This was my Alaska trip this year over Christmas. Thought I would share this with the back country fans. I did my Christmas Alaska trip and this year it was severe clear and bitter cold. The entire 10 days I spent at Alyeska the highest temp was -5F and most days were in the -10F to -15F range with a couple of -25F days. The snow in the back country was epic as it was the coldest, driest powder possible. At Alyeska it was firm, packed powder and some icy spots.
Chugach Powder Guides operates right out of the Princess Hotel in Girdwood, Alaska and a standby seat was only $240. We made 8 runs that day due to limited daylight at this time of year. Still, I got about 15 thousand vertical feet in. The area is about 3 miles north of Alyeska in the Chugach Range.
Chugach Powder Guide Snow Cat Snowboarding
Morning briefing and beacon tests before boarding
Back side of Alyeska Peak from our first drop point
First light of dawn at 11:00 AM it was -12F
Drop off point for second run over near the A-1 Glacier
Sunrise and Peak 4710
All I can say about this pic is...Wow!
looking across the Girdwood Valley toward Ragtop Mountain
View looking north from the top of Sunny Side drop point
View toward the A-1 Glacier from the top of Sunny Side
Sunset (3:00 PM) Looking north from the Notch drop site
Peak 4710 at 3:00 PM sunset and -18F
Unloading for the last run off of Sunny Side
Looking south toward Alyeska Resort from Sunny Side. The top of chair 6 can be seen far below.
Last of the daylight over the Girdwood Valley looking South
At the bottom of our Sunny Side run...last chair!
Getting ready for the last run of the day down the Notch side
Dropping into the clouds
Looking back up through the pillows and trees of Notch
Our humble servant of the day
New Year`s Eve party at Alyeska that night
