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What is Heli-Paragliding and why is it so special...

Heli-Paragliding combines two great ways to fly into a unique and thrilling experience of our wonderful Rocky Mountains.

The Helicopter...the ultimate mountain access machine:

Helicopters were first used in a mountain sport/recreational sense when entrepreneurial mountain guides realized that the helicopter could quickly and easily access some fantastic backcountry ski terrain. Furthermore, with the development of turbine engines and extra passenger capacity at mountain altitudes, the helicopter became the ideal ski lift for what was to become the exclusive sport of Heli-skiing. An industry was born. Later, the Heli-Ski operators began to realize that there was an increasing demand to transport recreationalists to remote mountaintops during the summer as well. It wasn't long before the Heli-Hiking industry took hold just as strongly as the skiing variety.

The Rocky Mountains offer some very special places for the adventurous at heart. Many of these places are high above the timberline. They are difficult, if not impossible, to access by all but experienced (and very fit) mountaineers with a lot of time on their hands to make the arduous approach hikes. The helicopter changes the access rules completely. Modern helicopters are able to transport a full load of passengers to high altitudes within minutes in comfort and safety. They can land and take off in very confined spaces and can even, if necessary, hover a foot above the ground while passengers disembark. This versatility as a mountain transport machine has made the helicopter the prime means of moving people and equipment for those operating in the mountains, including the Park Services who formerly had to move people and equipment by horse or on foot.

Needless to say, the ride up to remote mountain ridges in a helicopter is a scenic and exhilarating adventure. From inside the helicopter, you experience a pleasant sensation of rising smoothly up the mountainsides as though you were in elevator with windows but without the elevator shaft! If you have never ridden in a helicopter, it is a truly fun way to fly. Add big mountain and wildlife views and the experience becomes unforgettable.

Paragliders - the truly free form of flight:

Paragliding was born in the late '70s when some adventurous Europeans decided to try to launch rectangular sky-diving canopies from mountainsides and fly them to the valley bottoms. Needless to say some of the early attempts were a bit sketchy and the launching and flying characteristics of a parachute, rectangular or not, left a lot to be desired. Still, the potential for a portable, inflatable wing could clearly be demonstrated by these early attempts to glide a "soft" wing. In the ensuing years, the elliptical wing shape was developed and enhanced. Performance and handling characteristics of inflatable wings were explored and developed and ultimately the paraglider came into existence as a viable flying machine. Once elliptical paragliders began to be more widely adopted, the performance and safety of these aircraft progressed swiftly with new and enhanced designs appearing almost annually.

Today, it could be argued that paragliders are truly "hi-tech" aircraft. The wings are made of the latest synthetic materials and coatings. The related aeronautical designs,engineering and construction are all well advanced. The attachment lines are made of space age materials. The harness seats have progressed from little more than adapted climbing harnesses to very comfortable and purpose-specific designs that actually contribute to the flying of the wing. Tandem paragliding (pilot and passenger) is made possible by special paragliders built for the purpose complete with specially designed harnesses to allow the Pilot and passenger to sit comfortably during flight.

The power source for paragliding... The Town of Golden is situated near the northern end of the Great Rocky Mountain Trench - a geological marvel that just happens to make for incredible thermals and ideal conditions for paragliding flight. For more than fifteen years Golden has been the place in Canada to fly pargliders cross-country in both solo and Tandem modes. During the summer of 2004, paragliding flights of 220 kilometers were recorded with many paragliders now flying over 100 kilometers in a single flight. As well, over the past several years, many paraglider tandem flights over 100 kilometers have originated in Golden.

Heli-Paragliding - two great aircraft that work in tandem:

Given the compatibility of helicopter access to high mountains with the portable nature of paragliders and the desirability of high mountain paragliding launches, it was inevitable that the two modes of flight would combine to make for a truly unique and thrilling experience.

Canadian Rockies Heli-Paragliding is ready to bring this experience to you with guided helicopter/paragliding excursions to some of the best spots off the beaten track in The Canadian Rockies. You can be among the first people ever to paraglide from remote Rocky Mountain launches.

You don't have to be a paraglider pilot to participate. Our guide/pilots will fly you Tandem. Even if you do fly paragliders but don't want to fly solo, we will gladly fly you in tandem mode and throw in paragliding coaching and thermal flying tips along the way. If you are and adventurous solo pilot, we'll show you the spots where you can be the first to make a paragliding descent or pioneer a brand new cross-country route.

But that's not all... Imagine the ancillary possibilities of getting above tree line in the high rockies. Hikes, picnics, photography, wildlife viewing and more are all on the agenda. Top it all off with unique and exciting flights to and from your destination.! That's Heli-Paragliding!

Contact Canadian Rockies Heli-Paragliding to find out how you can "Get High" in Canada's Rocky Mountains.