I couldn’t believe this was my actual real life, that I was suspended 2000 metres in the air and eye to eye with Mount Assiniboine. Even if I were among the few dedicated expeditioners to have climbed right to the top of the highest peak in the Southern Canadian Rockies, I would never have been awarded a view like this. Truly, and I am not being dramatic, I could have cried. In favour of actually living the experience in real time, I was careful to limit my iPhone capturing to just a smattering of images, knowing it would be the *feeling* of this moment I would remember for much longer.
Before I launch further into the romanticism of a private heli-tour over our incomparably beautiful Albertan mountains, I’d like to first highlight the incredible role Alpine Helicopters serves to our community. Outside of their sightseeing operations, they provide crucial backcountry rescue, wildfire management and powerline maintenance, having kept our community safe to enjoy since 1961. Hats off to them, and a huge thank you to their skilled pilots for navigating such wild terrains.
In less dramatic circumstances, mountain-loving civilians like you and I can enjoy an Alpine Helicopter adventure tour from their bases in Canmore and at the Stoney Nakoda Resort, allowing us to explore our outdoor playground from dazzling new heights. I am lucky enough to have hiked, biked, paddle boarded, and rafted through many of the swirling rivers, alpine paths, rising spires and glistening lakes of the Rockies, but this was the first time I had taken them all in at once and it was…magical; the birds eye view of a helicopter tour really allows for a full and complete snapshot of the season. Picture glistening blue pools, ribbons of emerald water snaking through lush green forests and the very last of the snow capping the tips of the mountains. Of course, the canvas will change to match the moment; I can only imagine the sparkling winter wonderland that one could glimpse in the colder months, or the golden leaves of the larches in the fall.
The views are frankly awe-inspiring to any passenger with a seat in the chopper, but I can only imagine what a gift an Alpine tour would be to somebody who was otherwise not able bodied enough to participate in the more hands-on mountain activities for which the Rockies are so revered. My hiking days are still well within grasp, but this was still one of the best days out I’ve had, and something that my 65 year old mother could potentially share with me the next time she visits (somehow I think she’ll enjoy this rather a lot more than the sweaty slog up Ha Ling Peak!). Oh, also, psssst psssst, hot tip alert: whoever rides shotgun gets the pleasure of an additional glass-bottomed view!
While it may, quite fairly, seem like an oxymoron to suggest a helicopter as a premium way to experience the majesty of nature, Alpine Helicopters have a robust “Green Initiative'' in place. They aim to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their tours with donations to OneTreePlanted and PlanetAir, allowing their operations to run while protecting the land we all celebrate. They have, for example, raised enough money since January 2024 to plant 800 new trees right here in Western Canada!
As the chopper touched down after an exhilarating 35 minute ride, I left dreaming of my next adventure in the skies. If ONLY I could glide my way through the blue skies of picturesque Rockies every single day!
For bookings or further information please visit www.alpinehelicopter.com
