Saturday, February 13, 2010

SPRING TRIP TO THE CHUGACH

Excited ski tourers approach the next objective after descending their first peak via a heli drop.

DATES: APRIL 30th-MAY 7th

Valdez Alaska is a skiers Mecca. This section of the Eastern Chugach Mountains is positioned perfectly to deliver some of the best skiing on earth. In the heart of the Gulf of Alaska storm track, Valdez is a predominantly a maritime snowpack allowing to access challenging terrain on large features with excellent snow. In the Chugach hundreds of glaciate craggy peaks fill the Alaska horizon. This range is bisected by The Thompson pass highway offering little effort into our ski venues. Thompson Pass is a 2,805 foot-high gap in the Chugach Mountains northeast of Valdez and is the snowiest place in Alaska at this elevation, recording 551.5 inches of snow per year on average. This is close to sea level, but with the combination of high latitude, alpine peaks, and a relentless storm track from the cost you will be awestruck buy the skiing potentials here . We are skiing glacial headwalls and peaks for thousands of feet right to the van or one of the many heli pick-ups



Skier Joe Stock on the summit gearing up for a glacial ski descent in perfect snow with views of the Eastern Chugach behind.

VALDEZ HELI TOUR PACKAGE: 3 Days Touring-4 Days Heli Touring

This year I am working with Southwest Adventure Guides (SWAG) and opening a new capture in their ski touring programs. I am offering my Ski touring clients a dream trip for a perfect price. Join SWAG guide Mark Allen, AMGA certified Ski Mountaineering Guide and IFMGA Aspirant, in one of his Alaskan stomping grounds. Mark has spent 7 seasons in Alaska and 3 seasons skiing in Valdez.

What is heli touring? This combines the best of both worlds. We still have the freedom to engage the terrain and travel around on our touring skis earning-turns and climbing up summits, yet the heli provide us deeper access to this amazing range which we could not achieve in a day or at all. Plus the heli will provides a mid-day lift to a second nearby peak sparing a second long climb. By this the heli maximizes our vertical. First thing in the morning we will look down our first 2,000-3000ft run of untouched snow with fresh legs right after finishing the coffee. Rather having a 5,000ft-7,000ft day it will be more like 8,000-10,0000ft days of glaciated alpine powder with less effort…Finally it’s far more economic and much more rewarding.



Views of another one of the many classic tours we offer off of the Thompson Pass area.

3-Days of Touring Thompson Pass

We will be based out of the old Alaskan fishing town of Valdez traveling to Thompson Pass each day for a tour and peak descent. We will be running day tours under our own power in one of the many glacial cirques; we will have a choice of one of many classic tours in the area with the best possible snow, summiting a peak and skiing untracked powder in the steeps. Once every one is up to speed we will be ready to go deep into the range via Heli. Now Valdez Heli Camps will boost our terrain locations and summits taking us deeper into the range for even bigger lines.


Heli touring is the new way to get the best of both worlds. This is a economic way to get the benefits of Heli time but also enjoy the value of earning turns with your touring set up.

4-days Heli-Touring Chugach Mountains

When we have touched all the snow on Thompson Pass we can under our own power, we will hop on board the Heli with Valdez Heli Camps. They will be dropping us off on top of our first summit of the day deep in the Chugach. We can make our first long descent with fresh legs and big smiles. Once on the glacier we will pull out our skins and climb up the next objective. The heli will return mid-day for a final bump up to an adjacent peak in the same area to finish out the day maximizing the snow available before getting picked up and flown back to Valdez. You will be pinching yourself on the flight back...


DATES: April 30th-May 7th

COST: $4000.00

WHAT WE INCLUDE


TRANSPORTION:
*Airport pick-ups and local transportation in Valdez and to Thompson Pass for day tours
7-DAYS OF SKI GUIDING IN VALDEZ (3 DAYS TOURING and 4 DAYS HELI TOURING)
*4 clients to 1 guide max 4:1

*All Heli Hours included 4 drops and pick ups with mid-day bump to near bye peak

LODGING AND MEALS:
*8 nights lodging At the Harbor Inn at Valdez, a shared with one other guest room. (Let us know if you want a private room extra $50.00 nt)
*Full American-Style Breakfast
*Made to order lunch with up to two sandwiches, fruit and snacks
*Alaskan Style dinner, with at least a choice of two Entrees, Salad, Soup, Vegetables, Desert - and more -Special dietary requirements can be accommodated. Beer wine and alcoholic beverages are extra.


CONTACT US NOW AND JOIN THIS TRIP!




Descending the last run on the glacier back to the van and back to King crab and AK brew.