If you had any questions, fears or doubts about heli-accessed excursions deep in the remote, rugged mountains of British Columbia, Canada, you might immediately think to ask some equally rugged mountain guides.
They’re knowledgeable, for sure. But we think you should hear from someone who had all the same apprehensions as you, and then did the damn thing.
Meet Jean: hiker, friend, and lifelong adventurer
Introducing Jean, a self-titled 70-something-year-old who had a keen eye on heli-hiking for a few years before finally venturing to CMH Bugaboos last summer. Jean arrived along with four of her regular hiking pals, ready to strut her stuff through landscapes that defy every expectation.
Here’s what Jean learned and wants you to know:
Q: What prompted you to sign up for a heli-hiking trip in the first place?
J: Well, it had been on my bucket list for years. My brother had gone heli-skiing before, and while I wasn’t quite up to strapping on a pair of skis, I thought hiking would be right up my alley. Getting to explore nature is always special, but seeing some of the spots that these trips go to, places that are really tough to see, I started getting excited. I thought, “I just HAVE to do this.”
I’m fortunate to have a close group of four friends and we all hike regularly together, often taking trips in the summer months. I managed to convince them that a heli-hiking trip to the Bugaboos was next on our list!
READ: WHAT IS HELI-HIKING?
Q: Amazing! Did you have any nerves, worries or even doubts before committing?
J: Truthfully, I didn’t. I was confident our group could handle it. We’re older, sure. But we’re still very active and very capable. That said, a few of our group members who were afraid of heights had a few questions about helicopters and ridge walking and so on. In talking together as a group and with the CMH team, any doubts were squashed and we were all in!
Q: We love a ringleader! Nice work. So, let’s dig into your experience and hear about how you found the terrain, the lodge and the hiking itself.
J: Given its remote location, I was so impressed by just how luxurious the lodge was. Every view while we were hiking was positively amazing, but even the views right from the lodge itself were something special. I particularly enjoyed spending time by the little lake near the lodge. Oh, and the food! Delicious, truly.
VIEW: PHOTOS FROM THE TRAIL
Q: We haven’t even touched on the hiking part yet!
J: Right. What an adventure! It was incredible to get up to the types of ridges and meadows that we wouldn’t have been able to get to otherwise. The pictures just don’t do these special places justice–they are unbelievable, and you must see them in person.
One thing that stood out for me was how well organized everything was, from the schedule of our days and the mealtimes to how each day of hiking works. I remember during one hike, a storm started rolling in. Everyone acted so quickly to get us out of there safely. We were in good hands. It was all taken care of, so we focused on putting one foot in front of the other while we’re hiking. And the scenery, of course!
Q: We’re lucky to have a great team in every department, including our guides. Can you tell us what hiking with them was like?
J: I didn’t expect to learn so much about the geography and the geology of the area. They were so informative, on top of obviously being very capable individuals. Each day, they were able to tailor the adventure to our group, how everyone was feeling and what we wanted out of our day. You could tell they were friendly folks who had an immense passion for exploring the mountains, and the mountains themselves!
Q: Oh, and how were the helicopter flights? Not too high?
J: They were lovely! Even the ladies who were a little wary of heights enjoyed them.
Q: What would you tell someone who’s thinking about heli-hiking but isn’t sure if it’s something they can do?
J: I would encourage them to do it, absolutely. You won’t regret it. It was a tremendous amount of fun. Like I said, there were a few members of our hiking group who weren’t totally sure this was something they could handle, but in the end it was a fabulous trip in a breathtaking place. Memories made, for sure.
Now I’m planning to convince my family to come join me on a trip to CMH soon, and it sounds like one or two other members of our group are planning to share the experience of these wonderful mountains with their families, too!
Ready for guided mountain adventure?
There you have it, folks. Adventure has no age. Helicopters, mountains and spectacular hiking? All in a day’s work for these ladies.
Now, it’s your turn.