Story by Peter Ilinsky. An experienced ski guide in Japan & Europe.
Sometimes just being in the right place at the right time gets you more than you bargain for.
Having spent 2 months skiing the amazing powder snow in Japans north, I had the opportunity to experience the ultimate in skiing. There was an opening for a dream job, 1 week’s heli-skiing with Canadian Mountains Holidays at their Adamants lodge located in the majestic Columbia Mountains of British Columbia, Canada.
A quick check of my bank account, work schedule and horoscope I found all my stars lining up, I'm going heli-skiing. Having only five days from the time I said yes to the time that I arrived in Canada to start my CMH odyssey I really had no idea as to what I was getting myself into. Before I knew it I was on my way. After a night in Calgary we were transferred to the Adamants heli pad by comfortable charter bus. My CMH dream was about to begin.
The Adamants lodge is spectacularly located at the confluence of four major alpine valleys. It’s named for a majestic collection of diamond hard peaks, a sub range of the Selkirk’s where all of our skiing will be based. The Selkirk’s are famed for long glaciers, deep valleys, and rugged vistas. Our diverse group of about 40 consisted of Germans, Austrians, Americans, Canadians and me, the token Aussie. Many of the group were returning clients who have had a long history with CMH while there were a few first timers, myself included.
The excitement and stoke was the same throughout the group and this was even more evident when we heard the mighty “whack, whack, whack” of the twin engine 11 passenger jet powered Bell 212 helicopter. As one, we all looked out into the distance and see this chopper cranking out a sweet 'super G' turn around and over a snow and tree covered ridge line. Mt thoughts at that time were this is definitely my kind of taxi, before we knew it we were flown up the valley to where I am introduced to the first of my week’s surprises, The Adamants Lodge. This is no simple mountain hut, but a grand mountain residence.
Upon arrival I was made to feel at home straight away, my luggage was delivered to my room and a cold pint was enjoyed while I went about getting used to my new surrounds. Everything that CMH do are based on a few simple core values, safety, passion, excellence, accountability and sustainability. With this in mind our first afternoon was spent transceiver training with the guides as well as carrying out a comprehensive safety talk around the helicopter. It had been a long day of travel, excitement and getting my feet on the ground.
I had heard that the evening meals at CMH lodges are truly amazing experiences, and again I was not to be disappointed. Three course meals with fresh produce, meats, fish, poultry and deserts washed down with a great selection of fine wines from around the world, does it get any better than this? Over dinner the lodge manager Erich Unterberger introduces him self and the ski guides Christian, Mikey, Roko, Bob, and Konrad, all whom we will be skiing with over the next week. The lodge staff also introduce them selves and this helps create a really relaxed atmosphere with every body taking the chance to get to know each other. Erich was also quite excited to introduce a special guest that the Adamants were hosting that week, Norwegian skiing icon Aksel Lund Svindal.
The mornings started at 7.30am with a warm up session which included stretching classes for those who felt the need followed by an amazing breakfast of fresh fruits, cereals, French toast and the list goes on, this would fuel the masses for the day ahead. At breakfast the lead guide would over view the snow and weather conditions and instruct us all to check the group schedule for the upcoming day.
The entire lodge is split into 4 groups which had been sorted by the guides graded on ability and group pace that we had selected the evening before. The first group would leave at 9.00am each morning and each group was rotated and had the opportunity at being the first out. Christian was the weeks lead guide and he had the job of selecting the snow and terrain that all the guides would take their groups into for the first runs. Along with Dave our fantastic mountain heli pilot these guys had the enviable albeit difficult job of terrain selection from the front seat of the Bell 212. Remembering our safety training from the previous day our group assembled at the heli loading zone and awaited our lift. No lift lines here, just pure excitement and adrenaline.
The heli is bought around and once landed we all pile in, buckle up and wait for the sensation of flight. We head up and around and before you realize we are flying up and over some of the biggest snow covered mountains imaginable. This is unbelievable, sheer walls with massive glaciers hanging off them looking as though they are about to crumble, huge crevasses and seracs are every where and the skiing options are limitless. As the heli sets down we stay in our seats, buckled up and only alight when given the nod by the guide when he is happy with the situation. As a group we huddle near the door while the guide removes our skis and wait as the thumbs up are given to Dave who then smashes us with rotor wash and snow as the helicopter powers up and lifts off, leaving us all perched on top of the world.
Up here its pure solitude, and as I take a 360 degree view of my surrounds there is nothing except clear blue sky and mountains full of powder snow. As we lock and load into our skis the anticipation of what the day ahead holds is slowly revelled as our first turns are made. Boot to mid shin deep light and dry, for runs of up to 900 plus vertical metres. The terrain varies from sweet almost perfect glaciers to steeper more tree orientated runs the lower we go. The best part is the fact that you are skiing in a small group with our guide selecting the best snow and terrain on offer.
We are then directed to the pick up zone where we gather our skis together, have a laugh and check out our tracks. Then before we have time to wipe the smile off our faces we are all crouched down again and about to reload into the heli for another run. This process was repeated for the entire week and up to 14 times per day. An amazing amount of turns were completed and to look back up at our runs and see the symmetry of the group’s tracks was pretty cool.
After a week of getting up, stretching, eating, going out skiing from 9am till 6pm coming home, showering and eating again, you kind of get very use to it. The great thing about CMH is the overwhelming feeling of friendship and camaraderie that you establish being with so many like minded people. The skiing is first class, the whole set up and operation is first class, and the people who work and ski there are all real, to the point where even after one week you feel like you are part of the CMH family.
Life really is simple when you eat, sleep and go heli skiing.
If you are a keen skier or boarder, love adventure and the pure exhilaration of being in big mountains I thoroughly recommend CMH heli skiing for all standards and levels.
Travelplan Ski Holidays are exclusive agents for CMH in Australia and are the people to talk to for further information.
Peter Ilinsky
Experienced Ski Guide in Japan & Europe