Alaska looms giant in snowboarding’s collective creativeness. From Sammy Carlson’s seasonal excursions to Teton Gravity Analysis’s slate of movies, flick after flick has featured the towering peaks of the Final Frontier. The place has an aura of seriousness—in the event you solely surveyed these films, you would possibly assume that Alaska is a walled backyard reserved for elite guides {and professional} skiers trying to depart their mark on the state’s unmanicured terrain.However Alaska is way over an epic ski film set. There are resorts that cater to your common skier, like Alyeska and Eaglecrest. And quite a few heli-skiing outfits present a chance to pattern that famed excessive alpine Alaskan magic—with out having to leap off a 50-foot cliff, that’s. Alaska has so much to supply, whether or not you favor to maintain your butt planted in a chairlift—or have at all times dreamed of hitching an airborne experience into the backcountry.These are just a few of the most effective alternatives to get out and ski in Alaska.
Alaskan Ski Resorts
Alaska isn’t stuffed stuffed with main ski resorts like Colorado. As an alternative, a set of smaller, local-focused ski areas populate the state, bookended by Alyeska, which occupies the vacation spot finish of the resort spectrum. These are three spots to contemplate visiting throughout a ski journey to Alaska, beginning with Alyeska.
Picture: Courtesy of Alyeska Resort
Alyeska Resort
Alyeska Resort tends to dominate conversations about lift-accessed snowboarding within the Final Frontier. It is sensible. Alyeska presents diverse terrain, a big fleet of lifts, and 1,610 skiable acres. In 2023, its transformation right into a vacation spot resort was full when Alyeska turned a member of the favored Ikon Move. Now, multi-pass holders can fold Alyeska into their pre-season winter journey planning.One notable draw of Alyeska is its snowfall. On common, round 650 inches of snow arrive at Alyeska’s summit space. This implies Alyeska outpaces—or, not less than, meets—the decrease 48’s snowfall capital, Mt. Baker Ski Space, Washington, in sheer powder amount (Alyeska or Mt. Baker Ski Space is often thought of the snowiest ski space in North America—all of it depends upon the way you crunch the numbers. Both manner, it snows so much at Alyeska).Alyeska’s resort facilities are equally strong. For an after-ski soak, there’s the saltwater pool and the whirlpool. A health middle and Nordic spa supply additional alternatives to work the kinks out of sore muscle mass. Quite a few eating places, just like the Sakura Asian Bistro, have the refueling base coated.On the hill, the Glacier Bowl Specific crawls into the excessive alpine, serving up quite a few professional runs and stellar views of the encompassing mountainscape. Ted’s Specific accesses a community of intermediate runs in the event you’re much less inclined in direction of the “excessive” facet of the Alaskan spectrum. One phrase of warning: Alyeska is likely one of the tougher resorts on the market, so true first-timers could also be higher off visiting Hilltop Ski Space, which can be close to Anchorage. Plus, Alyeska presents some of the distinctive free ticket offers round. Should you make it to the ski space the identical day you land in Anchorage after catching a flight with Alaskan Airways, Alyeska will hook you up with a free ticket Monday by means of Friday so long as you may have your boarding go.
Associated: The 20 Snowiest Ski Resorts in the US
Picture: Chris Miller/@csmphotos
Eaglecrest Ski Space
Outdoors Alaska’s capital, Juneau, stands Eaglecrest Ski Space, which options 640 acres of terrain and averages 320 inches of snowfall every season. Attending to Juneau isn’t the best—you’ll must hop on a automobile ferry or fly, relying on the place you’re coming from—however when you arrive on the town, Eaglecrest is just a 20 or so minute drive away.The ski space launched in 1975 with one raise and has since grow to be a well-liked hang-out for Juneau locals. This place hews nearer to the charming ski areas of yesteryear, eschewing fancy, high-speed lifts and glitzy facilities. As an alternative, transferring at a gentler tempo is the secret at Eaglecrest. A small assortment of humble fixed-grip two-seaters patiently transport skiers to the products. And in the event you’re eager on some out-of-bounds snowboarding, Eaglecrest is understood for its killer backcountry entry. Simply guarantee you may have the requisite backcountry abilities—Eaglecrest’s avalanche beacon park might assist.Tickets are inexpensive at $75 for adults. And like Alyeska, Eaglecrest presents a boarding go to free raise ticket pipeline with Alaska Airways. Alaska Marine Freeway System or Alaska Seaplanes boarding passes work, too. Once more, you should present the boarding go at Eaglecrest the identical day you land or dock in Juneau.
