Where is Chugach Powder Guides Located?

Chugach Powder Guides is based in the town of Girdwood Alaska, which is home to Alyeska Ski Resort. Girdwood is just 45 miles from Anchorage and is easily accessible via shuttle (included for multi-day packages) or rental car.

Most of the heli skiing terrain is north and south of Girdwood in the Western Chugach Mountains. The terrain includes the Northern Chugach Range, the Talkeetnas, and the Seward Range. Some of the terrain offers views of Turnagain Arm (near Girdwood) and Prince William Sound.

The main heli pad is located in Girdwood (1.8 miles from Hotel Alyeska) but CPG can also stage from other areas. Transport between Hotel Alyeska and the helicopter staging area is included in the packages.

Hotel Alyeska is located at the base of the Alyeska Ski Resort in a convenient ski-in ski-out position.




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Chugach Powder Guides Snow & Terrain

Heli Skiing Terrain

Chugach Powder Guides have massive terrain choice with 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) on offer, so you never have to ski or snowboard the same line twice. CPG have catalogued hundreds of runs and tens of thousands of landings.

CPG heli skiing is between elevations of approximately 6,500 feet (1,981 metres) and almost sea level, so there is the potential for very long runs, and the tenure includes lots of high alpine terrain and glaciers as well as some below timberline skiing through old-growth forests.

The single day packages and 5-day packages typically ride the terrain near Girdwood, but with a private customised ski safari package you can head further afield to the mountain zones from the Tordrillos to the Talkeetnas, to the Northern and Western Chugach, to the Pacific Coast.

Ability Level

Chugach Powder Guides Heli Skiing caters to strong intermediate, advanced, expert, and professional skiers and riders. The Chugach Range has a reputation for catering to the latter, and it doesn’t disappoint, with massive Alaskan lines, steep spines, curtains and couloirs. At the other end of the spectrum there are mellow rolling powder bowls.

In order to ski big Alaskan lines, the weather, snowpack stability, and your skiing or riding ability all have to come together. CPG will place individuals of a similar ability together in a group. Of course, the best way to guarantee riding with others of like ability is to get your own group together.

Snow

The heli skiing terrain at Chugach Powder Guides scores 700 inches (17.8 metres) of snow on average per year. The Western Range of the Chugach Mountains is uniquely situated between the warm, moist air currents of the Pacific Ocean and the artic winds that blow in from the vast interior of Alaska, which culminates in great powder snow that sticks well to the steep terrain that the Chugach is famous for.

CPG Terms and Conditions

Special COVID-19 Conditions

In spite of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Girdwood remains one of the best places to ski in the world. While the circumstances posed by the pandemic are unique and unprecedented, we have carefully created our operating strategy for the upcoming season to best protect people and still do what we do best. In addition to safety measures and detailed planning, booking flexibility will be a key tool in making this possible. For the 2020-21 season, new bookings will be fully refundable until October 1st (excluding some payment methods). After October 1st, any cancellations or interruptions due to COVID-19 will be rolled forward as credit to the following season.

At CPG, we continue to thoughtfully consider our operating and sales strategies to mitigate the risks of COVID to our guests and community and still be able to provide a first-class trip this winter. To that end, we pledge to do everything reasonably possible and will expect the same of our guests and employees. The mountains will be as awe-inspiring as they have always been, and the snow will turn them into some of the best ski runs on earth. There will be some challenges around travel, and some changes to normal perks like nightlife and high fives; but, the core of what makes skiing in Alaska so special will still be there this year or whenever you're ready to come.

What you need to know before your heli-ski adventure with CPG We may be renowned the world over for our incredible heli-skiing terrain, but it's our attention to every detail of our guests' stay with us that truly sets us apart. We do everything we can to accommodate our guests' needs, changes, unforeseen mishaps and cancellations. Due the lead times required to effectively manage helicopter contracts and the costs associated with hospitality and guiding, cancellations are difficult to accommodate. We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance.  

Payments and Deposits To book your reservation with Chugach Powder Guides we require a 25% deposit for Single Days, Packages and Charter reservations (90 days prior to your first ski date the remaining balance is due). The deposit and a signed tour participant contract is required to confirm your reservation. Failure to pay the final balance by the due date may result in the cancellation of your reservation. CPG accepts all major credit cards, wire transfers, Paypal and checks. Please contact our office for any information you need to make a payment.

Client / Participant Responsibilities

1) All clients and participants will be required to follow the safety policies and procedures of Chugach Powder Guides as well as the guides' instructions during activities.
2) All clients and participants will be required to sign a Participant Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement in favor of Chugach Powder Guides before departing on any trip or activity; and
3) each client or participant agrees and acknowledges when they sign up for Chugach Powder Guides activities that they have significant responsibility for their own safety and agree they are ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE for their own safety during participation in an activity.

Cancellation Policy

For customer cancellations, CPG requires written notice of cancellation via certified mail or confirmed email. 4-day semi-private and all private charter trip deposits are non-refundable after October 1st. Helicopter ski day trip deposits are non-refundable inside of 2 weeks from your trip. Any refunds on Credit Cards will be subject to a 5% cancellation fee. Refunds for checks and wires will have no fee. After October 1st, any cancellations or interruptions due to COVID-19 will be rolled forward as a credit to the following season.

Refund Policy

4-day semi-private packages and all private charters are based on helicopter flight time (Hobbs). Day skiing trips are based on vertical feet skied. Refund Rates are subject to the terms specified in the customer contract. Refunds are only issued when you do not attain the minimum flight hour or vertical foot guarantee of your trip for the following reasons: CPG does not achieve the Hobbs or Vertical Feet due to inclement or unsafe flying weather, a helicopter mechanical issue, or extraordinary safety concerns as defined by CPG. No refunds are issued in part or in whole for unused days due to late arrival, early departure or any other reason. No refunds are issued for unsatisfactory weather or snow conditions. No refunds are issued for missed skiing due to skiing ability, fitness, equipment failure, or personal choice. If a skier becomes injured, ill or requests to leave the field prematurely for any reason, no refund will be issued.

Insurance: We Recommend It

We highly recommend that all of our guests purchase trip insurance, as well as medical and emergency evacuation insurance.