CPG by the numbers: 750,000 acres of skiable terrain in one of the most pristine heli-skiing destinations in the world, 700 average inches of powder snowfall each year, 4 helicopters, 2 snowcats, and one outstanding Alyeska Resort equals an unforgettable heli-skiing trip in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. CPG's unique mix of ski terrain, guiding, accommodation, and accessibility cannot be beat.
Our vast heli-skiing zones offer our guests more terrain options than any other heli-skiing operation in the world. Within minutes of arriving at Alyeska in our Girdwood, Alaska location, you can scope out the perfect line on the North Face; soak the flight away at the hotel's spa, or dine at a number of fine restaurants; but be sure to prepare to drop in on ramps, couloirs, steep spines, moderate powder fields, and every kind of terrain in between.
Ideal Conditions Bring Memorable Ski Days with Chugach Powder Guides
The Chugach Mountains enjoy a range of weather patterns that create ideal conditions for helicopter skiing. The Western Range of the Chugach Mountains is uniquely situated between the warm, moist air currents of the Pacific Ocean and the arctic winds that blow in from Alaska’s vast interior, resulting in high quality powder snow that adheres well to steep terrain. The Chugach is famous for steep powder skiing, and conditions are best from early Februrary to late April.
Expansive Heli Terrain
The Chugach Range has a reputation for iconic big lines, and it's well deserved. CPG offers some of the absolute best and most accessible steep powder skiing and snowboarding in the world.
Out here, every day in the mountains feels like one-in-a-million. In order to ski big Alaska lines, the weather, snowpack stability, and your skiing or riding ability all have to come together. Our first objective is to ensure that your backcountry heli-skiing experience is as safe as possible. We work with you to ensure that you’re comfortable and ready to tackle Chugach’s terrain before we step it up.
Big Lines are plentiful in the Chugach Mountains, and we pursue them when and where the conditions and group abilities allow. Our CPG staff has a deep respect for our mountain environment, and knows when to proceed as planned or call it for the day. We impress this ethic upon our guests.
At CPG, we only operate the best helicopter: the "A-star".
CPG is committed to providing the best ski and snowboard experiences in the world, which is why we fly our guests and guides exclusively in the state-of-the-art, Eurocopter AS350: the "A-Star". Because of it's unbeatable combination of power and agility, the A-Star has long been the aircraft of choice for Alaskan helicopter skiing. This high-performance aircraft was designed to carry out the most demanding missions in the most extreme weather and geographical conditions. Its exceptional lifting capability, high endurance, extended range, and fast cruise speed make the AS350 the leader in its class and the preferred aircraft for Chugach Powder Guides. For heli-skiers, that translates into flying further, higher, faster and more reliably than in other aircraft.
The A-star typically carries four guests, one guide, and the pilot. Many of our guests find that flying in the helicopter is almost as fun as our skiing.
Operating Season: Come in, We’re Open
We operate December through April. Our core season and regularly scheduled trips begin in late January and run through the end of April.
December and January are very short days, but incredible light and great snow can be the reward for the intrepid visitor. From February on, our region gains 6 minutes of daylight per day. Snow coverage in the ski terrain peaks in late April, and great powder snow is still easy to find on northerly aspects. The best time to come is when you and your crew can make it. There are some climate normals: as the winter goes on, precipitation declines and temperatures rise, but only very slightly. Our fly rates don't tend to vary too much with the season, and we recommmend planning a trip around your schedule as the most important variable.
The CPG experience is unlike any other heli skiing operation, and we can’t wait to help you plan your perfect trip.
