The rotors start turning and my heart starts thumping. I can feel the vibrations from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Adrenaline starts to pump as I don my headset. I squeeze my husband’s balmy hand and I’m ready for takeoff.
Spending the winter in Calgary, we decided we wanted to try everything we could that had anything to do with snow. Snowshoeing was something that, as a Floridian, I never even heard of. While spending some time setting up activities, someone mentioned snowshoeing combined with a heli tour to me and I had to try it. What better way to find the perfect secluded spot (since I knew that falling in snow was something I am a master at) that to take a helicopter. :D
We signed up for the Kananaskis Heli Tour and Snowshoe experience that leaves from Canmore, AB. After getting airborne Kenin and I snuggled together to enjoy the amazing views of the Canadian Rockies.
The mountains were so beautiful. I felt like I could reach out and touch the tops.
The view from the heli tour gave the whole world a different perspective.
We touched down in a clearing and all got strapped into our snowshoes. They were remarkably clunky looking and all I could think was “Hope the bears are hibernating, ’cause I can’t run in these suckers”! We started our trek through the snow. It was weird crushing through the fluffy white stuff without really sinking down to the bottom. Our little group was having fun and following in our guides footsteps…then it happened!
Our first casualty! Woman down! We all took a moment to laugh and help her get up. Every single person on this tour fell (with the exception of our tour guide/pilot). It’s funny to see how deep the snow really gets. We were walking on top of about 3 feet of snow.
Then we came to what I thought was a clearing. It was stunning.
Our guide stops and whips out some delightfully spiked hot chocolate and a few cups. We are happily sipping away and getting a little warm and toasty when I realize I am standing on a lake. This might not sound like such a big deal for most people, but I was born in the Caribbean and raised in Florida. Where I am from, lakes are made of water and only Jesus can walk on them!
After trudging back to the helicopter, all warm and toasty from our adult hot chocolates, we all stop for a few classy poses with the helicopter. Our journey was too short (as always) but super fun. Snowshoeing was a complete success and definitely something I would recommend to anyone visiting the Canadian Rockies.
We packed back into the helicopter for the short ride to our car all making plans for next time. See you soon Canadian Rockies, we’ll see you soon!
Details
Rockies Heli Tours
403-881-2500
www.rockiesheli.com
If you enjoyed this post about our Heli Tour and Snowshoeing Adventure in Kananaskis you may also want to check out these other related posts.
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This looks like an awesome tour! Love those views from the helicopter and snowshoeing is a great workout. I’m going on a wine snowshoe safari this weekend.
OMG…how do you get yourselves into these sotuations!! Just kidding…it looks like a workout!! I love your reaction to standing on a lake!!
What an incredible experience! I love that the guide had spiked hot chocolate with him…although I would have had a bit of a freak out moment when I realized we were standing on a lake, too!
Tracie, this was a great experience. Even as novice snowshoers, we had an amazing time.
What a fantastic adventure! Looks exactly like the sort of thing my family would love – especially my husband who is crazy about helicopters (used to own and fly one). The pictures are awesome.
Lisa, you should sign up to go on one of these then. Nothing is more romantic than soaring over the mountains and sipping hot cocoa on a lake.
This looks like a fun and exciting way to explore! The snowshoes looked a little tricky, but fun. Thanks for sharing!
I hate skiing, but I love snowshoeing. This looks like a tour I would love!
Okay I just gotta say that first picture of is SO great! That attitude on your face!
Like you’re saying “Let’s do this” :D
Boyfriend and I just went snowshoeing at Mont Sainte-Anne in Canada. We didn’t have to plow to too deep snow though, as people had gone before us and there was a small path of walked on snow.
Definitely looks fun, though you won’t find me anywhere near there anytime soon. 30+ years in Chicago, I want the opposite of snow covered lakes at least until I’m 60, just to make up for the past few decades hehe.