Canadian Mountain Holidays

<big>Canadian Mountain Holidays</big> is a heli skiing and hiking company located in the eastern mountain ranges of British Columbia.
History
Founded in 1965, Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) is one of the original Canadian touring companies. Austrian mountaineer Hans Gmoser arrived in Canada in the early 1950's. Although discouraged at the lack of mountains on the eastern coast where his boat left him, he started making his way west. He eventually settled in Banff Alberta where he explored much of the then unknown terrain in the Banff area. He decided to start Canadian Mountain Holidays to share his passion for the great outdoors with the people who traveled to Banff. Early activities of CMH included hiking, ski touring, and mountaineering.
In 1965, Hans decided to access some of the remote ski terrain in the Bugaboo Mountains of eastern British Columbia. Instead of using traditional ski touring equipment to access this remote terrain, Hans decided to use helicopters to transport himself and his guests deep in to the Bugaboo backcountry. This was the first ever recorded heli skiing operation.
The heli skiing that Hans and his guests did in the 1960's was much different than the heli skiing that is seen today. Hans would use the helicopters to drop him and his guests off deep in the wilderness. From this point they would traditionally put skins on their skis and hike up the monstrous mountains so that they could ski down. Hans was a firm believer that you had to work to earn the ski down. It was not until later that heli skiing evolved in to the sport that we see today where the helicopter has replaced the chairlift and guests are whisked to the top of their desired run and picked back up again at the bottom.
Hans originally based CMH out of an abandoned logging camp in the Bugaboo Mountains which is still in use today and has been renovated as the Bugaboo Lodge.
Current operations
CMH currently operates out of 12 lodges in eastern British Columbia. Each lodge, although offering the same level of quality and service, has a slightly different feel. Each lodge is designed to feel like a true mountain lodge. With living rooms heated by large fireplaces, cozy rooms with large comfortable beds, and even a hot tub to relax the muscles after a long day.
Lodges:
Adamants- Located North east of Revelstoke B.C. in the Selkirk Mountains
Bobbie Burns (winter and summer)- Located southwest of Golden B.C. in the Purcell Mountains
Bugaboos (winter and summer)- Located southwest of Golden B.C. in the Purcell mountains. Approximately 30 km east of the Bobbie Burns lodge.
Cariboo- Located south west of the town of Valemount B.C.
Galina- Located south west of Revelstoke B.C.
Gothics- Located north of Revelstoke B.C.
Kootenay- Located in the town of Nakusp B.C.
Mcbride- Located west of Valemount B.C.
Monashee- Located north of the Gothics lodge and Revelstoke B.C.
Revelstoke- Located in the mountain town of Revelstoke B.C.
Silvertip
Valemount- Located in the town of Valemount B.C.
Winter
CMH is best known for the heli skiing operation that it runs from December through to May. CMH has many different trip times for everyone from first time heli skiers to seasoned veterans. Trip lengths range anywhere from 3-10 days. The winter season is when all 12 lodges are in operation as opposed to the summer season from July to September where only 2 lodges are in operation.
Summer
When the snow melts, CMH focuses its efforts on its summer adventures season. In 2010 CMH will rebuild its summer program, expanding it from heli hiking to summer adventures. Several activities other than heli hiking will come along with the transition to summer adventures. These activities will include:
• Heli Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Heli Yoga
• Womens specific trips
• Family adventures
• Via Ferrata expeditions
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