Weekend Heli-ski and Mid-week Backcountry Touring

I am excited to announce a Remarkable Adventures trip option to join me for a skiers and riders dream trip. This year I'm introducing a Girdwood special guided week of heli-skiing on Saturday and Sunday along with your choice of booking 2-4 days worth of backcountry ski touring. This is the ultimate skiers and riders trip combining what is arguably the "best of both worlds" in the ski industry. Heli-skiing and riding is a must do experience for even the most soulful mountain men and woman. You only live once, might as well try it out. To the contrary hiking for your turns is something that the most die-hard resort riders and heli-skier addicts will likely find to be a life changing experience. I love taking people out after heli days, as good as it is a lot of people actually enjoy their non-mechanized days more... those turns become so good when you #earnyourturns .

Inquire on the Booking Page with your interested dates. I would love to enjoy a nice week of adventure in the mountains guiding your group. You could even consider doubling up on your heli-ski weekends if you have the time, call it a "heli-ski sandwhich" where the meat and cheese is hiking in the backcountry for your turns.  

I'm also pleased to report on an excellent start to our winter here in the Girdwood / Turnagain Pass, Alaska region. It has been great to be settled into home for the winter after my summer and fall travels to New Zealand and New England. It's been nice to ride the lifts at Alyeska Resort and the backcountry skiing at Turnagain Pass has been pleasantly surprising with ample snow cover and extremely high quality snow. Even though I skied for three months this summer, when you get back into the snow covered mountains it's easy to forget how awesome sliding on snow is. This year in fact I skied every single month of the year besides October 2016, one month out of ski boots and I'm more than ever psyched to be back in them... 2017 is gonna be a good year!

I head out, back up for another powder run on Winter Solstice Day as my friend and photographer Greg Stafford takes my new camera to snap this shot.

The snow quality during early season has been exceeding expectations. Solstice Day powder on Tincan.  Skier: Greg Stafford.  #AlaskanVelvetSnow

December was filled with a nice mix of blue days and storm days. Temps have been cold to hold snow at sea level. Ample snow coverage has provided good travel. Pictured here is Surface Hoar, if buried it provides an excellent weak layer for avalanching. 

Voile ski pictured here.  Voile.com

New Zealand: Heli-Skiing

After 3 months of living and working in the Southern Hemisphere's winter season it's now time to look back on my time spent in New Zealand. For many years I have wanted to go to New Zealand and I was finally able to make it happen. The tales of beautiful mountain views, friendly easy-going people, great food and amazing coffee were all true. Life was busy with lots of ski guiding with Alpine Heliski based out of Queenstown where I lived. We had some awesome days, meeting and skiing with people from all over the world, living my guests' best day of their lives... almost everyday!

NZ - Part one: Heli-Skiing

Heli coming in for a pickup with Lake Wakatipu. Whether hanging in town, driving the road or flying and heli-skiing in the mountains, the lake always enhanced the scenery.

The beginning of the season started out with less than normal snow cover, but there was enough coverage to get out and have great days. Regardless of thin or deep snow coverage, getting out in these beautiful mountains never disappointed anyone.

I continued to be amazed how all winter long down low there is green grass, while the mountains are filled with snow. Powder skiing during the day and a cold beer lying on green grass in the evening sun. That's New Zealand winter.

Lunch time with one of the coolest looking helicopters in the world.

Skiing! The terrain surrounding the Queenstown area has a lot to offer from easier intermediate and avalanche-safe runs to the steeper and bigger runs when the snow pack allows us.

Powder! To be honest, New Zealand isn't world famous for its powder like Alaska but it certainly does happen. When it's out there we can go get it with the help of a helicopter.

Heli heading up the valley for another run.

This day was awesome. Private charter day. I had one group with our own heli to go anywhere I thought would be good, and it was good.

This is heli-skiing in New Zealand. Sheep, green grass and a helicopter to get you up into the powder-filled mountains.

Here I am on a beautiful day. Enjoying my hard day at work. This run is called "The Diving Board" because as you ski the run it continues to roll over and it feels like you are about to jump off a diving board into Lake Wakatipu below.

Another group just dropped off along the ridge beside me. Watching the heli lift away like this never gets old.

Very happy guests out on a great day. You can see our tracks in the distance from previous runs.

The end to a perfect day of blue skies and powder. The town of Queenstown is visible behind us. A beautiful setting.

It's been awesome having Voormi clothing to wear this year. They are making industry-leading wool clothing that is comfortable, good looking and the most durable longest-lasting wool you will ever own. And it's all 100% made in the USA.  Photo by: Ben Johns.

More happy guests stoked for another run. The Voile V8 ski stands out here against all the snowboards in the group.

Till next time New Zealand. You were Awesome!