Fun Things about Helicopters: Fairy Meadows, part 1

Unloading the vehicles and getting the gear ready for the flight. Who knew you would need so much stuff for a week of skiing? :)

This year's Spring Break held a lot of skiing, just like the rest of the spring, I suppose. Which begs the question: a break from what?! When you're a ski bum, earning gas money by substitute teaching, then the week called Spring Break is where  you don't feel guilty about making yourself unavailable to teach since the kids aren't in school. My parents, some friends, and I went to Canada to stay in a hut for a week, skiing British Colombia champagne powder.

The approach to the hut was pretty brutal, especially with so much stuff...I'm kidding. One of the perks of the Fairy Meadows/Bill Putnam hut is that you get helicopter'ed in. It was my first time on a helicopter and here's some fun things that I learned:

The helicopter connecting to a load of wood and odds and ends via a cable.

1. No matter how far the blades are over your head, you will still hunch to walk under them.
2. Even when consciously thinking about it the noise and danger associated with a helicopter will give you a sense of urgency that borders on uncomfortable.
3. If you don't normally have an ego, you will. No one wants to look unprofessional in front of the pilot and other guides hanging around the helipad.
4. On the helipad you are supposed to drag your skis around, even when the chopper isn't there, so as to never hit the propellers with them.

5. The AAC/guiding companies will long-line wood into cabins and human waste out.
6. The helicopters we were riding in are passenger models, able to carry 7 people: the pilot and front passenger, 3 people facing forward and 2 facing the rear in the cabin.
7. Since it isn't a cargo helicopter, small bags help to stuff into all the nooks and crannies of open space.

Skis all lined up and ready to go in the box located just behind the legs of the pilot.

8. Goggles are very nice especially if there has been new snow: the chopper whips up quite the snow storm when landing or taking off.
9. Taking off from the ground is an unreal feeling.
10. The views are unforgettable!

Greg enjoying the view and doing his best to capture memories.