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CPG Team
CPG Team
CPG Guides Scoping the Line.
Photo By: Adam Clark

Girdwood / Alyeska

Chugach Powder Guides' classic helicopter skiing terrain.

The classic heli-ski adventure, our Girdwood/Alyeska trip features wide open terrain, clean lines, heart-pounding descents and that feeling of expansiveness that anticipates the next run. Short helicopter flights place skiers on top of big Alaskan faces with views of Turnagain Arm in one direction and Prince William Sound in the other. 

From our headquarters near the base of Alyeska Resort in the small town of Girdwood, our guests can ski and ride more than 750,000 acres of prime heli terrain – and return to the lap of luxury to soak and dine sore muscles away.

CPG's headquarters is located near the base of Alyeska Resort; a sprawling luxurious compound nestled in the small, mountain town of Girdwood. From here, the Western Chugach Mountains extend east toward Prince William Sound and south along the Kenai Peninsula. Our classic operating areas include Twentymile, Winner Creek, and Mount Ascension.

Feel like skiing or riding 3,000 to 4,000 feet of vertical? We ski from elevations around 6,500 feet to sea level, taking you well above the timberline to ski on glaciers, and across endless alpine zones offering that once-in-a-lifetime possibility of pioneering a new line.

Our Girdwood/Alyeska location is the go-to trip for powder lovers everywhere, whether you're a first-timer or part of a seasoned professional film crew. Most of our guests end up skiing or riding the northern zones, and also have the option to make one of our remote heli ports in the southern Chugach basecamp for the week.

Ski locations can vary on a daily basis due to weather and snowpack stability, as well as the strength, experience and desires of our guests. As conditions allow, we move from quintessential runs to aggressive, big mountain lines.

On days when weather prevents the helicopter from flying, inbounds and cat-skiing keep our guests in powder. We offer more than 4,000 acres of cat skiing from Hotel Alyeska and the slopes of Alyeska Resort.

Where you après ski is up to you, but if you are looking for the ultimate heli-ski adventure, you've come to the right place.

Weather

The Western Chugach Mountain Range benefits from the combined influences of warm Pacific Ocean air mixing with colder arctic air that blows in from the Alaska interior. The resulting high-quality powder snow is what makes this coastal mountain range famous. CPG's operation area averages almost 700 inches (1,700 cm) of snowfall each winter. The average temperature from February to mid-March is 20°F (-7C). In March, each day gains nearly six minutes of daylight, and as the days grow longer, afternoon highs typically rise from 20°F to 30°F (-7C to -1C). Through the end of April, dry powder conditions can still be found on all but the southern-facing slopes, where excellent corn snow offers spectacular spring skiing conditions.

Season

Our season starts with snowcat skiing in mid-December as snow conditions allow. Helicopter skiing begins in early February and ends at the end of April. Each month offers its own unique characteristics. Our guides' favorite for the best powder snow on all mountain aspects is from February to early March when the sun angle is lower and the temperatures are cooler. Daylight starts at 8 hours in late January and rapidly gains to 11 hours by the end of February, so there is no difficulty achieving maximum vertical due to daylight.

We normally experience dry powder conditions on all but south facing slopes where good corn snow skiing can usually be found. By early April, daylight rapidly progresses to over 14 hours. During this period our guests ski on Northerly slopes or on the higher elevations for powder and on southerly aspects when corn snow conditions allow. No matter when you come to heli ski with us, you'll find lots of fun and the never-ending quest for spectacular skiing.

Girdwood -- The broadest range of skiing in Alaska
Girdwood Packages

Choose a day of heli-skiing, a 5-day package, or run the show with one of our private trips.

1-Day Heli 2017

A full day of heli-skiing with Chugach Powder Guides includes 16,000- 18,000 vertical feet of heli-skiing (16,000 vert guaranteed) along with lunch in the field, safety training and safety equipment. 
Mid-week (Mon-Fri) 1-day heli-ski reservations are made no more than 30 days in advance. Reservations for weekends (Sat & Sun) can be made at any time.

Itinerary:
  • 7:30am: Check-in for Safety briefing Hotel Alyeska Powder Lounge (2nd floor)
  • 8:30am: Ready for pick-up
  • 9:00am: Pick-up for heli-skiing (weather permitting, delays posted at Powder Lounge)
  • 5:00pm: We usually return late afternoon (weather permitting)

 

Includes:
  • 16,000-18,000 vertical feet of skiing (16,000 feet guaranteed)
  • Safety equipment (airbag backpack, safety harness, avalanche beacon, shovel, probe)
  • Safety briefing
  • Lunch, snacks, water, hot drinks
  • Pick-up and drop-off to Hotel Alyeska Powder Lounge
Not included:
  • Demo ski/snowboard equipment (they are available for rent)
Packages:

$1,375/day
Mid-week (Mon-Fri) reservations can only be made less than 30 days in advance.
Weekend reservations can be made any time.

