Some people think it takes a lot of courage to fly up a mountain in a helicopter, strap on skis or a board and surf through waist-deep snow in complete wilderness. That may be true. At Last Frontier, however, the real test of courage awaits on the ground. A few hundred meters over the border to Alaska, in a shrouded bottle at the Glacier Inn, to be precise.
The pub is located in Hyder, which doesn't have much to offer apart from a border station and a few run-down cabins. Even sleepy Stewart seems downright exciting by comparison. Nevertheless, the Glacier Inn is buzzing. The inn was opened in 1956 and is now run by the third generation of the Bunn family. And guests don't just leave their money at the bar. They also leave it on the walls. The interior of the Glacier Inn is wallpapered with banknotes. According to Mrs. Bunn, they are now worth a good 95,000 dollars. It all started with a guy who was always thirsty but rarely had a full wallet. One day, he wrote his name on a dollar bill and pinned it to the wall. "If I ever find myself without money, I'll pay for my drink with this bill," he is said to have said. Thousands have since followed his example.
Not sure if you are strong enough to ride Triple Point Expeditions? Get in touch with us. We've been to Triple Point and can work with you to assess exactly whether you'll have fun in the powder.
But what is the test of courage all about? The bottle mentioned at the beginning contains "150 proof Everclear". If you ask to be "Hyderized" in the pub, you will receive the infamous spirit in a shot glass. The rules are simple: don't smell it, don't taste it, empty it all in one go - and keep it in your stomach. The reward is a certificate. If you don't follow the protocol, you have to skip a local round.
The bartender lights the very last drops of a glass on the bar. While blue flames dance on the clear liquid, the previously downed shot burns in your guts. At least there is a sip of water to put it out.
The heliski guides are happy to take their guests to Hyder if the helicopters are unable to fly. But you won't become a habitual drinker at Last Frontier. There are simply too few Down Days to run the risk of consuming the high-proof booster in doses that are harmful to your health. In fact, if you don't want to skip a heliski day, you almost have to hope for bad weather to give you an excuse to cross the border once a week.
Strong enough?
Not sure if you're strong enough for heliskiing? Get in touch with us. We're also happy to do a video check-up. We have been heliskiing with thousands of skiers and know all the areas. So we can assess with you where you will have the most fun in the powder!
Ripley Creek Inn @ Last Frontier Heliskiing
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