Conditions Report
Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood, Alaska has gotten 445” of snow this season, which is more than most ski resorts ever get and that’s a low year for them. Alyeska averages 650” of snow per year and last year they got over 1,000 inches of snow.
So, it snows here, but what really captivates you here are the views, the people, and the fact that this place has soul. The Old West hospitality and friendliness that has vanished in many places in the lower 48 is still alive and well in Alaska. People are amiable, happy, interested, and fun – epecially at Alyeska. Everyone one on the hill is simply stoked to be there.
The skiing at Alyeska yesterday was a blast. Some sun, some light snow flurries, great views of the Turnagain Arm, and top to bottom slushy snow.
The highlight of the day was the North Face being open. We’ve skied Alyeska 3 times before and never been there with the North Face open. Yesterday, the North Face was open and it was an experience. The North Face is steep and long and feels “Alaskan.” Even is slushy, crusty, chalky conditions the North Face was “sluffing” and damn fun yesterday. The North Face makes Alyeska 100% legit. No ski resort that we’ve been to in North America has sustained pitch for as much vertical as the North Face at Alyeska. The rest of the resort is fun as well, but the North Face will scare you. I can’t imagine how sick it would be on a powder day…
The legendary Sitzmark bar, restaurant, and concert venue has been going off for aprés ski and some of the better live music shows in AK this spring. Last month we saw “Pretty Lights” play there and it was techno-spectacular. Last night, we rocked out to “Lucero” and tripped out on the famous Sitzmark ceiling.
On previous trips to Alaska, I’ve never quite felt that I could live here. This spring, after hanging out with the people, seeing some live music, being blown away by the aurora borealis, and skiing the incredible terrain I now feel like I could very likely make the move…
