Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • The Great Outdoors

Not Just for Powder Hounds: Heli-Biking B.C.’s Coast Mountains

  • December 1, 2015
  • Ben Osborne
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Barbour2

 

It’s a memory you carry with you the rest of your life: a helicopter floats above a remote mountain before setting down, you hop out as the rotors roar above you, a strong blast of wind pummels down as the heli lifts off and then, silence, as you take in alpine peaks as far as the eye can see.

But this isn’t your typical heli trip. This time, the snow is replaced with dirt, the Gore-Tex swapped for shin guards and your weapon of choice is two wheels instead of a waxed base. Welcome to heli-biking in British Columbia.

Words and Photos: Adam Levitt

It’s no secret Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor have become world-renowned mountain bike destinations. The Whistler Bike Park alone attracts riders from around the world, while the hundreds of kilometers of easily accessed singletrack in the area will satiate even the most die-hard pedal pusher. But, if you’re looking for even more adventure, helicopter accessed mountain biking in the high alpine of B.C.’s Coast Mountains should be on your bucket list.

 

Babrbour3

 

One of the more popular drops in the region is on Mount Barbour, northwest of the village of Pemberton. Until recently a rider’s only option to travel up into this alpine zone was by two feet and a heartbeat. And while it may have been fun to rip down Barbour’s open slopes, it wasn’t an environmentally sustainable practice. It began to draw the attention of local wildlife groups and the B.C. government.

Blackcomb Aviation has been offering unguided heli drops to Barbour for the last few years and Andy Meeker, Blackcomb Aviation’s Pemberton Base Manager, has witnessed the environmental impact first hand. “The signs really started to show up last year,” he says. “With degradation of the soil where erosion was starting to set-in. It seemed quite clear that we needed to take a different stance on it, to move forward and establish a proper trail from the peak. “As local operators in the valley,” he continues, “we felt we had a moral responsibility to think about the long term and what effect bikers would have in this region.”

“The idea is that if you build a really fun trail, people are going to ride on it and not venture on to the tundra or environmentally sensitive ground.” —Paddy Kaye, Joyride Bike Parks

Paddy Kaye, the founder and president of Joyride Bike Parks was brought in to design and build a trail from the peak of Mount Barbour to link with an existing trail in the sub-alpine. Kaye went to work in August 2015.

“The trail we’ve been working on is technically designed as a multi-use trail, but it has berms and flow to it which are great for mountain biking,” he says. “The idea is that if you build a really fun trail, people are going to ride on it and not venture on to the tundra or environmentally sensitive ground. We were able to use our expertise in mountain bike trail building and bring it to the alpine experience.”

The trail on Mount Barbour won’t be finished until Summer 2016, according to Kaye, who is taking cues from where the trail has been utilized up until now.

 

BArbour 1

 

“This is going to be a signature trail for Joyride so we’re going to put the extra effort in,” he says. “We’re going to do some work on the original trail as well: fixing some drainage issues and cutting back the brush along the side of the trail to increase the sight lines to make it safer and more fun.”

The new alpine trail winds its way down the shoulder of Barbour over loose rock and several berms, through the alpine bowl and past a couple of lakes. It then intersects the tree line where several abandoned mines can still be seen. Sticking to the right side of the valley, this is where the new trail links up with the existing sub-alpine trail, originally built in 1907 as a horseback route cut by local miners.

“There’s so much history in B.C. and we’re actually repurposing these trails for a new, modern day experience,” says Kaye. “It’s pretty cool that over a hundred years later, you’re ripping down a trail on your mountain bike that was used by miners to transport their gold on horseback. Instead of letting these trails get overgrown and their history vanish, we’re keeping them alive by giving them another use.”

At over 1,850 metres of vertical from the peak to the valley, this isn’t the type of ride you want to jump off the couch to tackle. The right equipment is also important. Kaye suggests riding a trail or enduro type bike, as there are stretches of pedaling sections where a full downhill rig would not fare well.

