Writer and photographer Crystal Sagan came to Valdez for Freeskier, and opened her story with an admission most first-timers will recognize.
“The first time I heli-skied in Alaska, I almost had a panic attack in the helicopter. It was our first drop and I was deep diving into the "what the hell am I doing here" mentality - also known as, "I am in way over my head."”
Why the panic was unfounded
What settled her, she writes, was remembering that the primary concern of a ski guide is guest safety - which includes not dropping you on top of a run you cannot handle. That does not remove the healthy dose of adrenaline at the top of each line. It just outweighs it: you know you will get down in one piece, and have the time of your life doing it.
Spring in the Chugach
Her verdict on the season: now more than ever, Alaska is the perfect spring skiing destination. Legendary, flat-out humongous lines set against never-ending peaks, blue skies and orange-peel snow. Terrain that humbles the best of us, and leaves the rest of us feeling inspired and alive.
On skiing with VHSG
She calls Valdez Heli-Ski Guides the quintessential Alaskan guiding operation - noting our expansion to 10,000 square miles of permitted terrain, new ownership, the lodge, and some of the most tenured guides in the area. Skiing with VHSG, she concludes, is the experience of a lifetime.
“I am not saying you will not have a panic attack on your first flight when you see just how big those peaks are in person but, rest assured, feeling your racing heart and a tad short of breath is well worth it.”