Associated: The Final Ski Journey Packing Information
Picture: Courtesy Hilltop Ski Space
Hilltop Ski Space
On the sting of Anchorage stands Hilltop Ski Space, a small non-profit operation that caters to the local people. The ski space’s origins started within the Nineteen Fifties with the founding of Hilltop Youth, Inc., a bunch devoted to creating out of doors recreation and academic alternatives for Anchorage’s children. A couple of decade after its founding, the non-profit put in a rope tow powered by a surplus army troop service motor in a gravel pit, initiating what would ultimately develop into Hilltop Ski Space (the ski space is now in a unique location). All the hill’s proceeds—whether or not from ticket gross sales or donations—are funneled again into supporting its non-profit goals.Hilltop’s terrain footprint is mellow in comparison with Alyeska, making it an ideal alternative for newbie skiers or these in search of some chiller snowboarding earlier than stepping as much as extra taxing Alaskan endeavors. Three terrain parks—Porcupine, Ptarmigan, and Ram’s Head—add additional worth for freestyle-oriented skiers.
Picture: Adam Clark/Getty Photographs
Alaskan Heli-Snowboarding and Cat Snowboarding
Alaska and heli-skiing have lengthy been synonymous, due to ski movie manufacturing firms that often depend on the state’s mettle-testing terrain. For a comparatively hefty worth, you, too, can catch a peak-bound helicopter flight. Heli-skiing clearly isn’t the most cost effective approach to expertise the Alaska mountains, however the price ticket, in our opinion, shouldn’t derail your plans in the event you’ve bought the coin—heli-assisted powder turns are thought of the holy grail of snowboarding for good motive. To acquire additional beta on catching your first helicopter experience, try POWDER’s heli-skiing information.
Picture: Courtesy Black Ops Valdez
Black Ops Valdez
Stationed in Valdez, Black Ops supplies its clientele free rein over a variety of alpine terrain. The outfit’s AS350 A-Star/Airbus H125 helicopters can ship off-piste powder thrills down low, medium, or high-angle runs. In plain English, meaning you don’t should be an expert caliber skier to hitch a experience on considered one of Black Ops’ helicopters. These studying the backcountry ropes will get pleasure from themselves, too.One vital advantage of Black Ops Valdez is its dedication to operational flexibility. To be blunt—the climate usually sucks in Alaska, presenting the very actual danger of no-fly days. Whereas Black Ops Valdez averages 80 % fly days, it’s ready to maintain company entertained when that famously fickle Alaska climate rolls in. Catskiing is the main alternative provided by the outfit—Black Ops Valdez patrons most likely got here to Alaska to ski, in any case—however different off-day actions embrace mountain climbing, snowmobile touring, and firearm capturing. Additional solidifying Black Ops Valdez’s stature as a heli-skiing outfit is its involvement in ski film tasks. Black Ops Valdez has been featured in a number of movies, together with Sammy Carlson’s KAMASE. On the outfit’s web site, a whole tab is devoted to its logistical providers, whether or not that’s the supply of a movie manufacturing crew or, after all, a helicopter transport into the Alaskan mountains. The outfit has even labored on bigger industrial advertisements for Coors Mild and Nissan Vans.
Picture: Katie Lozancich/Chugach Powder Guides
Chugach Powder Guides
Situated close to the bottom of Alyeska, Chugach Powder Guides presents a approach to head out of bounds by air or cat. The operation’s stomping grounds cowl 1,000,000-plus acres of accessible terrain.Like Black Ops Valdez, Chugach Powder Guides stays nimble within the face of tumultuous mountain climate. Catskiing could also be an choice when the helicopters can’t fly (decrease elevation snowpack is one deciding issue), whereas snowboarding at Alyeska is the dependable down-day stalwart. Chugach Powder Guides’ 4-day semi-private packages, which begin at $8,150, embrace tickets to Alyeska throughout climate holds and lodging at Resort Alyeska. If you wish to combine up your journey to Alyeska with solely someday of flight time, Chugach Powder Guides presents single-day journeys for $1,775, guaranteeing 16,000 vertical toes.Touring to Chugach Powder Guides is easy regardless of its comparatively distant location. Girdwood—residence to Chugach Powder Guides and Alyeska—is just about 50 minutes away from the Anchorage Worldwide Airport by automobile. Plus, the heli-skiing outfit will transport you to your digs in Girdwood after you land.
