The edge of the cliff is just as close in front of the chopper as it is here on the side.
You can see the snow being blown off the the cliff top by the powerful prop wash.

The mountaintop liftoff IS an awesome sight. The chopper hovers a couple of feet in front of us...

...and suddenly peels away, leaving us in silence.

The bases are revealed to see who wins the "worst skis" bet.