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Alaskan Ladies' Camp

Heli-Skiing in Alaska with Points North Heli-Adventures, Inc.

Highlights

  • Four hours of heli time
  • One on one instructional coaching
  • Filming of your skiing to gain a visual perspective of your strengths and weaknesses
  • Delicious Alaskan-style fine cuisine

 

Full Description

This is a fun, informal camp and Alaskan adventure tour for women that want to progress their level of skiing in the big mountains of Alaska.

The camp will be a very smooth transition to eventually skiing more technical lines with sluff management, line selection, snow assessment, and much more. The theme of the camp will be all about support and communication in an encouraging environment.

There will also be video filming on the first day so women can gain a visual perspective of their skiing strengths and weaknesses prior to heading out for day two.

Activity days ("down days") will involve fun activities such as transceiver drills, crevasse rescue training, hikes through the temperate rain forest, ski touring, relaxing in the Points North Heli-Adventures sauna and much more!

The "Alaskan Ladies" trip is the same price as Points North Heli's regular week-long trip, but in addition participants will receive one-on-one instructional coaching and video analysis from pro skier and Points North Heli co-owner Jessica Sobolowski-Quinn.

"I started 'Alaskan Ladies' due to the amount of amazing women skiers I see on a daily winter basis," says Sobolowski-Quinn. "I know that creating the right environment is the key to trying things that maybe you would not try otherwise. This is my goal: to show women their true given talent and to help them reach a goal like skiing a peak that not everyone gets to do."

Includes:

  • 4 heli-hours
  • All meals & transportation
  • 7 Nights lodging
  • Transportation from airport to base, and locally for duration of trip
  • Essential gear (beacon, harness, pack, shovel, probe and helmet)

Excludes:

  • Local taxes
  • Gratuities

About The Operator:

Points North Heli-Adventures, Inc.

Headquarters:

Cordova, Alaska

Points North Heli Adventures is the only heli-skiing operation utilizing the southeastern side of the Chugach Mountains. Over the past decade, the Chugach Range has proven to be the premier destination worldwide for helicopter skiing and boarding. Accessed by ferry or plane, Cordova is unlike any other community in the state. Alaska Airlines flies into Cordova twice daily from Seattle and Anchorage. Upon arrival, a PNH team member will greet you and help with your luggage. A short, fifteen-minute drive to our facility offers many opportunities to see bald eagles, moose and the beautiful town of Cordova. Along the way you will also view the breathtaking Chugach Mountains that you will soon be skiing or riding.

Our base location in Cordova is 40 miles from Valdez and allows us to provide you with a 'private' playground in our backyard. While other 5 operations in Valdez share terrain, we are able to explore areas that the others cannot conveniently access. We continue to find new terrain each year catering from the intermediate level recreation skier to the world-class athlete. If you have heard of heli skiing in Alaska, and are already this deep in your research of operators, it is more than likely we have terrain to suit your desires.

With over 2000 square ski-able miles available out the front door, there is more terrain than one could ski or ride in a lifetime!

Our lodging is all-inclusive. Our facility is not a hotel or motel. It is a beautiful state of the art facility located directly on the waters edge. All of our aircraft are a few steps away from your room eliminating the drive to the heli port each day. Everything is located here on the property. All of our meals are guaranteed to make your mouth water and our local chef specializes in fine cuisine. Within the lodge we also offer wireless Internet access, just in case you are thinking of work while on vacation.


History of Points North: About Our Operation

PNH is the only heli-operation utilizing this portion of the Chugach Mountains. There are more first descents than one could obtain in a 100 lifetimes. Most people believe that Alaska is very extreme place. It is and can be, however movies and magazines have made it that way. We have over 2000 square ski-able miles of terrain catering to the high intermediate skier or the world-class athlete. Taking care of you and keeping safe is most important. Alaska has something for YOU, this we guarantee!

Points North Heli-Adventures is the only heli-ski operation in Alaska that is all inclusive. We do not offer you a guaranteed vertical package rate. This is what makes Points North special. Weather in Alaska is too unpredictable to guarantee grand expectations of vertical, yet it is also the weather that makes Alaskan heli-skiing the Super Bowl of riding. You will get your vertical on fly days for certain!

