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 groomersโฆ 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 […] Conditions Report Scott Rich | January 26, 2015 0 Comments
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 […] Conditions Report Scott Rich | January 11, 2015 0 Comments
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 […] Featured Video Scott Rich | January 7, 2015 0 Comments
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… […] Conditions Report Scott Rich | December 30, 2014 0 Comments
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. Conditions Report Scott Rich | December 4, 2014 0 Comments
30 Days in the Chugach Range, AK | Photo Tour: The past 30 days in the Chugach Range of Alaska have been inspiring. This place never stops teaching lessons and never lets you drop your guard. For the first time in my life, I feel as though Alaska and her people have let me in. She’s now calling me and I can’t resist. It won’t be long before I do a […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | April 10, 2014 6 Comments
Turnagain Pass, AK Report: Blower. Powder. Skinning up on 6″ of light powder on ice on Sunburst ridge today off Turnagain Pass, AK was frustrating. Skins didn’t wanna hold. Anytime it got steep, we slid back. The last pitch to the top was brutal. On top, I just wanted to go home. Clearly, it was going to be dust on crust. Bad skinning to bad skiing… We gave the line Elevator Shaft a go expecting pure survival skiing and found smooth powdery bliss instead. The snow […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | April 9, 2014 2 Comments
6″ of Fresh Snow @ Alyeska, AK Today | Photo Tour: Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood, Alaska received 6″ of new snow overnight. This new snow made the North Face fun, albeit a bit scratchy on the lower half, and upper bowl pretty fun. The new snow was very dry and temperatures were cold today. This combo lead to you feeling the hard “reef” underneath the new pow most anywhere you went. The groomers were great, though as […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | April 8, 2014 1 Comment