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge presents the whole lodging and heli-skiing expertise. As soon as guests arrive in Anchorage, they spend an evening at The Resort Captain Hook. The next morning, they’re whisked away by ski aircraft to the distant lodge. On-site, guests have quite a few lodging choices to select from, together with the newly renovated Primary Lodge. These lodging present stellar views of the encompassing wilderness and Denali, North America’s highest mountain.Then, after all, there’s the heli-skiing at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge. Weeklong heli-skiing excursions, which begin at $18,500, embrace lodging, connoisseur meals, and using facilities just like the sauna and sizzling tub. The lodge’s helicopter snowboarding terrain covers quite a few mountainous acres. A talented crew of guides takes level on the decision-making finish, figuring out the most effective spot to fly to every day. Ought to tough climate arrive, the group can pivot to much less consequential terrain.As with all different heli-skiing operation, security comes first at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge. The information crew is equal components educated and certified, with every member possessing intimate information of ever-shifting mountainous situations. This manner, all you must take into consideration is scoring powder turns.
SEABA
Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures, higher often known as SEABA, is a Haines-based outfit that places purchasers first. Heli-skiing teams listed here are small. The four-to-one guest-guide ratio permits the SEABA crew to forge shut connections with the skiers and snowboarders they ferry skywards. SEABA’s helicopters entry an enormous swath of land between Petersburg and Haines. This terrain is situated in Southeastern Alaska, the place treelines are excessive, facilitating helicopter journeys into the mountains even when the peaks are wreathed in fog. The out there runs are lengthy, too. With SEABA, it’s potential to ski from virtually 8,000 toes all the way in which all the way down to sea degree. On this planet of ski movies, SEABA appeared in Teton Gravity Analysis’s Past the Fantasy, serving to skilled skier Parkin Costain web a clip that POWDER named the most effective drone shot of the 12 months.
Picture: Michael Overbeck (@michaeloverbeck)/Factors North
Factors North
Stationed in Cordova, Alaska, Factors North operates out of a former fish cannery known as the Orca Journey Lodge. All-inclusive heli-ski weeks at Factors North embrace room and board on the lodge with flight days that web between six and 11 runs on common. Between journeys to the mountains, three meals are offered, a few of which embrace domestically sourced seafood like halibut and Copper River pink salmon (lunch is offered on fly days, too). Simplifying days at Factors North are simply accessed helipads—the outfit’s plane park just a few steps away from the lodging, so that you don’t must pile right into a van and drive to the airfield within the morning.
Associated: The ten Most Inexpensive Ski Resorts in the US
Picture: Cavan Photographs/Getty Photographs
Alaskan Backcountry Snowboarding and Ski Touring
Unsurprisingly, you don’t want helicopters or chairlifts to go snowboarding in Alaska. Skins and touring bindings work, too, because the state’s chock stuffed with backcountry zones accessible by foot.About an hour’s drive from Anchorage is Hatcher Move, a winter sports activities haven with snowmobiling and snowboarding alternatives. Cross-country trails within the space are often groomed and able to go by October. Odds are, although, in the event you’re studying this, you wish to learn about precise snowboarding. Hatcher Move has you coated on that entrance, too. On the Move, it’s potential to attain early-season human-powered turns above the Summit Lake space or embark on multi-day backcountry hut excursions throughout glaciers to the north. Turnagain Move is one other Anchorage-area basic that’s a brief drive from Alyeska. For avalanche forecasts close to Anchorage, flip to the Chugach Nationwide Forest Avalanche Data Middle.In Valdez, prioritize Thompson Move, which is a couple of 30-minute drive from city. This is likely one of the snowiest locales on Earth, so bottomless powder is usually on faucet. The terrain doesn’t disappoint, both—Thompson Move is taken into account one of many premier backcountry areas in North America. Sprawling mountain peaks stretch skyward, and due to the highway that traverses the Move, they’re comparatively straightforward to entry. Becoming a member of up with a information from a service just like the Chugach Mountain Institute might simplify the terrain administration issue if you wish to get on the market hassle-free. Thompson Move has additionally hosted Tailgate Alaska previously, a well-known gathering of winter sports activities fanatics.Lastly, there’s the chance for expedition-style ski mountaineering into the Alaska Vary or St. Elias Vary. Take a look at a narrative from POWDER contributor Christian Pondella about tenting and snowboarding close to Denali, or dive into a few of the abilities you would possibly want to drag off a visit like this right here.These are just a few zones to contemplate. Alaska’s an enormous state with large mountains—a lot of them skiable in come what may. Some exploration or analysis is required to completely grasp the potential of this place, however know this: navigating the Final Frontier in pursuit of weightless turns is properly price it.
Associated: The ten Finest Backcountry Snowboarding Locations in North America
Be the primary to learn breaking ski information with POWDER. Subscribe to our publication and keep related with the most recent happenings on the planet of snowboarding. From ski resort information to profiles of the world’s finest skiers, we’re dedicated to protecting you knowledgeable.
