The idea of plunging out of a helicopter onto an almost vertical slope of snow-swaddled mountain can make the head swim. It’s the kind of thing that you might associate with the extreme skiers of action videos. Yet in Alaska, heli-skiing is becoming a sport for the average — well, let’s face it, the “above-average” skier.
The heli-skiing season runs in late winter, from about February through April, when snow conditions are optimal, there’s lots of light and flying conditions the safest. The most popular areas for heli-skiing in Alaska include the Prince William Sound communities of Valdez and Cordova, Girdwood in Southcentral Alaska and the Southeast Inside Passage communities of Haines and Juneau.
“We offer five- and seven-day packages, depending on what you want to do,” said Jill Kief of Chugach Powder Guides out of Girdwood. “Everyone gets a safety briefing and a transceiver drill... Depending on the package, you can ski 50,000 to 60,000 vertical feet... Typically, you’re getting about eight to 10 runs a day.”
Below is a just a sampling of the heli-skiing operators in Alaska:
For those who would rather view heli-skiing as a spectator, Valdez holds its annual Chugach Mountain Festival in April. The 10-day event includes the Adrenaline Film Festival, Sloppy Cup Mountain Bike Race, the Alaska Pipeline Raid for orienteering enthusiasts, and, of course, the World Free Skiing Championships.
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