Chugach Powder Guides

In addition to the travel convenience of being located so close to Anchorage, a major benefit of Girdwood is that it’s a bustling ski town. Girdwood is a small village that’s home to Alyeska Ski Resort and is where your accommodations will be located. Chugach Powder Guides does not have its own private lodge, but they are partnered with Hotel Alyeska to provide skiers with luxurious lodging and amenities.

While staying at the 304-room Hotel Alyeska, you can expect:

• 24-hour business center for last-minute work
• Saltwater pool and whirlpool
• Fitness center
• 4 restaurants and 2 bars
• Full-service Nordic spa
• Yoga

Besides these deluxe amenities, being located at Hotel Alyeska also means you have access to unlimited entertainment. Instead of being whisked away to a remote heli skiing lodge with next to no service, you’ll be able to venture outside of the hotel and experience the local culture of Girdwood, along with resort skiing. Many Chugach Powder Guides reviews reference this freedom as a major selling point for the operator.

With expansive terrain over three Alaskan mountain ranges, you’re bound to find the exact heli skiing lines you’re looking for. This operator primarily flies in the Chugach Mountains, but also has terrain available in the Talkeetna and Kenai Mountains. Over 1,000,000 acres of terrain serves as your skiing playground, and with over 700 inches of annual snowfall per year, finding freshies is a given.

Your experienced and certified guides will start you slow, warming up your group on low-angle terrain. Not only does this get your legs in shape, but it also allows the guide to assess the overall ability of the group. Should everyone be capable, CPG will gladly step up the game and bring you to more extreme terrain. If the group is not at an expert or advanced level, the guides will have no problem locating more forgiving terrain.

State-of-the-art facilities are a hallmark of CPG. In 2018, the operator built their modern hangar where their four A-Star B3’s are housed. Avalanche gear is always provided, and daily safety briefings at the hangar are a requirement before you head out into the field.

Whether you want a quick drive-thru experience, a multi-day vacation, or an exclusive and private group trip, CPG can provide a tailored experience. The operator has three distinct packages that all take place from early February to mid-April. Availability is limited, so make a reservation early.

Packages are:

• Full Day Heli Ski: A single day of heli skiing is provided, with a vertical guarantee of 16,000-18,000 feet. This translates to roughly 6-10 runs. If vertical feet guarantees are not met, you’ll receive a $50 refund for every 1,000 feet. Accommodations at Hotel Alyeska are not provided.
• 4-Day Package: This option includes 4 nights of stay at Hotel Alyeska, all the necessary safety gear, transportation to the helipad directly from the hotel lobby, and 3 flight hours per group. Lunch is provided on the slopes, but other meals are the skier’s responsibility.
• Private Charter: Exclusive and reserved for only the most focused skiers and riders, this package option allows you complete freedom over where you want to ski. Your guides will bring you to the exact snow requirements of your group, and photography is optionally provided. Perfect for groups of people that want to ski at the highest level possible.

Overall, Chugach Powder Guides prices are quite reasonable. Single-day heli skiing runs around $1,500. Additional vertical feet can be purchased as well if time allows.

On the chance that poor weather inhibits flight, Chugach Powder Guides cat skiing as an alternative, as well as lift tickets to Alyeska Ski Resort. Cat skiing has been offered since 1998 and is reserved explicitly for backup.

Use of the snowcat will cost the group 0.5 flight hours per day and is not always guaranteed. Recent weather patterns have reduced lower-elevation snowpack, making it difficult for cat tracks to remain intact. While you won’t be able to ski the same verticals with a snowcat, plenty of high-skill tree skiing is still available.