Scott Rich

Backcountry skier living in Girdwood, Ak

Alyeska Resort, AK Conditions Report: 648″ of Snow and Counting…

Alyeska currently has the deepest snowpack in North Ameirca (196″) and the biggest snowfall total in North America (648″). It’s been a crazy week here at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, AK.  For the last five days the storms just won’t quit! Last Saturday started with a abnormally warm low pressure system with powerful winds. The wind loading and extreme weather made it impossible for […]
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Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, AK Conditions Report: It just Keeps Snowing!

Finally the holidays are over here in Girdwood, AK, and things are going back to normal. After a super busy holiday break, I’m able to find the time to ski the resort again. Working at a ski shop during the holidays doesn’t allow much time to breathe, let alone ski. Over the last two weeks, starting on Christmas Day, Alyeska Resort has seen over 9 feet of snow above 800 feet! Basically there has been a powder day almost every day of the week!
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Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska Conditions Report: Best Skiing in Two Years

Well, its been yet another “epic week” at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska! Since Last week conditions report, Alyeska has received three significant storms. Last Monday, Alyeska received about 9 inches of snow at the top of Glacier Bowl Express. The quality of the snow was fairly low density but quickly turned into “mashed potatoes” at the top of Ted’s Express. There was not a soul on the mountain, which is why I love Alyeska! You can show up just before opening, at 10:15AM, and still get first chair (not usually the case on the weekends) . Low visibility, made for plenty of pow stashes in the afternoon. On days like this, I like to spend my mornings backcountry skiing in Turnagain pass, then rip afternoon laps at the resort. Nothing better than a classic double dip.

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Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska Conditions Report: New Terrain Opening Every Day!

What a difference one week makes as Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, AK, continuously opens up new terrain every day! The last 10 days has blessed us with numerous snow storms, with just enough accumulation to refresh the tracked powder from the day before. Needless to say everything is skiing great. The groomers are soft and carvable and off piste has been filling in more than it ever was last season. December is off to a strong start!!
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Alyeska Resort in AK Conditions Report: 129″ of Snow, Huge Turns, & Gully Wall Airs

Alyeska Ski Resort started spinning the lifts last Thursday, and my, what a difference one year makes! Contrary to last season, November started off cold, allowing the snowmakers to fill in the lower mountain with a decent base. This cold snap lasted until opening day, when a large subtropical storm rolled through, raising the temperatures to 37 degrees at the bottom of Alyeska. Luckily, enough snow has been made for the lower mountain to survive the torrential rain fall. There is currently plenty of snow for some quality lower mountain groomers. The snow is carvable and forgiving. As of now, the runs open on the lower mountain are: Upper and Lower Von Imhof, Sourdough, Race trail, Blueberry Hill and most of the groomers under Chair 3.
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Alyeska Conditions Report: April Pow Days!

“Better late than never”, was the phrase most used, as today was easily Alyeska’s best powder day of the season. So far the last part of March and almost everyday in April has been the best powder days of the season till today. Today was the most substantial with over a foot of “Alaskan low density snow” that fell on the upper mountain. It was not the day to miss out on! And just in time for the spring carnival this weekend!
It was a classic weekday storm day at Alyeska, which means nobody on the hill and plenty of fresh snow till closing at 6pm. There was about 20 people standing in line at chair four […]
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Alyeska Conditions Report: Heavy Snow!

Well its mid-march and we may be having our biggest snow event of the season. Finally! I thought this storm would never come. We have been currently been getting pounded with snow down to a couple hundred feet elevation and mixed precipitation at the base of Alyeska. The storm rolled in sunday but didn’t pick up its pace till early this morning. As of 10:30am we have received about 8 inches on the upper mountain and 4 inches midway.
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Alyeska Conditions Report: A Natural Terrain Park

Last week finally provided some much needed quality skiing at Alyeska. Finally we received a couple small storms, dumping a couple inches of snow here and there. This was just enough snow to soften things up a bit and allowed for riders to get more creative on our natural terrain. Watch this video as local ripper Colin Gordon makes the best of our dust on crust snow conditions. Besides our small snow storms we’ve been receiving, the snow makers have succeeded on getting all the groomers on the lower mountain open. This was nothing short of a miracle since there has only been a couple weeks that allowed for snowmaking […]
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Alyeska Conditions Report: 20 Days of High Pressure

Not much has changed at Alyeska in the last two weeks. A massive high pressure system has taken over Alaska, blocking any major storm headed its way. The temperatures have been in the single digits in the valley floors and the mid twenties above 1,000 feet. Its been nice to escape the cold and take hot laps on the groomers on the upper mountain.These cold temperatures on the valley floor have been wonderful for the snowmakers. They have now filled in most of the lower mountain and are blasting huge mounds of snow on runs that are not open such as Tanaka and water fall. This will be great for the race team to finally […]
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Alyeska Conditions Report: The Return of Winter?

