TAHOE BASIN, Calif. – On a winter roadtrip up Highway 395, it’s hard not to stare out the window and imagine carving lines down the untouched peaks that rise beyond the road. This winter, that daydream edges closer to reality. Sweetwater Heli, a new helicopter-skiing operation, is launching with a promise to deliver skiers and riders into some of the most remote mountains between Lake Tahoe and Mammoth.

“It’s almost like the opportunity to create a ski resort without the chairlifts,” said co-founder Mark Johnson.

The Sweetwater Mountains provide more than 180,000 acres of exclusive terrain for the operation — a 184,320-acre range spanning about 288 square miles. Its highest point, Mount Patterson, is an 11,673-foot volcanic peak, surrounded by five additional summits rising above 10,000 feet. Most of the range lies within the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest.

The idea for Sweetwater Heli first took shape in 2022, when Johnson began sketching out what heli-skiing in this region could look like. Just three years later, he and co-founder Brian Kirschenmann have launched a fully realized operation offering remote, guided ski and snowboard tours deep in the Eastern Sierra.

“It wouldn’t be on anybody’s high school bingo card that I’d end up doing this,” Johnson said with a laugh.

Johnson grew up skiing in the mountains around Lake Tahoe, but he never expected his career to land him in the cockpit of a dream like this. After moving to Tahoe in 2000, he worked as a ski coach and bounced between jobs around the region. But the more time he spent staring up at the jagged, untouched terrain surrounding the basin, the more it felt like something was missing — and something was possible.

Northern California has long been considered one of the country’s premier destinations for skiing and snowboarding. The idea of a heli-ski operation nested between its legendary mountains is almost a natural extension of the region’s deep love for snow, exploration, and big-mountain adventure.

“I’m incredibly excited to introduce a premium heli-ski experience to California,” said Kirschenmann. “Having the opportunity for world-class heli-skiing right in our backyard is truly priceless and long overdue. Our team’s love for California and everything it offers makes this especially significant.”

Based in Bridgeport, with flights running out of the Minden airport, Sweetwater Heli is positioned within easy reach of both Mammoth and Lake Tahoe — allowing fast, direct access to high-alpine terrain. Their model focuses on small groups, efficient flight rotations, experienced guides, and precise avalanche forecasting — a combination designed to maximize vertical while prioritizing safety at every turn.

“Heli-skiing in our own backyard has been the ultimate dream,” said Tahoe-based professional snowboarder Tim Humphreys on a press release. “Sweetwater just made that dream a reality.”

Sweetwater Heli bookings are open today and tours beginning January 30th, 2026.