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High Altitude Fun in Canada
Heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies
By Corinne Humphrey
Hot tubs, "hippie heads" and helicopters. Yawning crevasses, carabiners and creme brulee. Grizzly sightings, glaciers and granite peaks. "Bugaboos," backpacks and Beaujolais. This list might sound like some psychedelic, high-altitude, high-end boot camp, but it's just a day in the life of a Canadian Mountain Holidays heli-hiking guest.
Long known for its successful heli-skiing vacations in the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains, Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) expanded its operation to take advantage of the glorious alpine summers, and in 1978, heli-hiking was born. Its mission statement is to offer a careful, exuberant experience of this formerly impenetrable High Country. The idea is to transport hikers to remote lodges via helicopter, introduce them to more than 1,000 square kilometers of spectacular terrain and then reward them at day's end with massages, gourmet meals and comfortable beds. Appealing to hikers of all ages and abilities, CMH has set a new standard for memorable family vacations.
My CMH adventure began with a two-hour bus trip along the scenic Trans-Canadian Highway from Banff, Alberta, toward Golden, British Columbia. Intermittent road signs marking "Grizzly Crossing" supported my vision of the "Wild, Wild West." Once at the heli-pad, it was a short 15-minute flight to the Bobbie Burns Lodge, one of seven lodges operated by CMH, where mountain goats, caribou and bears would be our closest neighbors.
After a warm welcome by manager, Bruce Howatt, and the rest of the staff, we were outfitted with hiking gear. The lodge supplies everything – sturdy hiking boots, parkas, rain gear, daypacks and even water bottles – allowing guests to anticipate the experience and not the packing. Our rooms had comfortable beds with European duvets, private baths and views of lush forests and snow-covered peaks.