A three day helicopter-accessed mountaineering adventure into the Tantalus Group, the most-admired glaciated terrain on the lower mainland, as viewed from the Sea-to-Sky highway between Whistler and Squamish. The heli-port is just 45 minutes north of Vancouver, and a quick 6 minute ride carries you high up to the Serratus-Dione col and the dubious shelter of the "Red Tit Hut"! Despite the rustic accommodation, this high camp allows quick access to Mounts Serratus (2326m) and Alpha (2305m) to the south, as well as Dione (2590m) and Tantalus (2603m) to the north.

Location
Coast Mountains of British Columbia, close to Pemberton on the Duffy Lake Road (60 mins north of Whistler, 2.5 hrs north of Vancouver).

Dates
Late June to September.

Itinerary
Day 1: Meet at the Black Tusk heli-pad in Squamish at 7:00 am. A quick and spectacular 6 minute flight deposits us at Red Tit Col, which is ideally situated at the base of Serratus Peak, our objective for the day. A 1-hour session on steep snow travel is followed by the 2-3 hour ascent of the north face of Serratus, and a 2-hour descent via the W face.

Day 2: Attempt Mt. Tantalus SE Spur.

Day 3: Choice of either a climb up Mt. Alpha or Mt. Dione (requires a helicopter pick-up and an additional fee of $200) or hike out via Lake Lovelywater (spectacular alpine hiking, ALL downhill; ends with a ferry ride across the 100 m wide Squamish River!)

Cost
$790/person (group of 2 or more) or $1030 for the Mt. Alpha/Dione option.

If you are an individual we may be able to place you with another individual or group; otherwise costs for the Lake Lovelywater exit and Mt Alpha/Dione option are $1400 and $1800 respectively.

What you provide
Your own equipment, food, transportation to Black Tusk heli-pad (at the Squamish Airport), and insurance (accident, travel, medical, trip cancellation).