Heli-hikers on New Zealand’s Shotover Saddle
Photographer: Camilla Rutherford for Bloomberg BusinessweekHelicopter Rides Are the Five-Star Shortcut to the World’s Most Remote Hiking Trails
Adventurers of all abilities are using choppers to shortcut their way to the mountaintops. Here’s why it’s not cheating.
I’m 5,000 feet up in New Zealand’s Southern Alps when I realize I’m surrounded by clouds. Delicate wisps float up from the valley below, curling around craggy peaks that stretch almost 2 miles high. Through the streaky veil, I can spot snow-crowned summits and alpine lakes in shades of silty gray and sapphire. Waterfalls pour down rock faces.
This stunning section of the Shotover Saddle Route marks the beginning of my hike. Some people arrive here as part of a 10.5-mile trek that requires a 4,000-foot elevation gain and at least seven hours of strenuous effort. I’ve come by helicopter. It feels a little bit like cheating.