Alaska Fly-to-Ski Adventure

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • IFMGA certified & trained guide with extensive knowledge of the area and one more experienced tail guide
    • 10-day Alaska ski plane trip (8 days of skiing with IFMGA guide)
    • Federal land usage surcharge (USFS/BLM)
    • Accommodation during the trip (Best Western Hotel in Valdez & glacier base camp)
    • Breakfasts & dinners while in the base camp, breakfasts while in town
    • Tents and glacier camping gear
    • Helicopter assists
    • Ski plane flight
    • Round-trip Anchorage—Valdez

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to the starting point
    • Snow travel equipment (splitboard or AT skis)
    • Avalanche equipment
    • Personal camping equipment
    • Personal clothing/gear
    • Dinners while in town
    • Personal touring snacks & quick lunches
    • Alcohol & libations
    • Guide gratuities — optional, 10-20% of the trip booking cost
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this Alaska ski plane tour, you have to be in excellent shape. You will be on your feet for 5-7 hours a day for 7-8 days. Although ski touring will sometimes be heli-assisted, you still need to have endurance and strength to climb up steep slopes. The terrain is varied and challenging, so all participants should be experienced backcountry skiers who are able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  To participate in this Alaska ski plane tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 5-8 hours every day, 8 days in a row.

  Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. Still, in order to enjoy this Alaska ski plane tour, you have to be a very experienced backcountry skier and fit enough to endure 8 days of ski touring.

• What do I need to bring?

  Traveling with your gear can be tricky, so here are some tips. When traveling to Alaska, it’s best to carry your boots in your hand on the plane. Pack your helmet goggles, gloves, and outerwear in a carry-on bag. Check your ski bag (skis or splitboard, avalanche equipment, backpack, sleeping bag, helmet) and check your duffel bag (filled with clothing, layers, etc.). A more detailed gear list will be provided upon commitment to the trip.

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis or splitboard with skins
    • Touring boots and poles
    • Avalanche safety equipment:
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Helmet
    • Touring daypack
    • Sleeping bag and other personal camping sleeping gear
    • Sunglasses or ski goggles
    • Gloves and hat
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Down jacket or vest
    • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
    • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Water bottle and 1L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
    • Food you can eat on-the-go
    • First aid kit
    • Sunscreen
    • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
    • Camera — optional

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• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear for the Alaska ski plane trip can be rented in Anchorage if you don’t have your own or would prefer to travel without it. You can rent:

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe
    • Alpine touring skis or splitboard, touring boots and poles

  There’s plenty of shops in Anchorage offering rentals, such as Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking, Hilltop Ski Area, Alaska Outdoor Gear Rental and more. Make sure to pick up what you need the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • For this Alaska ski plane trip, the client-to-guide ratio is 3:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 3 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is 6.
    • The cost is per person and doesn’t decrease as the group grows.

  Alaska ski plane trip can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors older than 16 may be permitted to join the Alaska ski plane tour on a case-by-case basis.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  Your Alaska ski plane trip starts in Anchorage, Alaska. Make sure to be there before noon, as that’s your Day 1. You will then meet your guide and your team, and start the drive to Valdez.

• Safety measures in Alaska

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

  Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

  We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in Alaska, please refer to Alaska’s travel advice.

  If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund.
    • For cancellations ninety (90) to one hundred nineteen (119) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
    • For cancellations seventy-five (75) to eighty nine (89) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.