As summer slowly fades, we’re revisiting the high season from mountain summer at our Cariboo, Bugaboo and Bobbie Burns lodges.
In an effort to capture the uplift of these spectacular places and their iconic wilderness locations, we’ve put together a reading list of the stories that best explore the transportive nature of this bucket list experience. So grab a cocktail and an Adirondack chair and dive in to the best stories of CMH Summer.
1. Drive through BC’s Wine Country on the way
While most CMH guests start their summer tour in Banff, more of our self-drive visitors are choosing to approach from the Kelowna side and link up their journey with a stay in British Columbia’s interior. From Okanagan Valley wine country and the Hot Springs Highway to the new adventure epicentres of Revelstoke and Golden, we’ve highlighted many memorable segments that can supplement a road trip to one of our lodges.
And, with more last-minute availability and greater destination flexibility in the high season, the BC interior region is a less discovered gem that can quickly turn a last-minute lodge booking into a memorable week, or more, away. Our favorite in the three-story series focused on a bike tour through wine country—a dream add-on itinerary for the oenophiles among us.
2. Dark sky reserves for true Canadian stargazing
The CMH Summer lodges are heaven for dark sky aficionados due to their remote location and distinct lack of light pollution. The stargazing is, without question, simply stellar. This short piece by former CMH editor Alison Jones with Kahli April images captures an element of what it feels like to stand on the deck of our lodges and gaze up at the vast cosmos.
3. Tips for driving the Icefields Parkway en route to CMH
Consistently ranked as one of the most stunning drives in the world, Alberta’s Icefields Parkway – winding through Banff and Jasper National Parks – is a bucket list road trip that simply must be seen to be believed. It’s 232 km (144 mi) of dramatic, sweeping viewpoints and turquoise blue lakes straddling the crest of the Continental Divide. Giant glaciers, towering summits and raging waterfalls – and that’s just the roadside viewing fare. It’s a powerful place and we simply can’t think of enough adjectives to describe one of Canada’s wild, national treasures.
Back in 2021, for our self-drive visitors, we put together a few suggested stops and a few travel tips for making the most of an exceptionally scenic drive to the CMH Cariboos helipad. Even if it’s just to gaze at the images, this one is worth revisiting, at least in your mind.
4. Mountain lit: Recommended CMH reading
We know that many in our CMH community can’t get enough of books about mountains and adventure. That is why one of favorite CMH Summer Stories side projects was our book list that asked CMH staff and guides to recommend their favorite selections in the mountain lit category. From Icefields and Where the Clouds Can Go to Wild and Vertical Reference, it is packed with immersive reading for an escapist mountain summer
5. Shooting gallery & photography tips
In any curated list it’s difficult for us not to include at least one gallery from Jesse Tamayo, one of our favourite CMH photographers to work with. His images capture the awe and drama of our stunning and dramatic locations in a way that just moves our heart and soul. This piece provided pro-level tips for elevating your own mountain photography through knowledge earned through his own shooting experiences.
6. Après hour cocktails; a crafted CMH tradition
Let’s be honest, we all enjoy a good cocktail. At après hour, few things taste sweeter than a well-mixed, well-crafted adult beverage. Shaken, stirred or simply just poured over ice—we have faith that our CMH bartenders know what makes the perfect drink. Back in 2020 we launched our craft cocktail recipe series with this story that sweetens up any mountain vista.
Get inspired
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