There are no roads or highways that run through the middle of our land. All of our clients fly from our lodge and back to our lodge via helicopter each day. We have multiple fuel caches in the field. You are never on a peak and told to ski to the road for a shuttle bus pick up. An average day of skiing or snowboarding consists of 20-40,000 feet of vertical per day. The price one pays for his or her excursion, based on our heli time rate, is averaging around $825- $1,200 per day. This generally gets you 6-12 quality heli runs for the day with big vertical achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far do you have to fly to get to the terrain we ski?
Our first runs are 6-8 minutes out from the base. From there we leap frog throughout the day averaging 2-3 minute lifts for the next given run. An average day consists of 8-10 runs equaling an hour and fifteen to an hour and a half of fly time. Its not common to fly more than an hour and half on a big day.

How does heli time work?
We charge heli time to make it simple. The heli ride is the expense in heli skiing, not the vertical. You get to choose your own vertical you wish to ski or ride. You fly 6 minutes to your first run from our base. Your second run may take 3 minutes of heli time. Your third run may take 5 minutes to obtain. You now have 3 runs in the can and have burned 14 minutes of time. The time to get home is generally around the same as it takes to get to the fly zone. Again, an average day is around 8-10 runs for an hour and a half of total fly time. Many lifts are much quicker than the example. Some lifts may take longer given the variable in elements. You don't have to ride from point A to point B. You ride want you choose to ride given the guide deems it safe and can manage and mitigate the various hazards to each given run.

When is the best time to come?
Given the Alaska heli season is only 12 weeks or so, there really is not a "Best time" to come. Most like to come in the middle of the season to get the best of both worlds. Early season, February, can consist of cold waist deep powder. Weather days allow us to ride our local chair lift. Late April has long daylight hours with boot top to shin deep powder. The long day light hours in April make the days seem like they are never going to end. This would make you think that you could have 15 hour days in the mountains however, even the best skiers and riders get tired and for safety reasons we still have standard hours of operation so you can be ready for the next day.

How much terrain do you have and what is it like?
Every operation is Alaska has the very same terrain. We all ski the Chugach Mountains. It makes us all ponder here at PNH when others state they have more or better terrain. WE SKI AND RIDE THE VERY SAME MOUNTAINS. Everyone has a selling point and all say they have a larger amount or better piece of the pie. Honestly, everyone has the very exact type of terrain and the Chugach Mountains offer terrain for all abilities. PNH has over 1500 square miles of skiable areas. You do not have to be and expert or an extreme skier to have a great time in Alaska. We do however ask that you come with an open mind, in descent shape, and able to feel confident in all conditions. It is very common for the guest to say after each run "that was the best run of my life", only to be followed with the same comment on the very next run.

How many helicopters do you have?
We start our season with 2 A-Star helicopters and by the 2nd week we have 3 until the end. Our aircraft have been provided by North Star Trekking out of Juneau, Alaska now for over 8 years. When doing your research it is very important to know how many aircraft the given operation has. Mechanicals can happen and fuel is needed throughout the day.Having a number of aircraft is important so that you don't spend time on the glacier waiting for a pick up. If your given aircraft is getting fuel at our in the field cache, we have 2 additional aircraft to bump you to your next run. Keeping you on the top of the mountains and riding is our priority. The glaciers can get cold waiting for a pick up.

Our local chair lift, MT Eyak
Tree line in Alaska hovers around 1500 feet above sea level. Our local chair lift provides you with unreal tree skiing with access to a 2800' run down to the facility if you so choose. It is very important to know that you are kept skiing as much as possible at PNH. We do not put you in a snow cat on down days and chase the Frisbee down the glacier. Our local chair lift has history in itself, given that it is the oldest working chairlift in the world, the 13th ever built and it was Sun Valleys first chair ever. Riding the single chair is something that everyone should experience. Powder Magazine gave Mt. Eyak its own story in there feature, "Little areas that rock".

