Chugach Ski Touring...A more affordable option

[skifishbum]

Yeah I realize the gach has some sick terrain ,sleeping on a cot in a tent and shittin in the woods aint quite what my spancers into for the same $$$,the luxeries are there reguardlesss of what the luck of the weather and conditions to access terrain.
Mr burns was hilarious and it was the best compimentary guided if you wanted unguided eh when you didn't fell like going on one of his slog to wiggle tour.
I'm pretty cautious with wife, so never involved us, but plenty I know this is unguided but let me tell you i know everything and i'd a set the skinner over.........
classic.
I thought he was goofy for diggin all his pits on 10-20 degree slopes,
but it seems most of the studies in that reguard are showing little varibility in results with increased slope angle and the damn old codger may have been right
For us the devils in the details and meals. I can swap/cook $20 per person meal or +$100.
continental b fast or full deal real meal, BACON eggs frenchtoast pcakes hashbrowns etc? I'm not saying this is out of line but for me it would be a tough sell, because $2k is about what most luxury bc lodges are a week
I'd consider unguided/uncatered instead of the sheldon hut again next season if it would be an option

[Dark Star]

100% fired up to share some stoke here and hopefully get a TGR crew(s) up here breaking in the zone this year! To answer a couple of the q's I've done some kiting in Haines and it could be a useful tool for certain days, although based on what we have to work with a kite isn't necessary-it would depend on the objectives of a given week. For anyone identifying as interested but on the low end of the experience spectrum don't take the gear list to mean you can't come out and have a good time if you're a "newb". That is not our intention with the list of this program. It's more of a way to let you know we will be backcountry skiing in glaciated terrain and we need to take the proper precautions. Jeff and are happy to cater each week to group's specific skill levels and desires to get after it. You'll see below in a few pics that where we have access to is incredibly diverse in terms of skiable terrain. Of course there's as much of the steep stuff as you can ask for but there's a ton of aesthetic mellow terrain as well. We'll be skiing what groups are ready for and want to get into each week. We're really going to be able to work off group dynamics, weather and snowpack to make the best decisions for skiing each day. And for the guy pushing the Cambell program that sounds like an amazing trip, but we all know there's no mountain range on earth like the Chugach if you're a skier/rider.

To pass on a few more pics here's a view of our home base with a full moon that made for some great midnight mellow powder skiing last March.

A shot of Jeff leaving the tent with a little bit of terrain surrounding and you should know in this scenario just below our tent was several few thousand foot shots that were perfect for easy lapping and very "easy" in terms of skiablity.

Here's Jeff dropping into one of them.

One of the coolest things about having a base camp set up in such ideal locations is being able to squeeze late runs in back to camp. Why not ski a quick 500-1k foot lap before dinner if you're feeling it? The set up also helps if we have poor weather because chances are we can still ski something close to base camp (The tent is down there at the bottom of the run if you look closely)

For those leaning more towards the ski mountaineering options that come with this experience here's a shot of a line Jeff and I skied last year, low snow (really low) that held a few worthy lines. Our descent was in the low to mid 50's for the top half and mid to low 40's for the rest before petering out on the glacier.

This is a shot of a switchover after a run. The peaks in the distance give a small taste of what our next run could be. The peak in the middle of the shot looks small, but isn't, and would be an ideal mid 30 degree powder run for a perfect moderate lap. It's our choice when we're out there.

In reality this permit is the first of its kind in the Chugach and if you're into a program that gets you deep in the Chugach and supports you to be out there earning whatever terrain you hope to get into this is it. We can ski whatever we want and since most of the terrain hasn't seen an ascent or descent we have that added sense of adventure in the program as well. Tack on the snow so far this season and it's really shaping up to be an all time experience. I hope some of you can make it happen and feel free to drop me a PM, etc. to ask and further q's if I can help clear anything up.

A parting shot of Jeff skiing a first with a backdrop as beautiful as the line we skied.

