The Canadian Mountains Where Heli-Hiking Was Born: A High-Altitude Adventure

In the remote valleys of British Columbia’s Purcell Mountains, hiking is anything but ordinary — it’s a shot of pure adrenaline. The first thrill came swiftly: a huffing and crashing in the bushes, followed by a large shape charging towards us. “Back!” shouted my guide, Jason Loree, drawing bear spray like a hero in a Hollywood thriller. A grizzly’s head appeared, glanced at us, and turned away, crisis averted.

Heli-hiking emerged in the 1970s as a summer offshoot of heli-skiing, pioneered by Austrian-Canadian mountaineer Hans Gmoser. Partnering with geologist Art Patterson, he founded Canadian Mountain Holidays, opening inaccessible alpine terrain to adventurous travelers. Today, more than 30 lodges offer heli-hiking experiences across British Columbia, from the Bugaboos to the Great Bear Rainforest.

Our adventure began with a 15-minute helicopter flight from Golden, swooping over narrow ridges and steep valleys, before landing on a tiny gravel helipad. Purcell Mountain Lodge, our off-grid sanctuary, perched on the edge of a golden alpine meadow with majestic quartzite peaks of the Selkirk Mountains towering in the distance. Hiking through subalpine forests, alpine meadows, and scrambling ridge lines, combined with wildlife encounters and adrenaline-charged summit climbs, creates an unforgettable experience.

Heli-hiking in the Purcells isn’t just a hike—it’s an immersion into Canada’s untamed wilderness, where natural beauty and high-octane adventure meet in perfect harmony.