It’s a fine matter to find oneself at 6,000 feet enjoying an empty alpine meadow, but what with two days of serious hiking and ice climbing to get there, well … . But what if you could reach that meadow in seven minutes? That’s precisely the appeal of
heli-hiking, the hottest outdoor trend among those who wish to enjoy peak experiences sans time and hassle. The top outfitters plop you into a mountaineer’s box seat, with alpine flowers in your eyes, and, yessiree, no one else in sight.

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Here are a few guides who can get you on that mountaintop.
Canadian Mountain Holidays
(Banff, Alberta, Canada, 800-661-0252, www.canadianmountainholidays.com)

Hitaluga Guide Service
(Hiline Lake, Alaska, 907-733-2874, www.hitaluga.com)

Kaikoura Helicopters
(New Zealand, 011-64-3-319-6609,
www.kaikourahelicopters.co.nz)

— Ken McAlpine