A holiday at Purcell Mountain Lodge is a unique experience, unlike any holiday you’ve been on before. Our guests who return year after year have come up with a list of “secrets” that will make your stay with us all the more enjoyable.
Packing secrets
Communication with the outside world
Emergency contact
Clothing and equipment to bring
Lodge Slippers
Items you can find in the Lodge’s General Store
Booking airline flights
Night Driving
Packing Secrets
Due to helicopter weight restrictions, we ask that our guests limit themselves to 25 lbs (11.5 kg) of luggage during the summer, and 30 lbs (13.5 kg) of luggage during the winter (not including skis). Here are some hints to help you achieve that goal:
- Pack your things in two small soft bags instead of in a single hard, heavy suitcase. We are unable to fit most hard suitcases into the helicopter, and soft bags generally weigh less anyway. Please see photo below.
- Don’t pack any liquids (we have complimentary soaps, shampoos and moisturizers at the Lodge; we also have plenty of beverages)
- Don’t bring a hairdryer. We can supply you with a low-wattage hairdryer at the Lodge if you want one.
- Don’t worry about dressing up in the evenings. Our Lodge is very casual – jeans and a sweater are typical evening wear.
- Leave extra footwear at home. You need hiking/ski boots, and a pair of Lodge slippers – that’s all. Only our winter guests staying in the Private Chalet need to bring an extra pair of outdoor boots.
- Instead of bringing two large hardcover novels, bring a paperback and exchange it for one in our library when you’re finished.
- Leave your laptop at home – you’ll be happy you did!
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Communication with the outside world
There are very few places left in North America where you can truly “escape”. Purcell Mountain Lodge is one of them. Due to the mountainous terrain around the Lodge, we have no cell phone coverage. Nor do we have an internet connection in the Lodge, and the vast majority of our guests prefer it that way. We do, however, have a satellite internet connection located in our office, which is adjacent to the Private Chalet. This connection is available all day for business groups who have booked the entire Lodge, and during the evening for those guests who simply must stay in touch. That said, we encourage all of our guests to “unplug” for the duration of their stay at the Lodge – it is simply the best way to fully experience the beauty of the mountains.
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Emergency contact
We have a satellite phone, satellite internet and emergency radio at the Lodge, and we are therefore in no danger of being completely out of touch with the outside world. If you would like to provide your loved ones with a way to contact you in case of emergencies, please give them our office phone number (250-344-2639) and email address (info@purcellmountainlodge.com).
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Clothing and equipment to bring
Please read the appropriate list carefully. There are many things you do not need to bring with you to Purcell Mountain Lodge, as well as many things you definitely should bring.
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Lodge Slippers
Lodge slippers are such a good idea, we thought they deserved their own section. Any light slippers will do, and your feet will thank you for them!
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Items you can find in the Lodge’s General Store
If you forget to pack a few essentials in your bag, don’t worry – we sell many common travel items in our General Store:
- Toothpaste, toothbrushes and other common toiletries
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- First aid supplies
- Sun hats and winter hats
- Water bottles and thermoses
- Outdoor clothing
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Booking airline flights
Please do not book your return flight for the same day that you are scheduled to leave the lodge. Due to the unpredictability of mountain weather, our helicopter flights are occasionally delayed overnight. Although this only happens once or twice a year (and predominantly during the winter), we recommend that you book your flight home for the day after the last day of your trip to Purcell Mountain Lodge.
Likewise, we do not recommend arriving in Calgary the same day that you are due to fly into the lodge. During the winter, our helicopter flights start at 9am, and road conditions can sometimes lengthen the 3-hour drive from Calgary to Golden, BC. Plan to arrive the day before, and enjoy a relaxing evening in Golden.
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Night Driving
The Drive from Calgary to Golden through our Mountain National Parks is a trip that is definitely worth seeing, so we recommend doing it during daylight hours (8am-4pm in December; 5am-10pm in June). It is also much safer than driving at night.
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