While the mighty Chugach have seen plenty of media attention over the years in ski-movies for the amazing heli-skiing, few people know that Thompson Pass also offers some of the best and most accessible ski-touring and backcountry skiing found anywhere in North America. Simply stated, Thompson Pass is an astounding place to ski in Alaska’s backcountry!  More images from skiing in Valdez.

Logistics - Valdez Skiing

This trip originates in Anchorage, Alaska. Getting to Anchorage is a snap. Alaska Airlines, your travel agent, or the carrier of your choice can easily arrange roundtrip airfare from the lower 48.  Once you land in Anchorage, your adventure really begins. For this trip to Valdez, you'll find that the areas we visit are off the beaten path, and were made for exploration!

Transportation: Alaska's sheer size requires the implementation of a wide variety of resources to reach it's most amazing destinations.  Four our Valdez Ski Adventure, we will travel in Ford E350 passenger vans. These vehicles and are equipped with air conditioning, heat, and comfortable seats.

Accommodations: Lodging in Valdez is included in your package.  You’ll be staying at the Valdez Harbor Inn located in downtown Valdez.  We feel that the Harborview is the best hotel property in Valdez, and they are comfortable and conveniently located downtown.  Prices are double occupancy. A single supplement fee of $300 will be added if you specifically request your own room for this trip.  Additional details regarding specific accommodation names and telephone numbers will be sent in your final packet.

Single Travelers: If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. The single supplement for the Valdez Ski Adventure is $300.00. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is $200. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms and available on most departures.

The Experience: You'll meet your guide at your hotel at 8:30 AM, and after a brief introduction, we'll begin the 6-hour drive to Valdez. Our route will take us down the Glen Highway, and through the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges. We'll check into our hotel in Valdez by early evening.  After settling in, we'll have dinner and afterwards an orientation where we’ll pour over maps and discuss the trip.

Up early on day 2, we’ll have breakfast at the hotel.  We’ll get an early start and weather permitting we'll be heading into the Chugach Mountains.  Our first day will allow us to collect our senses, gaze at the surrounding beauty, and get a feel for the terrain we will be covering.  You will quickly become acquainted with our style of wilderness travel.

What’s Included:

• All group gear (climbing gear, ropes, etc.), satellite phone and safety equipment.
• Van transportation from Anchorage to Valdez.
• All internal van transportation necessary for the trip.
• 4 nights of lodging in Valdez.
• Professional guide service at a maximum 4:1 client to guide ratio.
• All meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on the final day of the itinerary.
• Storage for your extra travel items while in the field.

What’s Not:

• Lodging in Anchorage prior to and after your adventure.
• Personal gear (Skis, poles, skins, packs, rain gear, etc.) - See Equipment Lists.
• Trip cancellation insurance.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Guide gratuities.

Everyone asks:

What kind of food might we expect?

Our food is excellent – in fact it is something that clearly differentiates us from our competitors. We have spent the past decade fine tuning our backcountry menu. A hearty continental breakfast provided by the hotel will fuel us for each days adventure.  For lunch we enjoy foccacia sandwiches, bagels and Alaska lox, hummus and toasted pita chips, and assorted wraps. We also have homemade snack mixes both salty and sweet and energy and candy bars available throughout the day. We'll visit a variety of locations in Valdez for dinners.

When would you require a deposit? and how much? Trip cancellation insurance? Can we get it through you?

We require a deposit of $1000 per person to officially reserve a trip. Really the deposit is due as soon as you’d like to book. That way, we have the trip inked in on the schedule and can begin the effort to coax others into joining the adventure. When you decide to book, we then generate an invoice that we send by email. You’ll then have the option to pay the deposit by mailing us a check, calling us with a credit card number or by using a Visa, Master Card, or American Express on our secure online payment system. As for trip cancellation insurance, Alaska Alpine Adventures is licensed to sell Travel Guard - an industry leading insurance product designed specifically for adventure travelers. Please contact us for details, or click here to obtain a quote.

Prince William Sound and the Chugach Mountains:

Why go to the Chugach Mountains?

Accessible, stunning, diverse, and magical, are just a few adjectives that we've come up with to describe the Chugach Mountains. Located East of Anchorage, and spanning from the city's doorstep to the port city of Valdez, the Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about 300 long, running generally east-west. Its position along the Gulf of Alaska ensures more snowfall in the Chugach than anywhere else in Alaska!.  Given the latitude, these relatively low elevation mountains provide excellent skiing and climbing with great snow quality on a variety of terrain within easy access of our base.  Another great thing about the lower elevations is that it much easier to reach the top of the peaks and passes without contending with altitude issues!

Where is Valdez and Thompson Pass?

Valdez is approximately 120 air miles from Anchorage, and Thomson Pass sits roughly 20 miles north of the port city.

How do you get to Valdez and the Chugach Mountains?

Access to Valdez is easy by van, small aircraft or by boat.

Is transportation to Valdez and Thompson Pass included in the price of the trip?

Absolutely, our trips are all inclusive from Anchorage. All you need to do is get yourself to our B&B in Anchorage on Day 1 of your itinerary.

Where will you meet us?

Your Alaska Alpine Adventures guide will meet you at your hotel or B&B at 8:30 AM.  In an effort to make turns before sundown, we'll be on the road to Valdez by 9:00 AM.

Itinerary

Day 1: Today you will meet your Alaska Alpine Adventures guide in the lobby of your hotel or B&B in Anchorage at 8:30 am. We’ll then load the van and begin the 6-hour drive to Valdez, Alaska. This drive takes us up the Glen Highway and a route that will take us between the Chugach Range and the Talkeetna Mountains to the north. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch near the Matanuska Glacier, and will continue onto Thompson Pass late that afternoon. If weather and time cooperates, we’ll go for a quick tour at the pass in search of our first Chugach turns of the trip. We’ll then make our way down to the town of Valdez, where we’ll check into a comfortable Bed & Breakfast and finish the evening with an orientation dinner at a local restaurant where we’ll pour over topographical maps and discuss the week’s itinerary. All Meals Included

Days 2-5 : We’ll spend the next 3-full days touring the Thompson Pass region with the primary goal of skiing as much vertical as we can. It’s not uncommon in the Chugach to get 4000’ runs, and we assure by the end of the day, you’ll be cooked from all of the vertical. Because Thompson Pass is officially the snowiest place in Alaska, the touring in the area is mainly on glaciers. During the tours, you’ll discuss safety, speed, transition efficiency, skinning, kickturns, pacing, and downhill skiing in Alaska’s backcountry. Breakfast & Lunch Included.

Day 5: We’ll awake early, grab breakfast, and begin our journey back to Anchorage. Depending on weather and snow conditions, we’ll stop for an ascent and ski-descent of Gunsight Mountain or one of the local peaks of the Chugach. We’ll then hop back in the van for the remainder of the drive back to Anchorage. If you are departing home on this evening, please schedule homebound flights for after 10pm. Breakfast & Lunch Included