Alaska Ski Touring
Guided big-mountain ski touring and splitboarding in Valdez, Alaska — the Chugach, deep maritime snow, and legendary Thompson Pass terrain. Our Valdez trip includes one weather-dependent heli bump.
Valdez and Thompson Pass are the birthplace of big-mountain freeriding — and still the benchmark. The Chugach combines absurdly deep maritime snow with steep, sculpted spine walls and faces, and a snowpack that often bonds well enough to ride terrain you only dream about elsewhere. Best of all, much of it is accessible on skins straight off the road, so you can experience Alaska big-mountain skiing primarily on skins and splitboards. Our Valdez trip also includes one weather-dependent heli bump for helicopter-assisted access.
We guide it as a progression — building terrain, movement, and judgment so you ride bigger lines, safely.
Our Alaska trips
Guided Ski Trips
Guided big-mountain ski touring in the Chugach — from building skills and terrain progression to riding the classic Thompson Pass lines, with lodging and logistics handled.
The terrain
Thompson Pass, above Valdez on the Richardson Highway, is the heart of it: enormous terrain straight off the road, from mellow pillows and trees to committing spines and big faces. The Chugach's deep, maritime snowpack is what makes the steep, sculpted lines rideable — and why skiers and riders have pilgrimaged here for decades.
When to go
Prime
The Valdez window — deep, settled snow and long days in the Chugach.
Big snow
Thompson Pass gets some of the deepest maritime snow in North America.
Access
Huge terrain straight off the Richardson Highway, plus one weather-dependent heli bump.
Why go with us
Big terrain demands good judgment. We guide Alaska as a progression with certified AMGA guides and small groups — building your terrain sense and movement so you ride bigger, better lines with confidence, through a primarily touring-based itinerary with one weather-dependent heli bump included on the Valdez trip.
Alaska skiing FAQ
When is the best time to ski Valdez, Alaska?
The prime window is roughly March into April, when the Chugach snowpack is deep and settled and the days are long. This is the classic big-mountain season at Thompson Pass.
Do you use helicopters?
Our Valdez Alaska trip is primarily ski touring and splitboard touring, with one weather-dependent heli bump included in the trip price. Much of the terrain is accessible from the road, so the guides can adjust daily objectives when weather affects helicopter access.
How hard is skiing in Alaska? Do I need experience?
Valdez is big-mountain terrain, so it's best for solid intermediate to advanced skiers and splitboarders with touring experience and good fitness. That said, we guide it as a progression — guides match the terrain to your ability and build you up to bigger lines over the trip.
What's the Chugach snowpack like?
Deep and maritime — some of the heaviest snowfall in North America. That deep, bonded snow is exactly what makes the steep, sculpted spines and faces rideable, and it's why Valdez is legendary.
What's included and where do you stay?
Our Valdez trip includes lodging for the selected departure, guiding, breakfasts, round-trip transportation from Anchorage to Valdez, local transportation, and one weather-dependent heli bump. The 9-day departures include 8 nights of lodging. Flights, lunches, dinners, and gratuities are not included. See the selected trip page for its dates, price, and full details.
Let's plan your Alaska trip
Tell us your experience and goals and we'll help you build toward the big lines of Valdez — under your own power.