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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Helicopters: An Uplifting Winter View

Larry W. Earl Correspondent

You don’t have to wallow in snow to appreciate winter’s beauty. You can get a bird’s-eye view.

Helicopter rides in the Banff and Canmore region of southwest Alberta have become a very popular winter activity. The aerial view of the Bow Valley and Canadian Rockies is truly spectacular.

Depending on flight choices, guests can get face-to-face with iceblue glaciers. Some flights make a stop on the British Columbia side of the Rockies, just outside the Banff National Park, where you can emerge to briefly stretch your legs and take photos. My flight was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

The most popular flight is the Mount Assiniboine Glacier tour. The 11,870-foot mountain is called the Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies because of its similar shape to its cousin in the Alps.

Flying around the snow-capped mountain landscape with its ice falls, powder-blue glaciers and alpine valleys is breath-taking. The average price for this 30-minute flight is approximately $105 (includes GST) in U.S. dollars.

Three companies in Canmore offer this photographic flight and other shorter flights, and their prices are within a few dollars of one another. The companies offer free ground transportation from Banff-Canmore and have daily departures year-round.

For details on destinations, prices and reservation policies, call one of the following companies.

Alpine Helicopters, Canmore; (403) 678-4802.

Assiniboine Heli Tours; (403) 678-5459.

Canadian Helicopters Ltd; (403) 678-2207.

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