Canadian Mountain Fun For Your family

Try Heli-Hiking In The Canadian Rockies

by Cynthia Cramer

The simple act of hiking has turned into something spectacular! Picture this...mountain ranges as far as your eyes can see, glaciers that seem to fall from the sky, wildlife like bear and elk, cool days and sunsets that don't begin to set until ten o'clock at night. Add in exhilarating helicopter rides, a small friendly staff that caters to your every need and a lodge that feels like home. Did I mention the gourmet food and the terrific pastry chef? Believe it or not, families can experience this with only a short trip to their local passport office!

It's only a few hours on a bus from Banff, Alberta to the Adamants Lodge. It is one of the most beautiful rides I have ever taken. We passed snow capped mountains, Lake Louise, historical railroads, and quick moving rivers and streams. We traveled along the Trans Canada Highway to our awaited arrival at the Adamant Lodge located in the Selkirk Mountains. We stopped just short of our lodge to meet our helicopter pilot. Here we were given a fifteen minute presentation on the safety procedures of being a helicopter passenger.

Upon arrival at the lodge, we were greeted by the hiking guides, chefs and lodge staff. We were directed to our rooms, where we enjoyed a scrumptious snack, and then we were off to get fitted for our required gear. We were supplied with hiking boots, wind pants, snow jackets, parkas, water bottles and walking sticks. We geared up, headed out and began our first trek through the land.

Our first hike was pretty simple. The helicopter took us to an area not far from the lodge. It was tough for me to keep up with who I playfully named "the big boys", but I survived the two hour hike just in time for our "snack" back at the lodge. A typical "snack" at this lodge consisted of honey baked salmon, hot pepper quesadillas, a variety of hot wings, cheese, wine, and homemade fudge! And this was just snack time! I don't dare tempt you with the specifics of the dinner menus! Suffice to say, the meals will impress anyone.

Every morning, hiking groups were posted. The groups are created depending on one's ability level. Well, since I knew I couldn't keep up with the "big boys", I requested to join the kid's group. After a quick yoga class and platters of French toast, homemade breads, every type of egg known to man, meats, cereals, baked goods, fruit and cheese were served, we packed our decadent lunches and then we went out hiking again.

The next few days of my trip were beautiful. We had a little snow, but it didn't slow us down. The helicopter dropped us off in the Serendipity Basin. Along the way, I listened to our guide teach the kids about the wildlife in the area, the ability for them to camouflage in the lower altitudes, and why there is so much snow in the upper altitudes. They learned basic skills about life in such a remote place. The kids just couldn't get enough! We made our way to Windy Ridge, where after close to four hours of hiking, the helicopter was waiting for us. We came back to the lodge where the kids went off with their counselor for scheduled activities, which included waterballoon volleyball and arts and crafts. My personal choice of activity was to sit by the fire, reading a book. You know you're living a tough life when you need to spend a whole two or three hours just sitting around a fire, tasting various wines, enjoying the company of the other guests and sampling some of the most amazing appetizers known to mankind!

After four day of taking in all the beauty this part of Canada has to offer, I sadly found myself having to pack my bags and return to reality. It was kind of sad having to leave, but I found solace in returning to Calgary to find myself in the middle of the world's largest rodeo, the Calgary Stampede. Now, that's a story in itself....