Alaska Backcountry Guides Drops Off and Preps for a Sick Descent!
Thanks to the experience, motivation and vision of founder Joey Wolf, Alaska Backcountry Guides (ABG) took advantage of the opportunity to open when heliskiing in Canada had a two year vaccination-travel restriction due to covid. Wolf's aim is to fill a middle-market gap in a very competitive environment of Alaska heliskiing operators.
Joey states to have worked for and skied with heliskiing operators all over the world and now brings Alaska Backcountry Guides into the fold to fill some of the void in Valdez left by the departure of the infamous Dean Cummings. Heliskiing packages commonly offered in the industry can represent somewhat of a "barbell." At one end, they typically offer elite and very costly private packages, and at the other end, the packages are far less expensive, and the operators maximize aircraft capacity by transporting multiple groups in the same helicopter during the day of skiing.
Wolf offers a middle ground of Semi-Private (and of course a Private package as well!) In our experience, here's the big difference:
Semi-Private: Two (2) groups per heli, four (4) skiers/riders per group. This is the ideal situation for those who are not flying private. As you reduce the number of groups transported by your A-Star (considered the best helicopter for heliskiing) from four groups, to three and down to two, the heliskiing experience changes significantly.
I have only flown with one operator that used one aircraft to transport four groups. And there was a lot of waiting at the bottom of runs. It was common to see three groups in a que - not ideal if you're seeking that feeling of being alone on an elite adventure in the backcountry. This doesn’t happen with two groups in one helicopter - no que. And with three groups, a “rhythm” gets established after a couple runs, so the wait tends to dissipate after the first run, transitioning to additional runs. Although the terrain tends to get a workout pretty quick!
With four groups to an A-Star, plan on waiting.
If you happen to be fortunate enough to be in the lead group (of just two groups) and stay there all week, it’s much like having a private experience at a modest pace. This happened to my brother & I once, because our guide was training another, so we got fresh tracks ALL week! On this site's home page, I wrote about it - a cool story recounting our first gnarly heliskiing landing on a bladed ridge...my brother was freaked! - check it out! Great video too!
Unlike some heliskiing destinations at a remote lodge, this is a relatively easy operator location to get to.
Fly to Anchorage: Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
From there, you have options:
- If you can fly private...go for it, and fly directly to the Valdez airport, known as Valdez Pioneer Field.
- Rent a car in Anchorage and make the 5hr beautiful drive from ANC to the Totem Hotel to check in.
- ABG will help with a private charter from ANC to the Valdez airport - you're stylin!
Nothing but smiles & high fives at Alaska Backcountry Guides!
We have yet to ski with ABG, but after a thorough review of Alaska Backcountry Guides, we feel this operator is worth serious consideration.
Their website is informative and contains enough information to get to the next step. We do like the sixteen full staff bios of adventure loving team members! Included among the bios a sexy summer scene picture of Melina, their Massage Therapist and Wellness Coordinator, wearing black leather pants. "She can also be found in Park City, in the yoga studio, or enjoying wine with some girlfriends.”
Some things in heliskiing research just stound out, right!? lol We love adventure-seeking heli-skiers!
Take a hard look at this operator, and if you don't find enough to inquire, then keep looking though all our Alaska Heliskiing Operators Directory.
