,” he said.

Gaffney said they intend to ask guests not to go into town. “I’m confident that we can operate this safely from the perspective of keeping the community safe,” Gaffney said. “That’s the reason we cancelled the last season, which had a lot of impact on us.”

“SEABA is in full compliance with the Haines Borough requirement to file a COVID-19 mitigation plan,” spokesperson Erin Bills said, but declined to elaborate.

The borough’s tourism department has published a flier to assist visitors with social distancing during their stay in Haines, director Steven Auch said. “It has local business phone numbers so people can coordinate curbside pickup while allowing businesses to make the most of having people in town,” he said.

Auch said he believes that Haines will need to reopen to visitors eventually to restart its economy. He sees the COVID-19 vaccine as the community’s best hope for reopening safely.

“We can’t lock the doors to Haines, so the best way that we can stay safe and protect the economy is really for everyone to get vaccinated,” Auch said. He said the Haines Health Center is offering vaccines not only to community members but also to seasonal workers, like heli-ski guides, who will remain in town long enough to receive both doses.

In past years, the heli-ski industry has been a source of revenue and jobs during a time of year when the Haines economy is traditionally less vibrant.

A 2015 “Haines Winter Visitor Industry Economic Impact and Market Assessment” report prepared by the McDowell Group estimates the heli-ski season draws 550 people annually to Haines and creates 30 jobs. The report said at the time, winter “pleasure visitors,” drawn by activities including heli-skiing, backcountry skiing, snowmachining and special events like the Alcan 200, spent $4.5 million locally each year.