CANADA D
rizzle slid down the window at increasing speed, a wall of thick, white cloud encircling the foothills of the mountain behind it. Rain dripped from the eaves of shuttered shops; wipers swung across the windscreens of slow-moving trucks. At the peak of its operations, up to 25 hiliVo«ÌiÀÃ Ì>ki yi}hÌ vÀom Ìhi
>n>`i>n Ãki ÀiÃoÀÌ
of Revelstoke every day, ferrying fearless skiers to the untouched slopes and deep-powder terrain of the vast mountain ranges that surround it. But no helicopters were taking off today. º ̽à noÌ lookin} }oo`] }ÕÞÃ]» i}i VonwÀmi`
regretfully at breakfast, our hearty plates of hash brown stacks and bacon sandwiches now seeming incongruous. With long, wispy, white-blond hair and a rock–solid disposition that made you trust every word he said without question, Gigi was exactly how I imagined a heliskiing guide with more than 34 years’ experience to be. “Visibility is low and there’s a high avalanche risk,” he continued. “You won’t be getting out today.” It was a tough pill to swallow. Revelstoke isn’t an easy hike from the UK – our route the day prior had included >n ii}hÌ‑hoÕÀ yi}hÌ vÀom i>ÌhÀoÜ Ìo
>l}>ÀÞ]
> oni‑hoÕÀ inÌiÀn>l yi}hÌ Ìo iloÜn> >n` > two-hour drive to Revelstoke – and we, like many others, had come here only for one thing.
Heliskiing capital
Canadian geologist Art Patterson is widely credited with conceiving the idea of using helicopters to transport skiers to remote areas, but it’s Austrian-born mountaineer Hans Gmoser who is considered the father of commercial heliskiing, initiating operations in British Columbia’s
Bugaboo Mountains in 1965 and founding Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heliskiing and heli-hiking company in the world. Heliskiing has taken off across myriad mountain
destinations, but British Columbia remains the heliskiing capital of the world – and Revelstoke is its epicentre. Situated in the valley that divides the Monashee and Selkirk Mountains, it serves up mile upon mile of untamed wilderness and epic backcountry skiing from a lively in-town location. It’s not hard to see what compelled former
Revelstoke serves up mile upon mile of untamed wilderness and epic
`
backcountry skiing from a lively in-town location
real-estate boss Chad Pike and his interior designer wife Blake to set up camp here. The pair own experiential travel company Eleven, whose intimate properties in unique locations around the world aim to deliver exclusive access to some of the world’s best adventure terrain. Other outposts in the 13-strong portfolio include a 15th-century sheep farm in northern Iceland, a remote lodge in Chilean Patagonia, and a collection of riverfront cottages in New Zealand’s South Island. Revelstoke was the perfect addition.
High-end appeal After taking over The Explorers Society Hotel in downtown Revelstoke in 2022, Eleven closed the 1911 property for a refurbishment last year, and it re-emerged in February with a sleek yet down-to-earth feel. Its 12 rooms (including three new split-level suites) are spacious and well appointed, with exposed brick, retro furniture, dark wood accents and bright splashes of colour. The hotel is positively unfussy and yet high end in all the right places: a waft of jasmine and quince greets guests as they walk through the door; a basement wellness area, though
ª
PREVIOUS PAGE: Revelstoke offers some of the best powder skiing in the world OPPOSITE: FIRST ,"7\ Ƃ wÀi«iÌ kii«Ã }ÕiÃÌÃ Ü>Àm on Ìhi rooftop; Eleven Revelstoke Lodge SECOND ROW: backcountry skiing; writer Erica Rich (centre) with Eleven PR executives Lottie Jamieson and Laura Haselton; avalanche backpacks THIRD ROW: Heliskiing FOURTH ROW: speakeasy-style bar in the old boiler room; guided helicopter tour Credits: Tal Roberts; Mitch Cheek; Eleven Experience
46 ASPIRE JUNE 2025
aspiretravelclub.co.uk
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