Seven Days of Full-On Heli-Ski Action – Around 30 Big Mountain Drops in One of the Top Freeride Spots on Earth!
Here it is – the trip that will permanently change the way you look at winter sports and off-piste riding. A freeride heli-ski adventure in one of the most remote and wild places on Earth: Alaska. Just like Kamchatka (which we probably won’t be returning to anytime soon…), Alaska is a symbol of untamed mountains and nature fully in control over man.
And where better to experience the most refined and exciting form of freeride than here – heli-skiing (heli-boarding)!
Fans of ski films will hardly need an introduction to Alaska, as it’s the birthplace of the heaviest lines ever filmed – steep, ribbed faces with 50+ degree slopes. The term “big mountain freeride” might as well have originated here 😉
For a full week, we’ll be flying out of helicopters into lines that exist nowhere else on Earth – descents with vertical drops reaching up to 1,500 meters, iconic spines, massive exposure, knife-edge ridge landings, and vast glaciers whose cold presence you can feel on your back.
There will also be time to connect with riders from all over the world, explore Anchorage, and ride at the Alyeska Ski Resort.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ll spend the week staying in a stylish lodge by a lake near Valdez, where fresh wild salmon and more will be prepared by a professional chef, and we’ll be able to relax tired muscles in an outdoor jacuzzi.
Are you ready for the crème de la crème of your freeride adventures?
7 days heli-ski (5h engine time)
Snowcat (option for non-flying days)
Additional buffer days in Anchorage and Valdez
1 day of skiing at Alyeska Ski Resort
Price Includes:
- 7 nights accommodation in an exclusive lakeside lodge during the heli-ski program, in single and twin rooms
- 5 nights accommodation in hotels in Anchorage and Valdez, twin rooms
- Full board and a dedicated private chef during the lodge stay
- Full board during the remaining days in Alaska
- 7 days of heli-skiing, including 5 engine hours (approximately 30 drops)
- Certified mountain guides during the heli-ski program
- Rental of full-size SUVs and fuel for the entire stay in Alaska
- Supervision by a Polish team leader
- Road transfers on site
- Rental of avalanche airbag backpack and avalanche safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe) during the heli-ski program
- Access to a sauna and outdoor hot tub at the lodge
- Full mountain and extreme sports insurance coverage
Price Does Not Include:
- Flights (Poland – Anchorage – Valdez, approx. 5000 PLN)
- Ski or snowboard equipment – you need to bring your own
- Tips
ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORTATION
- We fly from Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław) to Anchorage (two layovers), with a total travel time of around 20 hours
- In Anchorage, we stay in a 3-star hotel
- Near Valdez, during the heli-ski program, we stay in a mountain lodge in single and double rooms
- The lodge offers a private chef, sauna, jacuzzi, and plenty of space 😃
- We spend two nights in a hotel in Valdez (buffer days)
- During the trip in Alaska, we rent full-size SUVs for flexible and comfortable travel
- For more information, check the TRIP PROGRAM tab
OFF PISTE – Terrain Details:
- Our freeride activities take place around Valdez in the Chugach Mountains, known for their deep and relatively stable snowpack, significant vertical relief, 1,000–1,500 meter descents, and truly steep terrain including spines</li<>
- Before starting heli-skiing, we warm up at Alyeska, the largest ski resort in the state, offering more freeride terrain than groomed runs and plenty of double black diamond options
- Heli-ski:
- We have 5 engine hours, which translates to approximately 25–35 drops depending on vertical, to be used over 7 days
- Valdez and surrounding valleys lie close to sea level, while the peaks we fly to reach 1,400–1,800 m above sea level
- Vertical drops range from 750 to 1,500 meters
- Slopes vary from 30 to 50+ degrees; the terrain is high alpine and significantly steeper than most riding experiences
- We fly in groups of 4 participants per guide
- Difficulty will be adjusted to the group’s ability, and if there are 5 or more participants, we may split into two groups with different skill levels
- Weather in Alaska can be unpredictable, sudden, and may prevent flying. We will aim to efficiently use the flight hours during good weather windows
- The program includes two buffer days for bad weather; however, if we are still unable to use the full package, the operator does not provide refunds and unused flight time is forfeited
- Additional helicopter time can be purchased on-site for those interested
Difficulty Level: 8/10
- This trip is intended for advanced-level riders, meaning those who are comfortable skiing in all types of snow and in complex alpine terrain with slopes of 35–45 degrees. Alaska is steep!
