CMH's Family Program
One of the highlights of the family program is that it brings in teachers from the Canadian school system to serve as counselors and to assist the guides during the hikes. Many of the teachers have science education backgrounds, but all had a natural ability to connect with the children on the tour. The counselors did everything from keeping children focused and energized when hikes were getting stressful to arts and crafts at the lodge so that mom and dad could have a break. Scheduling your visit when there is a family program will also ensure a greater number of children will be at the lodge, giving your child extra kids to play with during down time.
A Typical Day
The variety of activities available at the lodge virtually guarantees that families will be able to connect instead of having your child spend their free time in front of the television or a video game.
During the family program everyone receives an unusual wake-up call to begin each day. Since rooms don't have phones for the typical hotel or resort wake up call, one of the youngsters is chosen to walk up and down the hall ringing a cowbell indicating breakfast is being served. Soon after breakfast, hikers are divided into their different groups for their helicopter flights to head out for the day's first hike.
The amount of time in the mountains varied each day according to the weather, but it was generally from 9 or 10 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m. for our beginner family group. After the last flight returned to the lodge, which was normally in the mid to late afternoon, there was usually down time to enjoy the resort's amenities or just relax.
Around 4 p.m., there was the equivalent of a lodge happy hour. In the lounge and living room area, with its oversized fireplace, all kinds of good eats were available to munch on to tide you over until dinner.
During the hikes in the mountains, the views can only be described as remarkable. You are in the middle of tens of thousands of acres with only a handful of hikers. The terrain changes dramatically from one drop-off spot to another depending on the height and location in the range - from temperate to cold, with patches of snow still on the ground in July.
At one drop-off point we were standing in awe of a dramatic waterfall, then hiking along a stream and exploring a high alpine valley. At another point we hiked up a mountain ridge to view distant glaciers, an experience that anyone wouldn't soon forget.
Who to Contact for More Information
To learn more about Heli-Hiking visit Canadian Mountain Holidays or call 800-661-0252.
Article author: Tony Conboy III
