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Discover Girdwood’s first helicopter-assisted backcountry ski tours for an epic day in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. Fly high, ski fresh powder, and experience unparalleled mountain adventure.
Discover Girdwood’s first helicopter-assisted backcountry ski tours for an epic day in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. Fly high, ski fresh powder, and experience unparalleled mountain adventure.
Book with Girdwood Backcountry Guides
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Girdwood Backcountry Guides · Anchorage, Alaska
In the heart of Alaska’s Chugach Mountains lies Girdwood, a mountain town famed for winter sports and wild, untamed powder. This 2024/25 season marks an exciting chapter with Sundog Ski Guides launching Girdwood’s first Helicopter Assisted Backcountry Ski Touring service. This experience offers a rare blend of aerial thrill, expansive wilderness, and expert-led guides, tailored for those hungry to push their winter adventure beyond the slopes of Alyeska Resort.
Your day begins with an early meet-up at 1553 Alyeska Highway in Girdwood, just south of Anchorage. After gearing up and a thorough safety briefing—including beacon checks and avalanche preparedness—you head to the local Girdwood Airport and board a helicopter charter operated by Alpine Air Alaska. From the moment the blades start spinning, the breathtaking aerial views of towering snow-draped peaks and ridges of the Chugach range set the tone for a day of unique adventure.
Touching down amidst the jagged alpine terrain, the true backcountry experience begins. Here, the untouched slopes invite you to carve fresh tracks under blue Alaska skies. This tour combines the exhilaration of helicopter drop-offs with the freedom of endless ski touring laps. Guided by seasoned professionals intimately familiar with the terrain, the route is designed to test your skills while prioritizing safety.
The Chugach Mountains around Girdwood are distinguished by their steep granite faces and deep snowpacks, making them a premier destination for advanced skiers. Skiers will encounter diverse terrain featuring craggy ridges, forested runs, and expansive bowls blanketed in some of the lightest, driest snow in the country. The area’s combination of coastal weather and varied elevation creates dynamic conditions demanding respect and skill.
Sundog Ski Guides' partnership with Alpine Air Alaska ensures seamless logistics and expert local knowledge, setting this experience apart from typical backcountry tours. With group sizes limited to 2-8 for personalized attention, participants benefit from comprehensive support—from ski safety to navigating complex egress routes back to the valley. This tour requires a strong skiing background; guests must demonstrate proficiency through prior outings or resort experience.
Beyond the skiing, this helicopter tour unveils Girdwood’s ethos as a gateway to wild Alaskan landscapes yet approachable for those eager for high-level adventure. Whether a local or visitor, participants gain a fresh perspective on this mountain community and its stunning surroundings.
If Alaska’s backcountry skiing sits atop your wish list, Girdwood Helicopter Drop-Off Backcountry Tours delivers a one-of-a-kind, adrenaline-packed day filled with pristine powder and panoramic mountain vistas. This is not just skiing; it’s an avenue to Alaska’s winter wilderness with a unique high-flying edge.
Advanced backcountry skiing skills are required. You must be confident in varied snow and steep terrain and be prepared for complex egress routes.
No, participants should bring their own lunch and water for the full day on the mountain.
No, guests must bring their own avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel, all in good working order and with recent software updates for beacons.
Groups are limited to between 2 and 8 people to ensure personalized attention and safety.
Guests over 250 lbs may incur additional charges due to helicopter load capacities.
Please confirm directly with Sundog Ski Guides as cancellation policies may vary; this information isn’t provided here.
Girdwood Backcountry Guides is an Anchorage, Alaska–based guide service that runs backcountry skiing experiences in Turnagain Pass and helicopter-assisted drop-off tours into the Chugach Mountains. The company offers a Half-Day Tour designed to take skiers into untouched alpine terrain in Turnagain Pass, and Girdwood Helicopter Drop-Off Backcountry Tours that include a scenic helicopter flight followed by ski runs and touring laps in the Chugach range. The Half-Day Tour is described as suitable for all skill levels, with expert guides leading participants through scenic, less-crowded slopes and alpine vistas away from resort terrain. The Girdwood Helicopter Drop-Off option provides a flight into remote mountain zones for extended laps and expansive views. Both trip descriptions emphasize access to raw backcountry landscapes and focused guided time on snow. Girdwood Backcountry Guides operates from Anchorage, Alaska, and advertises unique access to Turnagain Pass and helicopter-assisted terrain in the Chugach Mountains. Trip summaries highlight expert guides, untouched landscapes, and the opportunity for memorable runs and touring laps. For visitors seeking guided backcountry skiing experiences originating near Anchorage, these offerings present distinct on-snow options: a convenient half-day for varied ability levels and a helicopter-supported day in the high alpine.
Book with Girdwood Backcountry Guides