I don't recall whether it was posted here, or I heard by e-mail that Nick and Ali Holmes-Smith had separated and were selling Mustang.
They also own Great Canadian Heliskiing in the northern Selkirks/Purcells.
Last edited:
Mustang Snowcat Sold to Same Aspen Duo that Bought Silverton
- Thread starter Tony Crocker
- Start date
I don't recall whether it was posted here, or I heard by e-mail that Nick and Ali Holmes-Smith had separated and were selling Mustang.
They also own Great Canadian Heliskiing in the northern Selkirks/Purcells.
ChrisC
Well-known member
I found this part of the email really funny:
WHAT’S NEW
With Heli behind us, we gain access to world-class technology, a smoother booking experience, and upgraded guest services—all designed to enhance your time with us behind the scenes, without changing what makes Mustang special. Our guests will also have inside access to Heli’s collection of premier backcountry destinations.
Totally irrelevant for successful heli/cat operations.
| |
|
WHAT’S NEW
With Heli behind us, we gain access to world-class technology, a smoother booking experience, and upgraded guest services—all designed to enhance your time with us behind the scenes, without changing what makes Mustang special. Our guests will also have inside access to Heli’s collection of premier backcountry destinations.
Totally irrelevant for successful heli/cat operations.
Yes. We learned all this during our February tour. Most staff seemed pretty comfortable with the new owners. We also heard that Nick might remain involved in operations in the coming season. Having talked to Heidi many times over nine tours, I trust she is not just putting a good face on things. However, so much of Mustang's culture can be credited to Nick's personality and management style, it is difficult not to suspect there will be some significant change to the culture. Maybe it shouldn't, but the fact that the new owners are not from BC concerns me just a little bit as well.
Last edited:
ChrisC
Well-known member
This is also very humorous to me: LINK
My brother tells me one of the owners bought a house in Telluride and commutes by helicopter to Silverton when in town. He does not want Silverton's clientele of more hardcore skiers to know that his daily commute is a 5-to 10-minute helicopter ride. Hence, they can offer this as a 'service'. More like a NYC business exec taking a heli to JFK or the Hamptons. Silverton would be too boring for the owners to live in.
They are a bit ridiculous. At least they are not building businesses; they are simply buying semi-successful/cash flow positive ones and running them for fun/from afar.
At least the Brills struggled, built something, and rebuilt a town. However, Aaron is not the most customer-centric guy in the world.
My brother tells me one of the owners bought a house in Telluride and commutes by helicopter to Silverton when in town. He does not want Silverton's clientele of more hardcore skiers to know that his daily commute is a 5-to 10-minute helicopter ride. Hence, they can offer this as a 'service'. More like a NYC business exec taking a heli to JFK or the Hamptons. Silverton would be too boring for the owners to live in.
They are a bit ridiculous. At least they are not building businesses; they are simply buying semi-successful/cash flow positive ones and running them for fun/from afar.
At least the Brills struggled, built something, and rebuilt a town. However, Aaron is not the most customer-centric guy in the world.
ChrisC
Well-known member
The new owners will fly in from Revelstoke or Whistler to 'check' on their purchase.
My observation is that cat skiing clientele is majority Canadian and nearly everyone else US. Heli has some international clients and I'd guess a higher proportion US than cat has. I'm sure there is much variation by specific operation and how they market. I've sampled a much higher proportion of cat.
I feel blessed to have enjoyed a nearly flawless decade of skiing at Mustang under Nick's direction. I commented once that 2/3 of days at Mustang would rank among the top 3% of my lift serviced experiences.
Last edited:
EMSC
Well-known member
+1
This was well discussed even back in January when I was there. Based on Silverton experience I expect minimal initial change. Will wait see about the long term though.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Silverton Mountain Ski Area was purchased for $6.7 million by Andy Culp and Brock Strasbourger, according to The Colorado Sun. The sale was finalized in February 2024, with the Aspen-based adventure travel company, Heli Adventures Inc., acquiring the ski area from Aaron and Jenny Brill.
I am cynical about new owners, but I respect the Brills for building something unique that went entirely against the grain.
Generally, whenever I go to Telluride, my brother and a few friends book Thursday for Silverton, as you have Sunday PM to Thursday AM with new snow potential. I will have to dig out photos for year one of its operation. I have been about 10 times, over the years... I'm still trying to ski the backside via heli once.
coloradosun.com
I am cynical about new owners, but I respect the Brills for building something unique that went entirely against the grain.
Generally, whenever I go to Telluride, my brother and a few friends book Thursday for Silverton, as you have Sunday PM to Thursday AM with new snow potential. I will have to dig out photos for year one of its operation. I have been about 10 times, over the years... I'm still trying to ski the backside via heli once.