[skifishbum]

. And for the guy pushing the Cambell program that sounds like an amazing trip, but we all know there's no mountain range on earth like the Chugach if you're a skier/rider.

i'm not pushin anyones program you missed the point
well i'm still deciding if this for 1/2 the price

is worth twice as much for meals and guides to try your outfit
so how much bacon do the guides cook and are they cia trained?
and
Are there any plans for unguided uncatered?

[Chugachjed]

You should really hire me to work with these trips, I'm an experienced Alaskan guide. I've even got a big beard and a tattoo of AK on my arm, your clients will appreciate the real AK flavor.

[jrf]

Group of 4 put together. Booking asap.

STOKED!!!!

[TahoeBC]

100% fired up to share some stoke here and hopefully get a TGR crew(s) up here breaking in the zone this year!

Just came across this thread Brennan, stoked for you and if it doesn't start snowing in Tahoe soon that price will be looking better and better!

[wilkez]

Sounds like a good idea, but I agree with everybody else that it seems kind of expensive.

How about if we don't need accoms before/after? And uncatered?

I will be in AK around that time with 4 splitters so we would be interested in a trip like this

[BFD]

good on PNH for giving this a try. If you do not want what PNH is offering just charter someone to drop you off. If you are not capable of doing that yourself maybe you ought to just pay the money. I do not know the specifics of their permit. I imagine it does not pertain solely to transport. There probably are restrictions on human waste as well as location.

You should really hire me to work with these trips,

no he should hire me, but for that price they could not afford me.
SFB the Ruth is spectacular.Especially if you want to sit in the Mountain House and party. As a backcountry skiing destination there are many better locations.

[Ted Shred]

When BFD speaks about skiing in Alaska, wise people listen.

good on PNH for giving this a try. If you do not want what PNH is offering just charter someone to drop you off. If you are not capable of doing that yourself maybe you ought to just pay the money. I do not know the specifics of their permit. I imagine it does not pertain solely to transport. There probably are restrictions on human waste as well as location.

no he should hire me, but for that price they could not afford me.
SFB the Ruth is spectacular.Especially if you want to sit in the Mountain House and party. As a backcountry skiing destination there are many better locations.

[mattchuck2]

I'm flying in to Anchorage on March 22, and flying out on April 3rd. I could definitely use my tax return to do the March 25-31 trip. Only problem is everyone I'm up there visiting works during the week and can't go. Is there 3 random mags who want to get in for the 4 person deal that week? Could be a freaking wild adventure.

[freeheel80731]

I'm interested in this trip - and would be available for March 25-31 ... I'll shoot you a PM

[mattchuck2]

Got your PMs, forum won't let me send one to you until I get my post count up . . . I'm going to go comment on a bunch of random stuff and get right back to you.

[CTR]

I just left PNH a message (didn't talk to a human, though did last week) re reserving our group of 4 from Colorado for the last week in March (now just looked at these recent posts), so I guess room for 4 more (seems like it's 4 or 8, no inbetweens?) don't know if they would put two groups in the same place.....sounds like they have several potential locations......... Chet

[sneekyjesus]

It might be worth more because the terrain down there is more stable than up near Denali?

[ak_powder_monkey]

It might be worth more because the terrain down there is more stable than up near Denali?

Cordova in March, Denali in June... Duh?

[freeheel80731]

Bump for two more mags for the March 25th trip - shoot me a PM or call PNH, they need four in order to book, & four gets us the TGR deal of $1450

[Imz]

Kevin- Can I get a maggot discount on my trip this season too?

(grin)

[JoeStrummer]

Count me as someone else who would be interested in self-catered, self-guided options.

[LeeLau]

Count me as someone else who would be interested in self-catered, self-guided options.

Ditto - and I can get three others interested too

[Dark Star]

Got a few more couple's booked this week. Still some room though if people wanna make something happen. Drop me a PM or email PNH...