Triple Point Expeditions Reviews
The epic scenery of five different Alaskan mountain ranges awaits you at Triple Point Expeditions
Although we have yet to ski with Triple Point Expeditions, the review has already begun! Let us explain how and why we booked here for 2026...
When traveling, it is pretty easy to identify other heli-skiers. We bumped into this skier at baggage claim in the Vancouver airport after concluding our trip to Bear Paw Heli In late March of 2025. In our brief conversation, this skier claimed his friend was headed to Triple Point as we spoke! I said, "I'm familiar with nearly every operator in Alaska, are you talking about Third Edge?" This guy said, No "I'm talking about Triple Point Expeditions in Alaska!" My brother was on our trip, and we had to ponder this new fact for a moment...
After years of research in this industry, we thought we had published a page on every legitimate active operator in Alaska! Certainly we will be the first to adding a page when we find an additional operator worthy of our inclusion! And we did with TPX!
Tucker Patton, founder of Triple Point Expeditions (TPX) has done a very graceful job in documenting his journey online, from his early beginnings, to TPX inception, to now operating one of the premier boutique, small group heliskiing operators in Alaska.
We consumed all of Tucker Patton's online content and, as a result, our curiosity and anticipation was redlining on our "heli-STOKE meter!" With roots in California surfing and humble beginnings in the in North Tahoe snow community, our founder BRADY felt like he shared a lot of the same genetic makeup with Tucker. So he reached out to Tucker regarding a booking inquiry.
Expect many drops on ridgelines during your week at TPX!
PRO TIP: At Heli-skier, we have found that when booking your trip, interacting with the owner of a heliskiing operation creates a superior experience. It gives a much greater sense of confidence about your expectations being met or exceeded as you take the leap and wire your deposit.
Frankly, that's where the "rubber meets the road," so to speak. After all of your stoke and anticipation build, and you've done all your homework, thinking that you're making the right decision, you've got to send the money! This process does get easier over time, but this exercise is one of the main reasons that heli-skiers more often than not, ski with the same operation - less risk being disappointed. And let's face it, as heli-skiers, It's can be a bit of a crapshoot!
We were impressed with the level and character of communication that Tucker provided during the booking process. He was very genuine, compassionate and accommodative in his booking interactions. And as an operator who is only providing eight seats per week with a limited operating calendar, Tucker has to a bit of a tap dance to accommodate booking inquiries!
And it's that eight seats per week at a destination lodge, with the custom, personal attention and tight small group experience that captivated us at Bear Paw Heliskiing. We wanted to repeat that environment in Alaska with Triple Point Expeditions, so we booked for the last week in March 2026. The full review will follow next spring!
In the mean time, check out what we have discovered about TPX and the character of Triple Point Expeditions!
Stuff You'll Want to Know About Alaska Backcountry Guides
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!
ABG's unique facility accommodates all operations including meals
In 2022, Alaska Backcountry Guides founder Joey Wolf built a pretty cool, functional “purpose built heliskiing hangar” at the Valdez Airport. We've been to lots of facilities around the globe, and THIS depicts heliskiing character for sure!
Pictures show two parked A-Stars, surrounded by ALL the supporting amenities you would expect to facilitate a quality mechanized, backcountry skiing experience, including a dining mezzanine with lounge.
It's located smack dab on the Southwest corner of the Valdez airport tarmac, which allows for some streamlining of your heliskiing experience!
Alaska Backcountry Guides at Valdez Airport
Somewhere in the past we found information that ABG was using a private residence for initial accommodations. That sounds sweet. However, currently they advertise the Totem Hotel as their accommodations. This place looks modest, certainly adequate and well located.
The Totem Hotel & Suites – With 4 Star ratings from more than 200 guests, this hotel boasts some charm. (They could use a webmaster to replace the WordPress logo with their own logo / favicon, but that’s a minor point!)
Your choices are a business suite with a kitchen, a cabin appointed with all the amenities of home (queen bed + a sofa bed) or a traditional guest room in the new hotel with a king bed or two queens.
If you bring your appetite, you can start your day in the hotel at the breakfast buffet and then graduate to the daily breakfast provided by ABG’s in-house pastry chef! That's a lot of breakfast, but I would partake! Just the way I roll!
Surrounding Valdez, AK, the Chugach Range boasts world renowned terrain for freeskiing / riding adventure! Several operators take advantage of this tenure. It's worth an inquiry to see how Joey Wolf and his team handles the competition for terrain. We at heli-skier.com have heard and read about terrain conflicts and competition / conflicts when conditions are ideal - just an FYI.
ABGs location at the airport serves as an ideal launch pad, accessing this terrain in just minutes from their hangar.
Difficulty:
As with many Alaskan Heliskiing operators, they advertise to accommodate intermediate to expert skiers, but that's just marketing. Operators HAVE to put butts in the heli! (NOTE: a few of the Alaskan heliskiing operators rigorously qualify their guests - elite only.
Frankly, if you're not an expert skier, in our opinion, you should be considering a different region, like British Columbia or the states. Alaska boasts some of the MOST challenging STEEP terrain on the planet, and that's WHY most skiers & boarder go there.
All of that said, operators exist to please their guests! Especially, if you're considering booking private, in that case, it would be easy to dictate the terrain difficulty you'll ski. Go for it!
Again, this is simple, but we have plucked a little nugget here:
Two groups of four quests are an ideal scenario for a Semi-Private package, as stated earlier.
Private: they advertise some pretty attractive economics here. We have seen Private packages with MUCH higher prices all over BC and Alaska.
Yet, ABG currently offers a Private package including these specifics:
- Up to 10 hours (Hobbs hours in the industry)
- Up to 7 guests (We assume that includes (2) lead guides & a tail guide, because an A-Star seats two up front and four across the back.)
- Price of $79,999 USD / week.
- It's not clear if they are using their second bird for this package, but that may be more OR LESS ideal depending on the group's expectations of skiers on a descent simultaneously.
When you compute the hobbs hours cost / skier, you'll arrive at this math:
- Semi-Private (4) skiers is $10,999 / skier for (4) hobbs hours, simply $10,999 / 4 = $2,749 per hobbs hour, per skier.
- Private (7) skiers is $79,999 divided by 7 = $11,428 cost for each skier / 10 hobbs hours = $1,142 per hobbs hour, per skier.
Did I do that math correctly?
Another way to look at this (more practically) is that the Private group gets an additional 25% more hobbs hours or "lifts-runs" (Math: 4 hours X 2 = 8 in two Semi-Private bookings vs. 10 hours for a Private booking. two groups getting a "lift" or run. The premium for that 25% more in flight time is a minimal $11,428 - $10,999 0r $429 for a hobbs hour!
That's a great deal! (Then the additional fees begin for more vertical, which are almost always the cheapest heliskiing you can buy!)
I addition to that, ABG advertises that you can stay at their "private lodge." - sounds a bit more appealing than the hotel.
Who wants to put together a Private trip?
Let's GO!
One drawback might be their refund policy (on no fly days.. This element of the economics in heliskiing pushes the risk of operations onto the skier and can vary greatly throughout the industry.
ABG's Policy: "We do not carryover or refund any unused flight time. For this reason, we highly recommend getting travel insurance."
Book a Heli Ski Trip to Alaska Backcountry Guides Today!
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.
Reviews & Comments
Please share a comment or review, if you have skied here! This REALLY helps the heliskiing community! Thank You!
BRADY
5/9/23
Brady is an avid skiing & backcountry enthusiast, aging "big wave" surfer and is totally addicted to heli skiing!
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