5-Day Heli 2017

60,000 vertical feet of helicopter skiing (50,000 guaranteed)

Itinerary:
  • Arrive Sunday, ski Monday through Friday, depart Friday.
Includes:
  • Deluxe lodging at the luxurious Hotel Alyeska at the base of Alyeska Resort
  • Thursday evening three-course dinner at the 4-Diamond Seven Glaciers Restaurant
  • Transportation to and from Girdwood
  • Lunch on fly days
  • Alyeska Resort Lift Tickets on no-fly days
  • Use of safety equipment - Mammut airbag backpack, Mammut Pulse avalanche transceiver, harness, shovel and probe.
  • Safety training and breakfast on your first morning
Not included:
  • Airfare, additional meals, alcohol and incidentals are not included.
Packages:

Dates
Feb. 07 – Feb. 12
Feb. 14 – Feb. 19
Feb. 21 – Feb. 26

Pricing
$6100 Double Occupancy
$6900 Single Occupancy

Dates
Feb. 28 – Mar. 04
Mar. 06 – Mar. 11
Mar. 13 – Mar. 18
Mar. 20 – Mar. 25
Mar. 27 – Apr. 01
Apr. 03 – Apr. 08
Apr. 10 – Apr. 15

Pricing
$6900 Double Occupancy
$7900 Single Occupancy

 

Dates
Apr. 17 – 22

Pricing
$6100 Double Occupancy
$6900 Single Occupancy

Girdwood Private Charter 2017

The best way for your group to experience the ultimate Alaska heliski or ride experience is on a Private charter heli ski trip. For the right group size and time, a private helicopter becomes very reasonable. A private ship allows you and your group to fly when you want, where you want and for as long as you want each day. Privates can be booked for as little as a day and as long as three weeks. We offer private trips in our Girdwood zone, in the coastal mountains overlooking Seward and the Pacific ocean and in several remote locations including the Talkeetnas, Knik River and the Northern Chugach. These trips can include on-water activities such as surfing, SUP, kayaking, fishing and exploring. Each Private is customized and flexible to fulfill your group’s ultimate AK dreams.

Itinerary:

We will work with you and your group to plan the best trip itinerary possible.

Includes:

CPG will ensure that your trip is a world-class experience. At a minimum, the following is included:

Deluxe lodging at the luxurious Hotel Alyeska at the base of Alyeska Resort
Thursday evening four-course dinner at the 4-Diamond Seven Glaciers Restaurant
Transportation to and from Girdwood
Lunch on fly days
Use of safety equipment - Mammut airbag backpack, Mammut Pulse avalanche transceiver, harness, shovel and probe.
Safety training and breakfast on your first morning

Not included:

Airfare, meals, alcohol and incidentals are not included in most private trips. Further discussion will be had to determine the specific elements not included in the custom price.

Packages:

Contact us for pricing, accommodations and availability.

Daily Private Charter 2016

For those who want the ultimate daily custom ski experience, and you already have your accommodations squared away, we recommend a private charter.  Guests who chose our charter trips have the ultimate flexibility, with varying group sizes, higher guide-to-client ratios, and custom options such as photography all available. Contact our Reservations team and let us tailor a trip for you. Day rates for customer charters begin at $6,000 per Hobbs Hour with a 2-hour minimum.

Itinerary:
  • Safety briefing and training must be completed by every participant before flying begins.
  • Flying can begin anytime after 8am and must be completed before civil twighlight or 7pm (whichever comes first.)
Includes:
  • 2 Hobbs Hours per day (enough to deliver up to 18,000 vertical feet of skiing for 8 people if we're flying efficiently.)
  • Flexible helicopter flight time arrangements
Not included:
  • Accommodations
  • Transportation to/from Anchorage Internatioanl Airport
  • Local Transportation

 

Packages:

Private group heli-ski trip based on Hobbs hours, number of days you'd like to go, number of people in your group. We'll discuss and tailor to suit your needs and budget.

TERRAIN & TRIPS
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About CPG
With 750,000 acres of heli terrain, 4 helicopters, 2 snowcats, and Alyeska Resort, CPG clients are in the mountains every day.

Chugach Powder Guides was founded in 1997 in the heart of the Western Chugach mountain range. Since then, CPG has opened up the finest backcountry skiing and snowboarding in the world, flying guests into terrain suitable for all skill levels. We have cataloged hundreds of new runs and tens of thousands of landings between the interior Chugach, Seward area, and Tordrillo mountains.

Physical: 439 Mount Hood Road
Mailing: PO Box 641 Girdwood, AK, 99587
Phone: 907-783-4354
Fax: 907-579-6356
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The Hotel Alyeska
Alyeska Resort is Alaska's premier year-round destination featuring the 304-room Hotel Alyeska. Alyeska is CPG's exclusive hospitality partner.
Heli Ski US
HSUS is a trade association whose members represent the very best helicopter skiing operators in the United States. Our members work cooperatively to help establish the highest safety and operating standards in the helicopter skiing industry.
US Forest Service
Operating under a special-use permit from the Chugach National Forest
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