We’re just about a month away before Points North Heli-Adventures (PNH) kicks off the first helicopter assisted touring program in the world-renowned Chugach Mountains of Alaska. It’s been a tough year in terms of snowfall for a good portion of the lower 48, but it’s been quite the opposite up in Alaska. As reported on Unofficial, at times the snow in Cordova has been so heavy this winter it’s actually presented more problems than powder days for local residents. Thankfully things have been reportedly settling out for the community after the huge January storms, and now the time has come to enjoy the winters bounty.

Heli-season for PNH gets underway next week, starting February 18th, and will run until the end of April. The new touring program starts March 18th and will run for four weeks until the middle of April. Many seats have been booked, but there are still spaces available.

Some of you may have seen the piece ESPN wrote about the new program last summer, or maybe checked out the report I wrote while getting ready to spend several nights in the high alpine last winter. Regardless, Cordova is a world-class ski destination, and now PNH, the only operator in this corner of the Chugach, is offering a more affordable way to get into the goods. It’s still costs something as all Alaskan experiences do, but if you’re into earning your turns and want to help break in new terrain with myself and Jeff Dostie who will be guiding for the program now is the time!

All of the pictures in this post were taken during last year’s feasibility study when Jeff and I ski toured in the greater area sizing up the potential to bring skiers and riders up for this and subsequent seasons. Here’s a few highlights of the program as told by the PNH website:

Last year PNH obtained a non-motorized ski touring permit from the U.S. Forest Service in the Cordova Ranger District. This permit is the first of its kind in the Chugach.

We invite you to come visit PNH this spring and help us develop our program in terrain that has never seen tracks, up or down, before. This is a rare opportunity as it’s your chance to have limitless first descents and be part of the naming of an entire new “zone” in our newly permitted ski touring area.

2012 Dates

  • March 18-24
  • March 25-31
  • April 1-7
  • April 8-14

Details

  • Groups of 4 or 8

Price

  • $1950 for 5 days with 1 extra day for a weather window.

This includes

  • 4 nights/ 5 days, (6 nights of lodging total)
  • All meals, transportation during your stay
  • 1 guide and 1 packer
  • 1 helicopter drop off and 1 helicopter pick up
  • 2 nights lodging upon your arrival & departure at PNH or the Reluctant Fisherman (to be determined)
  • Additional helicopter lifts are available based on actual flight time.

Information

All groups are flown from our base in Cordova to one of our Yurts (Arctic Tents), complete with wood stove, food and the necessities to be comfortable in the mountains. Groups will have the opportunity to ski from the front door without the pressure of heli ski groups around you. All trips will be tailored to your needs and desires. Groups can stay at a given location or ski to another location with all the comforts waiting for you. The choice is yours. PNH has several tent locations giving you the option for tree skiing, alpine skiing and of course all that comes with skiing and riding in the famous terrain of the Chugach Mountains.

Upon your return from the mountains we would love to have you stay with us at our facility if we have room. We offer lodging (all-inclusive meals, lodging and transportation) at $150 per night.  If you need additional lodging pre or post your trip with us, there is also a great hotel in town, http://www.reluctantfisherman.com that can accommodate your lodging needs.

If you’re interested in making a trip to AK this year and jumping onboard with the heli-assisted touring program contact Jessica or Kevin at 877-787-6784 (toll free) ; 907-424-7991 (direct); info@alaskaheliski.com; or feel free to email me with any questions at Brennanlagasse@unofficialnetworks.com

You’ve heard it a million time by now, on this website, and from just about any and every corner of the ski industry. Simply put, when all the right ingredients combine, there’s absolutely nothing on earth that touches the riding potential in Alaska. When and if you nail it nothing else compares. It most certainly takes something for everything to come together, but even a mundane day in Alaska is something extraordinary. I’d love to see as many Unofficialites up in Cordova and really anywhere in AK this year as much as possible! And if you’re serious about making a trip this year, and can put a group of 4 together, there’s a possibility for a discount making this trip even more affordable. Inquire away! This is the year- make it happen!

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9 replies on “The First Heli-Assisted Ski Touring Program in the Chugach | Come Break In New Terrain This March And April | Cordova, Alaska”