Silverton Mountain ski area sold to Aspen-based adventure travel company
Aaron and Jenny Brill are selling their expert-only, single-lift Silverton Mountain ski area to an Aspen-based adventure travel company
coloradosun.com
EMSC
Well-known member
I guess my question is, define 'backside'. The ridgeline where the 2nd chair lift was proposed by the Brills? Not that that lift placement was well thought out anyway. Helpful, sure; but also guaranteed to require lots of hiking to be truly useful. Not sure why the Brills didn't really have good ideas on lift placement.
ChrisC
Well-known member
I am referring to a different aspect of Silverton's terrain that is not visible from its lift/current terrain.
Again, my descriptions may not match the official names, but I have a decent sense of what I am talking about having visited Silverton almost 10 times since inception till present. (As one can see, I like writing these visits up....I just do not feel motivated to document places I have been to - mostly SW Colorado and Tahoe.)
I am going to focus on the "East" Face. This 'basin' is where the new chair lift is proposed.
Photos of proposed chairlift (SnowBrains):
Overall, I feel the lift is positioned away from the Upper part of the basin to preserve this terrain for its heli-skiing operation.
Its terrain looks interesting, with hiking involved, but obviously does not get into you into the best parts. Some solid open mini-bowl to chute skiing, similar to the other side.
Silverton aerial view with North as up. One can see the East, North and West Faces and chairlift running NW.
My best estimate of the proposed lift:
Again, I believe Silverton is placing the lift purposefully in the lower basin vs. higher up to preserve its Heli Operation.
Heli-Skiing Zones.
ORANGE - Silverton only uses the East-Face Basin for single heli-drops.
BLUE & ORANGE - For half-day or full-day heli-skiers, they will use both the East-Face Basin as well as the south-facing backside (name?).
Although south-facing, a lot of terrain is really east or west facing or high-elevation south-facing.
Best guestimate.
Again, my descriptions may not match the official names, but I have a decent sense of what I am talking about having visited Silverton almost 10 times since inception till present. (As one can see, I like writing these visits up....I just do not feel motivated to document places I have been to - mostly SW Colorado and Tahoe.)
I am going to focus on the "East" Face. This 'basin' is where the new chair lift is proposed.
Photos of proposed chairlift (SnowBrains):
Overall, I feel the lift is positioned away from the Upper part of the basin to preserve this terrain for its heli-skiing operation.
Its terrain looks interesting, with hiking involved, but obviously does not get into you into the best parts. Some solid open mini-bowl to chute skiing, similar to the other side.
Silverton aerial view with North as up. One can see the East, North and West Faces and chairlift running NW.
My best estimate of the proposed lift:
Again, I believe Silverton is placing the lift purposefully in the lower basin vs. higher up to preserve its Heli Operation.
Heli-Skiing Zones.
ORANGE - Silverton only uses the East-Face Basin for single heli-drops.
BLUE & ORANGE - For half-day or full-day heli-skiers, they will use both the East-Face Basin as well as the south-facing backside (name?).
Although south-facing, a lot of terrain is really east or west facing or high-elevation south-facing.
Best guestimate.
Last edited:
EMSC
Well-known member
Got it.
I was just there in 2024 and the 2nd lift is not happening according to everyone. The new owners did not want to have even a tiny bit of cannibalization of the heli operation (which is the most profitable part of the place). Plus if there would be no hiking off the new lift, to preserve heli in the upper part of that ridge line, the acreage involved would be decent stuff but very very small (compared to the original lift). Tracked out in a single day even with guided groups. I've never done enough heli drops to get dropped onto the 'backside' blue zone. I'm pretty sure they also ski some of the terrain to the East (right) of the orange and blue circles now for full day heli (per our guide last year).
ChrisC
Well-known member
Agree.
Similar terrain off the current lift can get tracked out in a week+, and there is a lot more with multiple/larger faces.
As you point out, I think it would develop moguls quickly - and function almost like Telluride's Gold Express/Ch14. Not what Silverton is marketing. I would bet if they opened the proposed lift in the pre-season (Dec), it would develop moguls as skiers lapped it.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Yes.
I am sure you can look up the specific basins/drainages listed below, and it is a lot larger than what I highlighted.
Although I do think they try to differentiate between per-run and full-day heli skiers:
- Per Run - keep them near the East-Face drainage, and ferry them over.
- Full Day - all terrain pods.
Again, none of Silverton's terrain is 'standard' by any means.
Silverton Mountain expanded its heli‑skiing terrain in May 2017, when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved a significant terrain exchange that increased its permitted heli‑ski area to over 25,000 acres
The Details:
- Prior to the expansion, Silverton Guides held heli-skiing permits covering approximately 14,388 acres across eight ski pods.
- In 2015, they proposed a swap: removing ~5,556 acres spread across five pods (Grouse Gulch, Cinnamon, Houghton, Poughkeepsie, and Ross Basin) and adding 16,252 acres in four new pods (Illinois/Hancock, Southeast, Round, and Minnie/Maggie).
- The BLM granted this new arrangement in May 2017, resulting in a net gain of 10,686 acres—bringing the total heli‑ski terrain to 25,074 acres