(text from operator website)
The Best Ski Location in the World! Alaska Backcountry Adventures location was chosen because the top of Thompson Pass is the perfect location for skiing by helicopter. This is due to the deep maritime snows that bring stability to the steeps, the short fly times due to the amazing mountains surrounding this location, and the distance from the ocean that brings us the clear weather needed to fly. Our location, due to the distance form the ocean allows us to ski more days than any other operation during our season while enjoying the deep snow and stability that comes from being close to the ocean.
When weather closes in we can fly to the east because we are over Thompson Pass and can fly to the clearer weather in the east. Since this direction bring us to less stable and thinner snowpacks we tend to return to Thompson Pass as soon as it is clear enough to enjoy the bigger and more amazing terrain found outside our door.
Alaska Backcountry Adventures is the original helicopter skiing base in Alaska and we had the choice of any location in this huge state. This is the reason that we are based at the top of world famous Thompson Pass. Come and explore the center of the skiing and snowboarding universe, Alaska Backcountry Adventures!
The Flexiable Approach: Alaska Backcountry Adventures has always prided itself on being the spot to go to get the most from your money, providing you with the opportunity to conform your helicopter vacation to your personal budget. ABA! is the only place that offers the flexibility of choosing a single run, half day, full day heli ski adventure. Build your own package from the components below. Choose from Motorhome lodging, Hotel lodging, or no lodging ski only packages. Increase your priority by booking a priority package.
These packages guarantee your group will get out on the helicopter on the days you wish to fly. Non-priority bookings (such as a three days out of seven for example) will get you on the list before any walk in clients, but do not hold the guarantee that your group will get out on each day you wish, but we will always do our best to get you out. You can increase your chances by choosing a three day of five package instead without changing your budget in this example.
Bookings require only a fifty percent deposit, the other half is not due until sixty days prior to your trip. Fuel surcharge rates are fixed at the time that you place your deposit. At this point they are set at 8.50 per run, or seventy five dollars a day. In order to stabilize our rates, these rates do not reflect the fuel surcharge.
Our Guides are What Makes Us Special! Our guide team will lead you and your group safely by teaching you of the hazards so that you may avoid them while exploring the beautiful Chugach Range. Your time with us will begin with a detailed safety talk, which covers traveling in glacial and avalanche terrain, loading and unloading the helicopter, and working as a team to aid in a rescue situation.
Our guide team has developed over the years to include many of the people who began the sport of heli skiing in the Chugach Range . Our guides have extensive experience in our mountains locally as well as on big mountain destinations around the world. Some have worked as year round guides for more than ten years, others are avalanche consultants for the film and construction industries.
Many of our guides have worked as avalanche control blasters at world-class ski resorts including Squaw Valley, Jackson Hole, and Bridger Bowl. Relax and enjoy, you are in the skilled hands of Emergency Medical Technicians, Avalanche Forecasters, and high angle rescue professionals. Our guides have been selected for their skills and attitude. We believe that having a humble ego opens a person up to a more intimate relationship with the mountains and with our clients. If a guide is not fun to be in the mountains with, you will not find them guiding you at ABA!
Alaska Backcountry Adventures website
P.O. Box 1626,
Valdez, AK 99686
Phone: 1-888-792-9222
info@swayback.com