Finally, Its beginning to feel a lot like winter here at Alyeska. Although not much snow has fallen in the last week since my last conditions report, we finally have cold temperatures. This is allowing the snowmakers to get busy and fill in those lower mountain groomers… for the second time. Conditions earlier in the week were chalky off trail and perfect groomers all around. There is still not enough snow to allow them to open up south face, which was open two weeks ago but soon closed due to rain and lack of snow. Again, the best off trail skiing has been from gails gully down past Wick’s knoll. The jumps in and out of the […]
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Alyeska, AK Conditions Report:

I feel like I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but really it’s just a recurring cycle of non-stop rain. It’s getting old, and the morale of the locals is far from high. This is the first week, it seems, that people are finally losing their minds. The smart ones have left to Japan, Jackson Hole or booked a trip to Mexico. The ones still holding high hope for winter to return in AK are now beginning to have their doubts, while others are hitting the bottle harder than ever. Though it sounds rough, there is still fun to be had on the resort. You just have to dig a little deeper, find that inner child, and pretend it’s April.
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Alyeska Conditions Report: Frigid highs and Wet Lows

Just when you think things are shaping up here at Alyeska, mother nature decides to shut you down. Last week things was looking great as it was cold and clear in the single digits. This made it possible for the snow makers to continue the battle to make snow on the lower mountain. Progress has been made. Now we can ski all the way to the base and up load on Ted’s express (chair 4) next to the day lodge. No more forced tram rides and 60 minute lines to down load the mountain! Wonderful! There’s also rumor of starting night skiing this week, which on a normal season, is supposed to start on December 19th. With the lack of […]
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All Time Alaskan Tree Skiing

New Year’s finally provided some much needed snow in Turnagain Pass, AK. Although the winds were fierce and any snow above treeline was becoming wind scoured, the trees were finally filling in. The snow was dense, soft and fast. Despite receiving over 24 inches in the upper elevations, it was skiing about three inches. The wind had completely buffed the snow over and made for some all time tree skiing. It felt great to finally play around in the trees again! There’s no shortage of fun features from pillows, to multiple staged drops to air off of and keep you on your toes! Currently, it’s been cold for about a week without precipitation. Much […]
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Alyeska, AK Conditions Report: 11″ Overnight, 196″ This Season

The last week has been a nice change of pace as it’s beginning to feel a lot like winter. Although it’s still raining at sea level, the snow line has dropped and it seems as if we’ve had our first real powder days of the season.

Yesterday the resort was closed due to high winds, allowing snow to accumulate during this last storm.Today the winds died down letting Alyeska open up the Aerial Tram, Chair 1 (midway laps only) and Glacier Bowl Express (Chair 6). There was only one wind hold on the tram and and Chair 6 the entire day… […]
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Alaska Backcountry Conditions Report: Deep Chugach Powder

Finally, it’s beginning to feel like winter again here in the Chugach Mountains, Alaska! After a false start in October, hopes were high for a great early season in the backcountry. All hopes were quickly destroyed once Typhoon Nuri decided to shift a jet stream of tropical weather into the heart of South Central, Ak. For almost two weeks, the after effects of Nuri bombarded Alaska with wet, warm tropical storms. Temperatures at sea level were hovering at a steady 42 degrees with the highest topping out around 48 degrees.
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Alaska Backcountry Conditions Report: Game ON in Girdwood

Standing at the top of Jewel Headwall. Milk Glacier in the background

On October 19th-20th, Girdwood received its first storm of the season where a significant amount snow accumulated and has stuck around at sea level. The storm dropped about 10 inches of wet heavy snow in town. Normally 10 inches wouldn’t be enough for anybody to actually ski unless you wanted to blow out your edge or a knee, but when you have a plethora of glaciers in the nearby valleys, it makes skiing very possible. Crow Pass is home to one of those glaciers, Jewel Glacier, nestled around 4,500 feet above Girdwood Valley. This glacier is fairly unique due to its easy access, meaning it does not require the normal tools that you would […]
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