When I told my mother I was heading to the Kootenay Rockies to paraglide, heli-hike and whitewater kayak, she replied, “You’re too old to be doing that.”

Good thing I never listen to my mother. Seems like yesterday she was telling me to grow up. If, however, someone told me that I’d be running offa 2,000-metre mountain, stepping out of a helicopter onto the top of the world, paddling an inflatable kayak and portaging — uphill in a wetsuit — I might agree with Mom. But I can’t wait to do it again.

Besides thrills and spills, there was downtime to appreciate the spectacular Kootenay Rockies landscape and wind down evenings with stellar cuisine.

And if you aren’t fond of crowds, Yoho National Park and Glacier Park are much less populated than neighbouring Banffand Jasper. Surrounded by the Purcell and Rocky mountains, it’s a no-brainer to unplug and connect with nature, starting at Cathedral Mountain Lodge in Yoho National Park.

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