Valdez, Alaska
Join us in Valdez Alaska, for an unforgettable ski adventure of Ski Mountaineering + Heli Skiing. The conditions are perfect for ski mountaineering with steep angles and deep powder.
Valdez, AK 5 Day Backcountry/Heli Ski Combo
We will pick you up from the Valdez airport and take you to the B and B. On some trips you may be able to fly into Anchorage and drive to Valdez with the guide.
3 Days of human-powered skiing, hiking from the road on skis and skins to access the powdery faces and couloir above.
Ski days may vary as weather is fickle. We will make the best of it by touring on days that the heli is grounded due to weather.
One day we do a “Heli Bump” (one ride on a helicopter to get us to the top of our first line…. Hopefully, a big one.)
The remaining day is a “Full Heli day”. On our full Heli day, we do a day of heli-skiing with one of the Heli skiing operations located around the pass, and I promise you’ll never be so tired at the end of a day of skiing.
The remaining day is a “Full Heli day”. On our full Heli day, we do a day of heli-skiing with one of the Heli skiing operations located around the pass, and I promise you’ll never be so tired at the end of a day of skiing.
If you still have the energy after the allotted runs you’ll have the option for more.
Valdez Adventure Accommodations
Ski Adventure includes
You should plan on this / what's not included
Valdez Alaska is well known among hardcore skiers for its steep couloirs and outrageous ribs. Home to the first “World Extreme Skiing Championships” and made famous by the endless footage found in ski movies from TGR to Warren Miller. This stunning range rises steeply from the port of Valdez to its jagged summits 6000 feet above. The snow in Valdez is unique in that is dense enough to “stick” making mind blowing steep lines possible, yet the snow is still light enough to feel like hero powder.
We have spent months at a time in the Valdez area skiing a different exciting tour each day. Since 2009 we have been running our Ski Mountaineering/Heli-Ski Combo. This five-day program will give you the full Valdez experience. We do three days of human-powered skiing, hiking from the road on skis and skins to access the powdery faces and couloir above. The other two days of this five-day trip we will use Helicopters to optimize or vert. One day we do a “Heli Bump” (one ride on a helicopter to get us to the top of our first line…. Hopefully, a big one.) For the remainder of this day, we will ski and climb our way back to the road. The “heli bump day is often guests favorite day as it opens up so much more terrain. The remaining day is a “Full Heli day”. On our full Heli day, we do a day of heli-skiing with one of the Heli skiing operations located around the pass, and I promise you’ll never be so tired at the end of a day of skiing. These runs are often 2000 vert of skiing or more, and the lines are steep and challenging. If you still have the energy after the allotted runs you’ll have the option for more.
We recommend a touring ski with a waist between 105cm and 116. Skis should be equipped with touring binding, preferably tech style bindings.
Skins need to be in good condition and cut to fit your ski.
Boots need to be compatible with your bindings. Boots must have a walk mode.
Ski Crampons must be compatible with you bindings and ski waist width.
We highly recommend aluminum crampons. Make sure they work with your ski boots.
Harness must fit over ski clothing, be light weight and in good condition. You should also have 2 locking carabiners and a belay device.
Ice Axe needs to be light weight and short (Less than 55cm).
A good ski pack should be light weight and have a dedicated pocket for your avalanche rescue gear and be between 35-50 liters.
You will need a shovel and probe. The Shovel should have an extendable handle, an aluminum blade and fit into you pack without sticking out. Make sure your probe is in working order.
Your beacon should be a modern digital beacon. Come with new batteries in your beacon.
While we don’t require you to ski with a helmet we do highly recommend it.
Light or medium weight beanie.
We recommend a lightweight buff as it has many uses.
We really like goggles with changeable lenses for use in bright and low light. They should also be compatible with your helmet.
Even if you always prefer to ski in goggles, sun glasses are needed for the up. Goggles will get fogged with sweat.
How warm depends on you. We recommend a durable well fitting ski glove.
Lighter weight gloves are recommended for hiking up to reduce sweating.
Waterproof/breathable jacket with ventilation.
Breathable light insulating jacket.
When temps are cold, you will be happy for a nice warm jacket.
We really like sun hoodies.
We recommend a light option or a more waterproof option.
We prefer light weight socks.
50 SPF or greater. Make sure your tube is not old as sunscreen can lose it’s effectiveness over time.
Make sure it has SPF.
This should contain blister repair material, over the counter pain killers and a few bandaids. We will have a full sized med kit on the boat as well as field kits with the guides.
Valdez, AK 5 Day Backcountry/Heli Ski Combo
Arrive in Valdez. We will pick you up from the Valdez airport and take you to the B and B. On some trips you may be able to fly into Anchorage and drive to Valdez with the guide.
We have found it best to leave our ski days open. We will get in a full day of Heli skiing and a Heli Bump. Weather is fickle and we will make the best of it by touring on days that the heli is grounded due to weather.
We will transport you to the Valdez airport for your flight home. In some cases your guide will be driving back to Anchorage, you are welcome to ride to Anchorage in this case.
$4,500/person for 6 nights, 5 days. Group pricing available.
We are IFMGA and AMGA Certified Mountain Guides.