Alaska has had the warmest winter on record this year. This didn't hinder our search for pow. Our Colorado friends flew up to experience Alaskan skiing. Although the conditions looked bleak we found some incredible skiing. Our first stop was Girdwood to ski Turnagain pass. Typically we're able to ski from the parking lot. This time we were forced to hike up to the snow. We strapped skis on and headed upwards.
Zach, Jay and Eric hiking up the frozen river.
Nate and CJ, reunited at last.
We made it to the snow!!
Corn biscuit
Lucy's worn out from chasing all of the squirrels.
Skiing in the glades in Hatchers.
Freshies.
Pinnacle Bowl + Sun + Friends = Perfect Day
Eric getting extreme.
We said goodbye to CJ after eating a crab feast and headed to Vadez with our trusty truck campers…. "The Lances."
Temperatures were brutally cold, but we made it out to Crudbusters.
The snow was variable making for a interesting run. But the sun was out and everyone was smiling when we made it down.
The Books, pretty wind affected
The Lances posting up camp on windblown Thompson pass.
We hiked out to check out the worthington glacier but didn't get too close to the crevasses.
Thompson pass was ravaged by wind so we drove into valdez to the bowl we had cat skied two years ago. The snow was beautiful blower pow but would take quite a hike to reach the top.
Up Up Up and more up
Family picture
These hikes are deceivingly long
But having a mountain to yourself is usually worth it.
The bowl at the top is the beez neez!
No day of ski touring is complete without chips and salsa happy hour and some good laughs at Lucy the diva.
The next day we went on a hike across the bay. This one looks across at the bowl we skied the previous day.
More hiking
The go getters of valdez 15'
Another look at the long hike.
Dropping in
This is where snowmobiles would be a nice bump to get you 12 miles further in. The landscapes are vast in valdez and we just scratched the surface. But any sunny day in the mountains with good friends is a trip worth taking.
