Skied Alaska?

PartyBullshiit

PartyBullshiit

Active member
Who’s gone and skied up there? I’m trying to start planning a trip and make my way to Alaska. Any tips or recommendations?
 
Alyeska is a must, Girdwood is a dope town and close to Anchorage. Hit the bake shop. Hilltop in Anchorage usually has a park if you're still craving metal.

**This post was edited on May 31st 2024 at 2:45:26pm
 
Alyeska is fantastic. There was a lot that didn't open when I skied it, but plenty fun stuff to explore. Some years they have insane snow totals too... If you can afford it, I highly recommend Chugach Powder Guides. The AK mountains felt like a different planet compared anything I've skied the the lower 48...
 
14613489:midwestcoast said:
Alyeska is fantastic. There was a lot that didn't open when I skied it, but plenty fun stuff to explore. Some years they have insane snow totals too... If you can afford it, I highly recommend Chugach Powder Guides. The AK mountains felt like a different planet compared anything I've skied the the lower 48...
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That’s what I’m looking for. A different experience to everything down here
 
14613509:Skidude24 said:
Got a cousin that lives up there for work, he said it’s a lot different than anything back home… (iowa)
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Ya my cousin was based up there for years (military). She snowboards and said i absolutely need to get up there.
 
Born and raised from Anchorage. Alyeska is awesome and the terrain is unlike anything I have skied down in the states. All of the fun stuff is above tree line and wide open. Like mentioned before Hilltop has a decent park if thats what you're looking for. If you have backcountry experience, go touring in Turnagain Pass. It's an hour from Anchorage and it will blow your mind. No matter how full the parking lot is you will always get fresh tracks. Avalanches are a risk. If you have the money for heli skiing, I'd looking Third Edge Heli. I met the owner last year and is a really down to earth guy and is very knowledgeable with lots of experience. He was apart of the team that helped out when Travis Rice filmed The Art of Flight in Alaska. For heli skiing i'd avoid Silverton Mountain Guides. I've interacted with them at different ski movie premiers and they could never answer simple questions about their operations. Then this past winter, they had a client die in an avalanche. I understand that accidents happen, but from the outside, they just dont seem that locked in. If you have money, but not heli skiing money, Chugach Powder Guides has cat skiing options that will get you out in crazy terrain safely, and its not crazy expensive.

If you haven't taken a Avalanche level 1 course, don't bother touring. If you have, pick your area before hand, watch the weather and read the daily reports every day for a month prior to when you are arriving. There were several storms last winter where Turnagain Pass would get 5-10 feet in a 24 hour period, meaning the avalanche danger is super high.
 
For lift access check out eaglecrest in Juneau and the ski hill in Cordova. Way cooler than alyeska since it become stupid expensive and started pricing out regular people in favor of icon epic pass nerds. Alyeska was cool but it’s wasting away under its current management.

backcountry access: turnagain and surrounding area is sweet, Hatcher pass north of Anchorage, Thompson pass outside of Valdez. Boat based skiing available through a charter out of Whittier. Also look into nick d’alessio at remarkable adventures for super professional guiding

heli stuff: CPG as mentioned above as well as points-north heli out of Cordova and black ops helis out of Valdez
 
Has anyone used Alaska backcountry guides. They’ve been specifically recommended to me. Also would like to try and make Denali
 
14613529:rogga said:
For lift access check out eaglecrest in Juneau and the ski hill in Cordova. Way cooler than alyeska since it become stupid expensive and started pricing out regular people in favor of icon epic pass nerds. Alyeska was cool but it’s wasting away under its current management.
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i’ve got reciprocity with my mt. bohemia pass to eaglecrest for a few days (at least i did this year hopefully it continues). looks really dope and would like to make it out there. seems easier than having to go all the way to anchorage as well
 
14613563:Dlonetti said:
i’ve got reciprocity with my mt. bohemia pass to eaglecrest for a few days (at least i did this year hopefully it continues). looks really dope and would like to make it out there. seems easier than having to go all the way to anchorage as well
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it’s a really fun mountain, like a miniature mt. baker. some great backcountry and sidecountry access too. make sure you catch it on a good weather window; the southeast alaska coastal climate can be fickle
 
14613563:Dlonetti said:
i’ve got reciprocity with my mt. bohemia pass to eaglecrest for a few days (at least i did this year hopefully it continues). looks really dope and would like to make it out there. seems easier than having to go all the way to anchorage as well
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14613586:rogga said:
it’s a really fun mountain, like a miniature mt. baker. some great backcountry and sidecountry access too. make sure you catch it on a good weather window; the southeast alaska coastal climate can be fickle
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Eaglecrest is super dope. I’d roll the die on late February- early march trip no questions asked.

And if it’s shit, it will still be better than any Midwest ski resort.

**This post was edited on Jun 1st 2024 at 11:33:00pm
 
I'd like to do a season in AK sometime. Maybe whenever I leave mammoth if I dont go to Norway.

Seems awesome. Would love to go even just on a lil tour but working/living there would give me some time to explore.

Can't believe I never made it
 
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