Do I have to worry about avalanches?
No matter where you heli ski in the world, avalanches are always the concern. You must assume inherent risks when heli skiing. We do our very best to mitigate all of the hazards and ski one by one always. WE DO NOT SKI DOWN THE GLACIER AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE GUIDE OUT FRONT LEADING THE CHARGE! We always ski one by one, safe zone to safe zone and communication is the most important factor. Everyone in your group will have a Motorola radio to communicate with your guide and other groups in the field at all times. We take a lot of time in the briefing prior to riding on the safety elements of heli skiing.

Can I bring my Avalanche Airbag System?
As many of you know, the airbag is a new standard in avalanche safety. Airbags are allowed to be carried onto flights however the canisters must be empty. Here at PNH we do have canisters available for the ABS and AVI Vest Systems. It is not an air carrier decision in regards to the canisters. It falls solely on the TSA agents during screening.

How do I get to Cordova and PNH?
Cordova is 30 miles from Valdez as the crow flies. Alaska Airlines, ERA Aviation and the Alaska Marine Highway access Cordova. Our airport is always open. It is not common for our airport to close. You can get to Cordova via Anchorage or Seattle. We are a 28 minute flight from Anchorage and a 3 hour flight from Seattle. Once you arrive at the airport a PNH courtesy van is waiting your arrival. Our facility is a 15 minute ride that offers breath taking views from the airport.

How many groups fly in the helicopter?
We never have more than 4 groups in the aircraft. This keeps you riding and allows additional safety back up with the other groups in the field working around you. Average runs can take up to a hour at times with various hazard mitigation and we can say confidently, you are never waiting for your aircraft. It is generally waiting for you. If you find yourself waiting it is only due to shuttles home at the end of the day or you are taking a break eating lunch on a peak. In the event you do find yourself waiting your generally thankful for the rest time between runs.

What are the guides like?
Our guides are what make PNH special. They are not only guides but teachers, personalities, and professionals. They are skiers first! Most are trained in the highest level of avalanche certification, medical rescue and are seasoned backcountry professionals. We are extremely proud of our guide staff and their credentials. We can again say confidently most of them rate as being some of the best skiers and riders in the world!

How does PNH compare to the other operations in Alaska?
There is not a bad operation in Alaska. All are very good. We like to think of PNH as a little different. We encourage you to do your research, ask the right questions and are confident that once you do you will end up at the right place for you. We can assure you that if you get the weather window on your trip no matter where you go, it will be the best trip of your life! That's Alaska!

What's is the weather like?
Weather in Alaska can make or break a trip. We are 30 miles from Valdez and we have the very same weather. All of us here in Alaska fly the Chugach Mountains. The Gulf of Alaska is a giant weather maker. It is this that provides the Chugach with over 50 feet of snow annually and makes the runs world famous. An average week consists of 2-3 huge fly days. If you get 4 or 5 big fly days you have luck on your side. This is why we charge only 4 heli hours up front and you are not out of pocket 5 and 6 thousand counting on flying every day. In the event you do get to fly every day you simply pay as you go. It is not common to go over your 4 heli hours. This alone makes PNH affordable for you. It is important that we are very honest on this topic as we are the only operation that has you on an every day basis. You are at PNH from the time you get off the plane until the time you depart Others see you only on fly days and can sell you on a vertical package. The weather is why we choose to charge heli hours for your trip. Not to mention, vertical does not cost. The magic carpet ride to obtain the vertical is the expense. When the weather is on, you will get your vertical. It is very important to us that you understand the weather when heli skiing. This is for your safety and the safety of our operation. Remember, tree line in Alaska hovers around 1500 feet. All of the heli skiing in Alaska is in heavily glaciated terrain. We need clear skies to fly and ride safely. When you are not in the heli, you are riding the local chair lift.

Do I have to ski with my group if we are different abilities?
NO. We always have guests in house that vary in abilities, not to mention a staff that is waiting to fill a seat. All of them are world class riders and will be more than happy to ride with you where ever you so choose to ride. It is very easy to accommodate you into the group that is ideal for you and your goals for the experience. Group dynamics are very important for your heli experience. All of the operations in Alaska take pride in making certain that your group is comparable in abilities.