For most people hovering 10,000 feet above the Rocky Mountains is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but for helicopter pilot Blake Emsland, it’s just another day at the office.
Soaring over mountain tops and buzzing past glacier-fed streams and rivers, Emsland takes his passengers on a journey that can only be described as “epic” and even that adjective seems too subtle to describe his daily routine.
Employed by TRK Helicopters out of Langley, B.C., Emsland spends his summer taking people on helicopter tours over the Rocky Mountains and Jasper National Park for Rockies Heli Canada.
“You can’t see [the mountains] any other way,” says Emsland, who has been flying helicopters for the past six years, including two seasons with Rockies Heli Canada.
“It’s such an incredible area, it’s hard to describe.”
As part of Emsland’s regular morning routine he conducts a visual inspection of the light blue helicopter he has affectionately named “Jessica,” because of its alphabetic serial number.
Before taking his first group of the day, the passengers huddle together on an industrial scale to measure their collective weight—bags and all.
From there he asks who is going to sit where, with shotgun being the coveted prize.
Before climbing into the pilot’s chair, which is on the right side of the helicopter, Emsland helps adjust each passenger’s harness and wisely points out where the barf bags are.
After buckling up his own harness, he holds down two buttons beside his chair. The jet engine roars to life.
Almost immediately a whiff of jet fuel fills the air and the whooshing motion of the rotating blades drowns out everyone’s voices.
Keeping an eye on the rotor power turbine gauge, Emsland throws on his helmet and is instantly in communication with all four passengers.
After filling out his logbook and starting the timer, he checks the gauges one last time before gently pulling back on the joystick.
The helicopter is instantly off the ground, but by only a few feet, as he slowly reverses the machine away from its gravel helicopter pad.
In less than a minute, Emsland has the helicopter soaring high above the trees, heading for the nearby mountains. He is clearly in his element.
During the 15-minute flight, Emsland quickly switches from pilot to tour guide, pointing out dozens of geographical features below.
Following the Cline River, he points out several hiking trails and a thicket of reddish-brown trees that look as though they were burnt by a recent lightning strike.
As the helicopter approaches 10,000 feet he brings it within eyeline of two glaciers called “Lion” and “Lioness” that sit atop a nearby mountain. He also points out a number of lakes and a waterfall.
During the flight, Emsland explains it’s hard not to become a bit philosophical at times.
“It makes you feel small and humble,” he says during an interview after the flight.
“When you look around and you realize how big everything is you realize the vastness of the Rockies and how insignificant you really are.”
Fifteen minutes later, the helicopter begins to descend, dropping 1,500 feet per minute.
Emsland banks the helicopter over the river below, before slowing down and gently touching down along the Cline River.
As he lands, he says flying a helicopter can sometimes feel like a spaceship, because unlike an airplane, you are able to come to a complete stand still, yet remain in the air.
Just before everyone exits, he reminds the passengers to stay low when exiting the helicopter because the blades will continue to spin as the machine cools down.
Once the blades stop, Emsland leads the group on a 15-minute hike to a waterfall where he pulls out two bottles of champagne for everyone to enjoy.
During the short break, he shares stories about his life as a helicopter pilot, including being witness to the occasional proposal. At times it almost feels like he could be a long lost friend.
During the conversation, he shares stories about his time working as a co-pilot for an air ambulance service in Kamloops and his experience as a Zamboni driver—the job he does during the off season.
About an hour later, after the champagne is long gone, the group returns to the helicopter to catch a ride home.
Minutes later, Emsland has the helicopter back in the air, banking it towards Abraham Lake for a short five-minute flight back to home base.
Once safely on the ground, Emsland logs his flight in a small notebook and exits the chopper.
For him, it was just another day in the books.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
