Girdwood

Chugach Powder Guides’ headquarters are located near the base of Alyeska Resort in the small town of Girdwood, Alaska. Nestled in a valley in the Chugach Mountains the surrounding area offers access to the some of the best heli skiing in the world. Short helicopter flights place skiers on top of big Alaskan faces with views of Turnagain Arm in one direction and Prince William Sound in the other. On days the helicopter can’t fly, inbounds and cat skiing keep visitors on powder. Choose between some of the finest inbound skiing north of Jackson Hole just a tram ride away at Alyeska Resort or a private cat skiing area that Chugach Powder Guide’s access just up valley from the Hotel Alyeska. These options provide excellent terrain for all ability levels. Après ski in one of the hotel restaurants or the top of the tram. Top the day off with world famous steaks at the Double Musky. If you are looking for the ultimate family or group heli-ski adventure, this is the place to go.

Girdwood is 40 miles (64 km) south of Anchorage, AK. The Seward Highway parallels scenic Turnagain Arm and is flanked by the Chugach Mountains. The closest major airport is the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. The airport is served by most major airlines and can be reached on non-spot flights from a dozen continental U.S. cities including Denver, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles. An EpicQuest driver will meet you at the airport for the scenic one-hour ride from Anchorage to our base in Girdwood.

Alaska’s Western Chugach Mountains wrap around some of the best helicopter skiing and boarding terrain in the world. The 3,000 to 4,000-foot vertical runs are found across hundreds of peaks, providing guests with more powder than they can ride in one trip. Guests can ski directly from the Girdwood base to explore the northern zones, or base their adventure from one of our remote heli ports in the southern areas. Most guests ski both areas during their weeklong adventure. Runs like “Lost Shots,” “Dendrites,” and “Wall Street” dish out quintessential Alaska heli-skiing. Conditions permitting, aggressive mountain lines such as “Comet Couloir,” “Stolen Face,” and “Sky Walker” are open for riding. It’s about being challenged, but also safety, so stability and conditions take priority when planning the day.

Heli-skiing in Girdwood can accommodate skiers with a wide variety of terrain, appealing to most ability levels.  We recommend being a strong Intermediate or above.  Modern powder skis and moderate glacier runs are a dream for first-timers, while advanced skiers can find their own unlimited expert terrain.

The Western Chugach Mountain Range benefits from the combined influences of warm Pacific Ocean air mixing with colder arctic air that blows in from the Alaska interior. The resulting high-quality powder snow is what makes this coastal mountain range famous. Epic’s operation area averages 600 inches (1,524 cm) of snowfall each winter. The average temperature from February to mid-March is 20°F (-7C). In March, each day gains nearly six minutes of daylight, and as the days grow longer, afternoon highs typically rise from 20°F to 30°F (-7C to -1C). Dry powder conditions can still be found on all but the southern-facing slopes, where excellent corn snow offers yet another style of skiing.