Heli Assisted Mountaineering


DESCRIPTION

Heli Assisted Mountaineering, (helicopter) is the most exquisite way to experience the remote untouched wilderness. The Coastal Mountains of British Columbia are among the most beautiful in the world and among the hardest to access because of the thick coastal rainforest. The jungle like vegetation can all but stop progress but with the aid of a short Helicopter trip you can skip the painful slog to the Alpine. A crippling multi day hike can be replaced by a thrilling sight seeing trip to a deluxe Alpine Hut or Camp Location or simple 1 day trip.  Bring all the comforts of home and Altus Mountain guides will provide high quality food to make it a trip of a life time.

Tantalus Mountaineering is an example of a sensational, Heli Assisted Mountaineering, hut based alpine climbing experience. The Tantalus Range is a signature group of peaks in the rugged Tantalus Provincial Park located in the Coast Range of BC. An exhilarating helicopter ride brings you from sea level to 2000m and the Jim Haberl Hut. Crampons are a must as you step out of the hut and make your way toward the dayʼs objective: SerratusAlphaDione or Tantalus. Each offers its own unique challenge: rock, Ice, snow and mixed – the Tantalus Range has it all!

Mount Garabaldi

Mount Sampson

Sky Pilot

Mount Tricouni

Trip Testimonial: Tantalus Mountaineering 

Trip Blogs: Trip 1 Trip 2

WHO FOR

Heli Assisted Mountaineering is ideal for people wishing to maximize their time in the mountains.  With many different objective possibilities we can accommodate beginner to very experienced climbers.  From easy alpine walks to technical cutting edge rock and alpine routes.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Guide fee, helicopter flights, group equipment

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

Travel to Squamish airport. food, mountain accommodation if applicable.

Date

Starting: May – October. Best months are July, August and September. (Contact us for available dates)

Price

(Custom dates, duration, and prices are available)

1 day trip

$1175 1:1 (guide : to guest)

$610 2:1 (guide to guest)

2 day trip

$1750 1:1 (guide to guest)

$890 2:1 (guide to guest)

3 day trip

$2240 per person 1:1 (guide : guest)

$1230 per person 1:2 (guide : guest)

ITINERARY

1 day trip

8:00am Meet at Squamish Airport, sign waivers, heli briefing

8:20 Land near our desired climbing or hiking objective

9:00 – 4:00  Climb

4:00 Helicopter picks us up and we fly back to Squamish airport

3 day trip

Day 1: Meet at the Squamish airport at 800am to go through gear and the weekend’s plan. Fly the short Helicopter ride to Jim Haberl Hut in the Tantalus Range. Go out for a day of Mountaineering with the potential to climb a near by mountain after setting up at the hut.

Day 2: Set off to climb one of the classic mountains in the area. Objectives: Serratus, Alpha, Dione or Tantalus.

Day 3: Do it all again after a day of climbing and mountaineering to the summit of a mountain. Then call our helicopter and fly back to Squamish for dinner.

Only at short Helicopter ride from Squamish. With views of Vancouver and the ocean.
Only at short Helicopter ride from Squamish. With views of Vancouver and the ocean.

Our Top 3 Objectives:

Mount Serratus : West Face – II / 4th class

Mount serratus, West Face

Mount Dione : SE Face – III / 4th classDione and Tantalus showing the lines we climbed

Mount Tantalus : SE Rib – IV / 5.4

Mount Tantalus showing our line of ascent

TANTALUS RANGE EQUIPMENT LIST

Please contact Altus Mountain Guides for any questions or expert advice on the best equipment to have.  Let us know what you need on the list before you purchase any gear.  We can lend you gear free of charge or can advise you on the best gear to purchase. 

 Personal Gear:

  • Boots – full-leather or plastic mountaineering boots. If leather, they should be well broken-in and waterproofed with snow seal or equivalent
  • Hut slippers/flip flops
  • Sleeping bag – good to approx. -5 or -10 degrees Celsius (Work best: hut will well above 0c)
  • Backpack – 60-80 liters capacity, big enough to hold all gear for the trip plus some extra communal gear
  • Summit / Day-pack – 15-40 liters capacity (optional your big backpack can also work as a Summit pack)
  • Outer layer jacket with hood – Gore-Tex style
  • Light weight outer layer waterproof pants – Gore-Tex style
  • Lightweight thermal layers – top & bottom, Polypro, Icebreaker, etc.
  • Climbing/hiking pants – nylon, fleece, Schoeller, etc. (1 pair)
  • Gloves (medium weight) – wool or poly-pro (2 pair)
  • Waterproof gloves or mitts (gloves work best ) (2 pairs)
  • Warm parka/jacket – down, synthetic, fleece or pile (1)
  • Sweater or vest – wool, synthetic, fleece or down (1)
  • Socks – wool or synthetic blend (2 pairs)
  • Toque/warm hat – wool or fleece (1)
  • Sunglasses – 1005 UV block (1pr)
  • Ski goggles (optional)
  • Headlamp with new battaries
  • Misc. personal items (camera, journal, etc.)
  • Sunscreen – minimum spf30
  • Water bottles/hydration system – minimum 1 liters
  • Walking pole(s) – Optional for log hikes

 Communal and Technical equipment / Hut Supplies:

  • (Supplied by AMG if required):
  • Compass and map
  • GPS
  • First Aid Kit
  • Ice ax and technical climbing tool
  • Climbing harness – seat harness only
  • Helmet
  • 3 locking carabineers
  • 1 belay device
  • Rope rescue cord / webbing
  • Crampons – adjusted to your boots (1 pair)
  • Ice Ax
  • Gaiters (1 pair)
  • Small “thermos” for hot drinks (optional)
  • Knife – Swiss army style
  • 1st aid (blister kit, toothbrush, blister kit, toilet paper, medications, etc.)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Toilet paper
  • Dish soap
  • Pots and Pans
  • Cutlery
  • Cups and Bowls
  • Barbeque
  • 5 inch foam beads
  • In hut Library
  • Games and cards
  • 4 burner gas stove
  • Binoculars
  • Gas lanterns
  • Magical views and sunsets

About Ross Berg

Ross has guided, climbed and skied in the European Alps for the last several seasons. When he's at home he can be found working as a heli ski guide in winters and climbing alpine rock routes in summer.