Itinerary
The ASG season takes place in the months of March and April. Each week begins Saturday afternoon and ends on Saturday afternoon (check-out from rooms in am and bags are stored for pick-up on the way to the airport).
Arrival Day (Saturday)
You will be picked up from Valdez airport (when your flight arrives) and transferred to your accommodation (Chugach Suites) in Valdez where you will spend the next 7 nights. That evening, it is likely you will meet with the guides and sign waivers and commence a safety briefing (avalanche safety & beacon training video).
Day 2 (Sunday)
Breakfast is served at 7-7:30 am at the Totem Inn Restaurant. After breakfast if the conditions are right for flying, you will be provided with an on-snow helicopter
safety briefing (the order and timing of the safety / heli briefing may change subject to weather).
Heliskiing/boarding will then commence weather permitting.
Day 3 - 6 (Monday to Friday)
Mornings
Each morning you will start the day with breakfast at the Totem Restaurant. Your guides will brief you on the weather and likelihood of flying that day.
During the Day
After breakfast (subject to weather), you will head off to one of the staging areas (usually 20 - 30 mins drive however ASG have a location about 50 mins drive which is used under certain marginal weather conditions) where you will head sky-ward and be landing for your first run in 3 - 6 mins. ASG aims to get its guests as close as possible to the ski terrain to ensure they get maximum skiing vertical by not using up valuable heli flying time.
Ultimate terrain selection each day is determined by the guides each day based on avalanche assessment, weather and group ability; ensuring your safety is the number one priority.
Lunch is served in the mountains each day you fly.
Skiing continues throughout the afternoon to 6:00 pm in March and as late as 7:45 pm in April depending on weather.
An average day is around 30,000 feet of vertical (9,000 metres) and as high as 50, 000 feet. This highly depends on weather, snow conditions and the speed/fitness of the group.
Early Evening
After skiing you can take a well earned rest in your room or join in on apres ski drinks, socializing and reminiscing about the great day of skiing. There is wifi internet available for you to catch up on emails with your family and friends and to post a few brag shots on your favorite social media sites.
In the event of a "no fly day", other activities available in the area include ice climbing, ski touring/split boarding, intro to avalanche safety course, Aaire level 1 avalanche class, snow mobile skiing, ocean fishing, cross-country skiing/snow shoeing and/or a trip to the Valdez museum (or you can just take it easy for the day and/or hit one of the local bars!)
Evening
In the evenings there are several restaurants and bars within easy reach of the accommodation. You can head off to do your own thing or join other guests.
Then it's off to bed for a good night sleep to rejuvenate the body before doing it all again the next day.
Day 8 – Saturday (Departure Day)
On the last day (subject to weather), it's an early breakfast and the final opportunity to get your powder fix. You will check out of your room in the morning and you bags will be stored at reception for the day. Skiing/boarding will finish around 3:00 pm to make sure you get back to your 5:50 pm flight out of Valdez.
Oh and don't forget to
write a review on Powderhounds.com here whilst you are still excited to share your experience with the global ski community.