Bloomberg went looking for the destinations worth taking the heli-ski plunge, and Alaska’s Chugach Mountains made the cut - with Valdez Heli-Ski Guides as the operator.
Skiing with your own circle
Their case for heli-skiing is one we hear from guests constantly: why share a run with a crowd of strangers when you can ski the best powder of your life among a tight circle of friends or family? Bloomberg calls it the ultimate in private downhill thrill-seeking - and, crucially, they add that as long as you can confidently tackle blues, you are ready for it. Whether you want extreme steeps or mellow cruisers, there is a line for you.
Why the Chugach
The range sits 150 miles east of Anchorage, in a coastal position that keeps temperatures moderate and the snow moist - which means more stability underfoot. Runs average 3,500 vertical feet, and the sparkling Mount Dimond serves up one of the biggest single drops in our backyard. It is not even the tallest peak in the range.
When to come
Bloomberg notes the short season: freezing-but-snowy March, or sunnier April. Both have their devotees - March for the cold smoke, April for the light and the long days.
Who flies you
Founded by extreme-skiing legend Doug Coombs in 1993, Valdez Heli-Ski Guides counts, in their words, some of the most experienced guides in the business. We would not argue with that.
Note: the package price quoted in this 2020 article is no longer current. See our booking page for this season’s memberships.