“There’s a big picture opportunity here. We want to nurture this industry and help it grow but still give back and protect the land we’re riding on in a legitimate way with the endorsement of the provincial government.”

For Spring/Summer 2016, Blackcomb Aviation is installing a new mounted bike rack system on its machines, a marked improvement over the previous method of long line drops, which can take a couple trips depending on the size of your party. These new racks can accommodate up to six bikes and will make it much easier to depart directly out of their Whistler or Pemberton bases, according to Meeker.

As demand for these types of experiences increases, both Meeker and Kaye hope to expand heli-biking options in the region.

“I think this is a tipping point of what we can do with Blackcomb Aviation and Joyride Bike Parks,” says Kaye. “I’m hoping that in the future we can legitimize more land access and have not just the Mount Barbour trail, but have multiple drops in the area. And there’re all kinds of opportunities outside of biking as well, like studying wildlife and reporting sightings.

“There’s a big picture opportunity here,” he adds. “We want to nurture this industry and help it grow but still give back and protect the land we’re riding on in a legitimate way with the endorsement of the provincial government.”

 

Check out our definitive guide to mountain biking B.C.’s South Coast:

Mountain Biking B.C.’s South Coast: Howe Sound

Mountain Biking Vancouver’s North Shore

Mountain Biking in Squamish

Mountain Biking the Sunshine Coast

Mountain Biking in Whistler

Mountain Biking the Chilcotins

Learn how to pack for a multi-day mountain bike trip here.

 

 

See more from our new Mountain Life Resort Guide.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • Andy Meeker
  • Blackcomb Aviation
  • British Columbia
  • Heli Bike
  • Joyride Bike Parks
  • Mt. Barbour
  • Paddy Kaye
  • Pemberton
  • Resort Guide
  • Sea-to-Sky
  • Whistler
Ben Osborne

Previous Article
  • Stay & Play

The Scoot: Homemade Hybrids Once Ventured Over Frozen Lakes

  • November 29, 2015
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
Next Article
  • In This Issue

Dodging the Bulldozer: The Resurrection of The Whistler Lodge

  • December 3, 2015
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • On The Trail
  • The Great Outdoors

Helly Hansen Presents: Adventure Planning 101 with Squamish SAR

  • Sarah Bulford
  • May 16, 2022
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • The Great Outdoors

Blower Pow and Disappearing Pants

  • Sarah Bulford
  • April 26, 2022
View Post
  • In This Issue
  • The Great Outdoors

ML Launches Mushroom Life

  • Sarah Bulford
  • April 1, 2022
View Post
  • Leslie Anthony
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Stay & Play
  • The Great Outdoors

Spring at Sun Peaks

  • Sarah Bulford
  • March 8, 2022
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • The Great Outdoors

Backcountry Skier John Baldwin Headlines VIMFF’s 2022 Best of British Columbia Night

  • Sarah Bulford
  • February 22, 2022
View Post
  • FALL GEAR
  • SPRING GEAR
  • THE GEAR SHED
  • The Great Outdoors
  • WINTER GEAR

The Legend of San Poncho

  • Editor
  • December 9, 2021
735990496 1280x720
View Post
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Island of Plenty

  • Sarah Bulford
  • July 2, 2021
View Post
  • On The Trail
  • The Great Outdoors

Win Adventures to the Filming Location of the HISTORY® Channel’s “Alone” Season 8!

