Travel Heli-huddling The first thing we learned was how to heli-huddle. Stacking our daypacks in a pile, we crouched in a circle around them, holding our hats down with one hand and our sunglasses with the other. As the staccato thwop, thwop, thwop of the rotor blades drew closer, an air blast flapped our jackets, scattered leaves and flattened wildflowers and grass around us. After the helicopter landed beside us, our guide tapped us on the shoulders when it was safe to scramble inside. Our fellow hikers were an eclectic group – a German lawyer, an American software designer, a retired nurse from British Columbia with her grandson, an Alberta accountant, his wife and two preteen daughters and a Colorado public relations consultant. There was no pressure to hike long distances. Heli-hikers – who’ve ranged in age from six to 92 – can walk as little as 30 metres or as much as 16 kilometres daily. During an initial hike in the Rocky Saddle area, guides assessed our fitness levels and then tailored the length and terrain of hikes to our abilities and interests. Our group moved more slowly than the fastest hikers, so we had more time to take photos. The slowest group followed easier routes, with equally splendid scenery. (Most hikes are between 1,800 and 2,400 metres to avoid altitude problems and maximize views.) Inviting lodges Vertigo was only one highlight of our heli-hiking trip with CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures (CMH). The Banff-based company owns and operates 11 mountain lodges in eastern British Columbia. Heliskiers fill them in the winter. In July and August, hikers flock to three CMH lodges (Bobbie Burns, Bugaboos and Cariboos) to experience the excitement of highaltitude hiking without the hardships. We stayed at CMH Bobbie Burns, a wooden lodge that sounded as if it should be in Scotland. (Its name comes from the adjacent babbling stream, which commemorates an early settler.) The newly renovated 44-guest lodge is located at an altitude of 1,360 metres. Three- to nine-day packages include hiking boots, insulated hooded jackets, rain pants, walking poles, daypacks, water bottles, snacks and even sunscreen, in addition to meals, accommodations, safety training, certified guides and helicopter transfers. We only needed to pack comfortable hiking clothing, hats, sunglasses, toiletries and cameras. Helicopter arrives to pick up hikers CMH Bobbie Burns Lodge CSANews | SPRING 2020 | 17
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