You could wait for Japan. You could wait for a “proper” storm cycle. You could wait for your rich uncle to finally croak and leave you a trust fund. Or…you could stop waiting, book a day at CMH Purcell, and get your heli boardin’ fix now.
It’s not a week-long, lodge-dwelling, whiskey-sipping expedition where you pretend you’re training for the Freeride World Tour. This is a one-day, boots-on, throttle-open, get-up-there-and-get-down fix for people who want to hit the eject button on reality and taste that high alpine powder without needing a second mortgage.
And it works.
The CMH Purcell day trip is based out of Golden, British Columbia… a no-frills mountain town that’s more diesel than designer. From the moment you check in, the vibe is loose but pro. Safety briefings are tight, gear is dialled, guides are actual mountain wizards, and before you know it you’re in the bird, buzzing over terrain that looks like it was carved by Norse gods on peyote.
We got lucky. Fresh snow, and a group that could ride. No snowplowers. No influencers stopping for TikToks. Just a crew of humans trying to hit hyperspeed on fun lines and enough turns to fill that cup that never seems to be full.
The terrain is a mix of high alpine bowls, tight tree shots, and gladed rollers that ride like a natural terrain park… if terrain parks had 600m vert and weren’t full of teenagers on energy drinks. The guides weren’t shy about sending us into fun zones either. No babying. No slow-follow-the-leader BS. Just “You good?” then a nod, and they’re gone.
There’s something deeply narcotic about the heli experience. The silence up top. The rotor wash. The countdown. Then gravity does its thing and you’re chasing the line, heart rate spiked, legs pumped, brain clean. No emails. No group chats. Just edge, speed, and the sound of your own stoke echoing off the cliffs.
And then the heli lifts you out again like a mechanical angel. Back up. Repeat.
By 3pm we were cooked. Legs fried. Faces sunburnt. Smiles borderline concerning. CMH caps it off with beers, après snacks, and a little slideshow that makes you feel like you just filmed a segment for Art of Flight.
So is it worth it? Absolutely.
It’s not cheap. But compared to a week somewhere else in the world chasing tracked-out sidecountry, it’s a no-brainer. One day. Zero hassle. Maximum bang. If you’re heli-curious, CMH Purcell is the gateway drug. If you’ve done it before, it’s the cleanest hit around.
Sometimes one day is all you need!
