Originally, the plan was to jump into a four passenger helicopter and tour around Central Oregon mid-February. However, weather had other ideas in mind and the adventure was postponed until end of March. The tour was booked with Leading Edge Aviation. Registering for a 45 minute tour was easy and straight forward. Releases must be signed prior to the flight but this can be done online, they send an email out to all individuals indicated in the registration prior to the trip.
After meeting our pilot and getting a run down on the safety aspects required prior to taking flight, it was time to climb aboard our bright green, 4-passanger helicopter for the 45 minute tour. Charlie, our pilot, gave us a rough idea of where he was thinking of flying us, with the understanding that depending on the weather, things could deviate. Due to this, even though he had a set path in mind, he offered alternative routes to take, depending on what we were wanting to see and experience. It was a pretty windy day when we went and we had to make some alterations to the original flight path. We got as close as we could to the beautiful snowy mountains before needing to change path, due to the high winds. One thing to ask yourself before taking a trip like this is if you are prone to motion sickness. The trip was unusually bumpy because of the weather but with a good pilot and better weather, it makes things smoother. The helicopter also has a small heater and windows that open to help with ventilation, if needed.
Now that we were able to get as close as possible to the mountain, the next “stop” (so to speak) would be to fly over a previously active volcano, Lava Butte. Despite our proximity to the ground, we caught sight of adventurous souls making their way up the Butte for a panoramic view from the lookout point on that splendid day. It was amazing that just a few minutes of flying we could go from seeing snow capped mountains to an inactive volcano with bright red clay at the center. The juxtaposition of nature’s elements painted a captivating picture, showcasing the diverse and awe-inspiring beauty of the terrain below.
My favorite part of the trip was being able to see different sections of the landscape still covered in snow and other parts indicating Spring was here. Not only that but witnessing the shadows being cast from the clouds from high above.
Overall Thoughts
I had an absolutely incredible time. This wasn’t my first time being able to be a passenger in a helicopter tour but this was the first time I made more of an effort to enjoy the landscape below. Our tour guide was amazing, informative, and funny. Being able to cater our tour to the area we were most interested in viewing, made the experience all the more customizable. If you have the opportunity to, and are not afraid of heights, I would strongly recommend looking into experiencing this, or a similar, opportunity.
If you have the opportunity to take flight in a helicopter tour, I would highly recommend it. Especially if you are able to go during a season change. Even though I have lived in this area for nearly four years now and this was an amazing way to see the landscape in a whole different way. Thank you for joining me on this adventure. Until next time, Adventure Awaits!
To view more of the photos I took that may not have made it to this post, click here.