Trip Profile
- This trip focuses on Big Mountain freeriding!
SAFETY
- During heli-skiing, safety is overseen by certified American mountain guides
- In the Alyeska resort, we ride independently without guides
- Participants should have completed an avalanche safety course and possess practical knowledge in this area
- The Chugach Mountains in Alaska feature complex alpine terrain with glaciers, seracs, crevasses, cliffs, and steep faces, which naturally involve significant hazards, including avalanche risk, which participants must be aware of
- The trip will be overseen by a Polish team leader
- INSURANCE:
- Included in the trip price is full high-mountain insurance, specifically tailored for extreme sports, with coverage up to EUR 150,000
- We strongly recommend purchasing Trip Cancellation Insurance, which reimburses you if you can’t join us due to illness or unforeseen events. Ask us for details
- Avalanche backpack and avalanche safety equipment are included for the duration of the heli-ski program
HOW TO JOIN THE TRIP
- Fill out the reservation form
- We will contact you to sign the contract
- Pay a 50% deposit
- We’ll complete the group, handle the formalities, flights, details, etc.
- Pay the remaining amount 90 days before departure
CANCELLATION POLICY
- We recommend additional insurance in case of illness or an unforeseen event preventing you from traveling. You will then receive a full refund for the trip. Ask us about Trip Cancellation Insurance.
- We reserve the right to change the program due to circumstances beyond our control, such as insufficient participants, snow or weather conditions, or political situations. In case we need to cancel the trip (even for reasons beyond our control), we will promptly refund all payments made.
Day 1 (March 25)
We depart early in the morning from Warsaw. It’s a long journey – around 20 hours in total – but we land in Anchorage the same evening, where we check into a hotel in the city center. At the airport, we pick up our rental car(s), which will be at our disposal for the entire stay.
Day 2
We rest after the journey and start acclimatizing while watching sea ice drifting through the bay and enjoying a proper American burger 😉 We can also rent studded fat bikes and ride along the waterfront and frozen ponds.
Day 3
In the morning, we head to Alaska’s largest resort – Alyeska Ski Resort, which offers more freeride terrain than groomed runs 😉 making it the perfect place to warm up before heli-skiing. We return to Anchorage for the night.
Day 4
We pack into our rented Chevrolet and drive to Valdez. The journey takes around 5 hours, and along the way we pass glaciers flowing all the way down to the road, incredible wild Alaskan landscapes, and panoramic views of the Chugach Mountains, where we will be flying from tomorrow. In the evening, we arrive at a mountain lodge by a lake near Valdez, where we will stay for the entire week.
Days 5 - 11
Seven days of heli-skiing action! In case of bad weather days, there is the possibility to purchase snowcat skiing, snowmobile tours, ski touring trips, or a boat cruise in the bay. In the afternoons, we can relax in the sauna and outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the lake – and with a bit of luck, even the northern lights. Breakfasts, dinners, and lunch packages are prepared by a dedicated private chef just for us 😃 On day 11 (Sunday), we check out from the lodge and drive to a hotel in Valdez.
Days 12 - 13
Buffer days in case of bad weather or the need to extend our stay to fully utilize the heli-ski package. Free time can be spent ski touring, snowmobiling, purchasing additional heli-ski drops, shopping for souvenirs, or relaxing. On day 13, we drive back to Anchorage.
Day 14
Early morning departure from Anchorage.
Day 15
Arrival in Poland, most likely around midday.
