Heli-Touring

Mountain Pro is excited to offer custom Helicopter Assisted and Human Powered Ski Mountaineering in Valdez, Alaska. Skiing with Mike in Valdez is a unique opportunity that provides world class ski mountaineering terrain combined with intimate knowledge of the Thompson Pass area and the Western Chugach range.

Dates: March and April 2010

High Above Thompson Pass

Itineraries in Valdez range from roadside glacier tour to spectacular and remote multi-day high alpine traverses. Additionally, most skiers visiting Valdez during good weather will want to experience at least one day of helicopter assisted skiing.

Multi-day touring

Why not just go Heli-skiing? There are two main reasons one would choose to go ‘heli-assisted’ instead of ‘heli-skiing’. The first is Budget. A ‘bump’ or single lift from the helicopter is generally about 1/8th the price of a full day of heli-skiing. The second, and to me the most important reason, is that heli-skiing and ski mountaineering are different experiences. Being dropped off in a remote location with the intention of some human powered ski touring much more of a ‘wilderness experience’, where the uphill is just as much a part of the process as the downhill.

A misty morning on “cracked ice”