Heli-bump Ski Tour

Heli-bump assisted ski touring day through Chugach Powder Guides. A new experimental program when the weather, snowpack conditions and strong guests come together to make it happen. If you are interested in this book me for a regular day of backcountry skiing, then if it all lines up we can see about making a last minute booking to get us on a heli-ride in for a full day of human powered touring. It may be rare but it came together for these two guests visiting from Canada. We did two regular touring days earlier in the week in Turnagain Pass and then tagged this day onto their visit to Girdwood. 

Our ride into the hills. The A-Star B3 makes quick work of what would take most of an entire day to get to by our own two legs.

Hiking up for a run. The backside of Alyeska ski resort in the background. The Winner Creek valley heads back to Girdwood. Pretty cool backyard we have here!

Myself leading the way down the first run. It was good. Photo by: Dan Star

Marie carving her split-board with some big Alaskan terrain in the background. Photo by: Dan Star

Some good powder skiing!  Enjoying the perks of my job. Photo by: Aubrey Claude-Desroches 

After 3 runs it was time to make the long hike back to town. It's a beautiful walk through the forested valley. 

News article on Human Factors

Managing your groups and your personal human factors (AKA heuristic traps) are key to pulling off a successful trip in the outdoors. Whether you are skiing, climbing or on a snowmachine in the winter; hiking, fishing or hunting in the summer or even just driving a car - these human factors are real. They affect your decisions. They are there everyday and the ones that you don't recognize are the most dangerous. 

Human factors are a complicated subject, it's the human brain after all. A topic I've decided is crucial to continue to learn about and strive to manage. Maybe a topic for a future blog post... In the mean time if you see me out and about and you want to hear more of my thoughts we can have a discussion.

I was asked for my thoughts on the issue of "Sun Poisoning" by ADN author Vicky Ho.

Here is a great news article on the subject where I am quoted: Perfect weather can ruin a day in the Chugach Mountains

You can read more stories by Vicky Ho in the series Cautionary Tales