  • Sarah Bulford
  • June 8, 2021
Featured Posts
  • natural-selection-Redbull 1
    Friday Flick: Natural Selection Tour Highlights
    • March 17, 2023
  • Powder-Highway-BC-ski 2
    Powder Highway Revisited
    • March 21, 2023
  • AleTrailsSouthernInterior_Vernon_MikeGamble_LookoutTrail_BenHaggarPhoto 3
    Ale Trails: Southern Interior Part 1, Vernon + Shuswap
    • March 20, 2023
  • Bora-Boreal-Quebec-winter-cabin-stars 4
    Bora Boréal: Frozen in Time and Ice
    • March 14, 2023
  • Uncertainty-mountains-Rockies 5
    Facing Uncertainty: The Role of Chance in Mountain Adventures
    • March 13, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • Elements-Outfitters-Filson-cabin
    Elements Outfitters Partners with SALTS to Protect Alberta’s Incredible Landscapes
    • March 16, 2023
  • The-High-Route-Kaytlyn-Gerbin-Jenny-Abegg-North-Cascades-High-Route-glacier-hiking
    Friday Flick: Alpine Ultra-Run Sufferfest
    • March 10, 2023
  • Lynx-OGT-Flashlight-standing-up
    Gear Shed: Top Picks for Shredding, Snacking + Seeing in the Dark
    • March 9, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
Live It Up EP 24 is out now!
The Southern Interior region of BC holds an ecological cross-section of the province with alpine meadows, arid Douglas fir grasslands, damp cedar and hemlock forests of the Columbia Mountains and the warm expanse of Shuswap Lake.
Do Not Disturb mode activated ✅ #mountainlifer
Conceived by superhuman snowboarder @travisrice, the @naturalselection Tour highlights earth’s premier riders, from big-mountain mavens to Olympians, all competing on the most stoketastic—and unpredictable—terrain known to humankind.
Built upon a shared desire to enjoy, respect, and advocate for Alberta’s incredible landscapes, it was a natural fit for @elementsoutfitters to work with a local conservation organization @saltslandtrust to highlight the province’s rugged beauty and outdoor apparel to match.
THE UNINVITED INVITATIONAL April 13-16 @woodwardtahoe 😱 $40,000 cash prize purse and a whole lotta spotlight on a group of riders whose time has finally come!! Presented by @jess.kimura and @thenorthface and supported by @yeti @capitasupercorp @slushthemagazine @unionbindingco @smithoptics @sunbum @coalheadwear @fattire 🫡 watch the finals in person Saturday April 15 and join the crew + @btbounds for a public ride day Sunday April 16 @borealmtn. Time to make some history!!! #linkinbio to learn more!
Close your eyes and, for a moment, imagine yourself deep in the polar regions aboard an expedition ship stuck in the ice. The white pack-ice is dazzling, and the immobile vessel seems frozen in time and space. That experience piques your curiosity, doesn't it? Without having to go all the way to Antarctica, you can experience these icy sensations 30 minutes from Quebec City in one of Bora Boréal 's two floating cottages.
@acmg.ca /IFMGA Mountain Guide and  @parks.canada Visitor Safety Specialist Steve Holeczi discusses the role of chance in mountain adventures and how to assess the unknown.
Slopes in the morning, peddles in the afternoon = balance. #mountainlifer
That’s one way to kick off the weekend 🤿❄️
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Live It Up EP 24 is out now!
The Southern Interior region of BC holds an ecological cross-section of the province with alpine meadows, arid Douglas fir grasslands, damp cedar and hemlock forests of the Columbia Mountains and the warm expanse of Shuswap Lake.
Do Not Disturb mode activated ✅ #mountainlifer
Conceived by superhuman snowboarder @travisrice, the @naturalselection Tour highlights earth’s premier riders, from big-mountain mavens to Olympians, all competing on the most stoketastic—and unpredictable—terrain known to humankind.
Built upon a shared desire to enjoy, respect, and advocate for Alberta’s incredible landscapes, it was a natural fit for @elementsoutfitters to work with a local conservation organization @saltslandtrust to highlight the province’s rugged beauty and outdoor apparel to match.
THE UNINVITED INVITATIONAL April 13-16 @woodwardtahoe 😱 $40,000 cash prize purse and a whole lotta spotlight on a group of riders whose time has finally come!! Presented by @jess.kimura and @thenorthface and supported by @yeti @capitasupercorp @slushthemagazine @unionbindingco @smithoptics @sunbum @coalheadwear @fattire 🫡 watch the finals in person Saturday April 15 and join the crew + @btbounds for a public ride day Sunday April 16 @borealmtn. Time to make some history!!! #linkinbio to learn more!
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.