Frequently Asked Questions: Safety

About Safety at CMH Summer Adventures

At CMH Summer Adventures the safety of our guests, guides, pilots and lodge staff is our #1 priority. Each day our guides and helicopter pilots consider weather, helicopter safety, terrain, guest abilities, and wildlife while planning our daily hiking, walking and mountaineering activities. But your safety out in the mountains isn't our only concern. From your motorcoach journey from Banff to our helipads and your stay in our lodges, your entire journey with CMH is designed with your satisfaction, but also your safety, in mind.

We invite you to contact us directly if you have any questions about our program. Rob Rohn, our Director of Mountain Operations would be happy to speak with you, as would any other member of our staff. Please email us at safety@cmhinc.com, or call us at 1-800-661-0252.

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The Guides of CMH Summer Adventures

From the start, guiding has been serious business at CMH. Our founder, Hans Gmoser, set this standard with his values of respect and awe, humble moderation and understanding while in the mountains.

Most CMH guides have made a lifelong career of their passion. They are dedicated professionals, trained in the European guiding tradition, which emphasizes both respect for the mountains and concern for the well-being of guests. Our guides are fully trained and regularly re-trained in first aid, wilderness rescue, emergency procedures and prevention.

Many of our Heli-Hiking guides are fully certified by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) – on average, a 10-year process. The rest are Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG)-certified, also with rigorous standards. Each one of our guides is an experienced and knowledgeable interpreter of our mountains’ flora, fauna, geology and natural history, ensuring that your Heli-Hiking experience is both safe and enriching.

Learn more about our guides by visiting Guide Bios or by reading the collection of articles about, and written by, some of our guides on our blog, The Adventure.

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About Alpine Helicopters: Proud Partner

Our partners at Alpine Helicopters provide us with a fleet of helicopters and highly-specialized, dedicated crew to ensure our hiking program runs smoothly.

The primary helicopters we use are twin-engine, 11-passenger, jet-powered Bell 212s. For backup Alpine keeps machines in the towns of Golden and Kelowna, BC.

Alpine's pilots are specially trained in our mountain environment. As active participants in our safety network, they monitor our guests’ compliance and give a comprehensive safety talk around the helicopter just before the groups lift off for their first hike. Pilots have a minimum of 2,500 helicopter hours, with at least 250 spent in the mountains, and re-train rigorously throughout the year. As well, our crew rotation exceeds industry standard.

Ongoing maintenance is provided by a full-time engineer based in each area. All helicopters are equipped with emergency and medical gear and radios to ensure continuous communication between pilot, guides, the base lodge, other CMH areas, and outside resources.

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