Go to Know - Mint Country

Oulie and I skied up into the Mint country May Day 2017. Thinnest snowpack I've observed there in three trips spaced out over many years, the last one in 2011.

Beaver ponds were starting to break up

A lot of open water

 

We had planned to ski up to the Pennyroyal Glacier via Backdoor Gap and down it to the Bomber, and then back to Hatcher Pass Road via Reed Lakes and Archangel Road. But, concerned about rotten or no snow at Backdoor Gap and around Reed Lakes we decided to backtrack the 7 miles, and save the Bomber Traverse for better conditions. The 14 miles on pretty flat terrain was a slog in alpine touring boots! 

 



Chugach Majestic

Skiing the northwestern Chugach Mountains is a special experience. An easy 2-hour drive from Anchorage, Majestic Heliski is a portal into the northwestern Chugach. The northwestern Chugach includes many large glaciers, but relative to the mountains south of the Chugach divide where flying weather can be limited, the NW Chugach enjoy more flying friendly days. Mount Marcus Baker defines the Chugach divide with the Matanuska, Knik, and other glaciers flowing from the northern flanks of the divide, and with the college glaciers (Harvard, Yale, Radcliff, Smith, Bryn Mawr, etc), 20-Mile, and other glaciers draining the south side of the divide.

Looking South at Chugach Mtns from Majestic Lodge

Many, many smaller unnamed glaciers and mountains also feed the mighty Matanuska River on the north side. This is the Majestic Heliski region yours truly was fortunate to explore. The operation is based at Majestic Lodge situated on a bench perched above the Matanuska River at about 2900-ft elevation, upstream of the Mat Glacier terminus. The lodge is a contemporary log building with a spectacular view of the Chugach Mountains.

Majestic Lodge

Majestic Lodge Changing Room

The lodge has a vibe similar to other heliski lodges I've visited in terms of its accommodations, cuisine, and staffing. As the world's biggest heliski operator, CMH is yours truly's standard for heliski operations.

Majestic Operations Mgr Chris Shelly & Pilot/Guide Njord Rota with Guest (teal coat)

Refueling Location - Hicks Creek Pull-Out on Glenn Highway

I have a small sample, but the Majestic heliski operations I experienced did meet the CMH standard. Though I have a very limited experience with Majestic - a single day with only one group in an A-Star piloted by owner, Njord Rota - based on the communications I monitored, refueling operations I observed, and safety training I received, I believe that Majestic could safely and efficiently handle multiple groups while providing a terrific ski experience.
I was guided by the Operations Manager, Chris Shelly, who has a lot of heliski guide and other relevant experience. His experience was evident in his clear, concise and fun ski guiding. With only 3 seasons in the NW Chugach, Majestic is still in the discovery phase. While all of the lines were new to me, we skied some first lines for the Majestic crew, too. Another guest with multiple Majestic trips (and CMH trips) was very complimentary of the other guides. My first hand experience with some of the other guides in safety training was quite positive. The skiing was excellent for late April. The NW Chugach area served by Majestic Heliski has good terrain with terrific sun-protected lines with well-preserved cold snow.

NW Chugach Scale - Little Dot is a Skier (click to expand)

Cold Smoke-Like Snow in Late April

View of Competition's Terrain from North Side of Knik Gl - CPG KnikAss Area in Background

First experience with Majestic Heliski was very, very positive. I hope to have more!

Part Way Down Last Run - Started at White Ridge Line
 

Shunta at Summit Lake

Shunta's introduction to Alaska skiing has been a happy reminder of our wealth of extraordinary places to ski. Hailing from Hokkaido, Japan, a place known for its excellent snow and great skiing, it might be understandable if Alaska did not leave him awestruck, but Shunta's sincere and exclamatory appreciation of Alaska's mountains has been obvious and contagious. Sharing that same feeling of awe has been a reward in itself.

All Smiles above Summit Lake

We made it up Tenderfoot Ridge above Summit Lake to find a few rocks, some frozen ice chunkies, and smokey powder. We found an icy hard base with rain runnels and insufficient snowpack to fill in and smooth out the tussocks for a few hundred feet vertical. Upper hemlock groves and alpine zones were really sweet.

Above Summit Lake

Freeing the Heel and Freeing the Mind

Storm Skiing

Seattle Creek presently has some sweet snow and is getting more. It also has some variable 'upside down' snow with dense wind pack on blower powder, some thin areas not quite covering the tundra, and windboard. Conditions are best described as: variable, but if a skier is lucky or savvy enough to find the sweet snow, there is incredibly good skiing.

Kruser and yours truly endured one line with less than perfect snow, but we also found perfection in a storm at Seattle Creek.

 

 

Backdoor Trail Open for 2015 / 2016

Dylan and yours truly officially opened Backdoor Trail for 2015 / 2016! Trail is skied-in and could last until April or May. First time little ski buddy was happy on skis, and was good for one ascent.

 

There are surface lifts, chair lifts, and Papa lifts. Papa held up for 5 laps. Dylan was ready for more but Papa was overheated.

Down the hill!

First Day Skiing!

 

Videographer: Yaya



Seattle Creek

Seattle Ridge above Turnagain Pass can be a skier's paradise early season before the sleds invade. Snow machines are always prohibited from the east side of the highway, but snow machines are allowed on the west side of the highway after sufficient snowpack develops. After the sleds are allowed, the west side of the Seward Highway can be noisy, smelly, and not super friendly to self-propelled skiers, but usually before the area opens to snow machining there is a good window with good skiing.

There were a few rocks, but trading a little p-tex for a lot of powder was a good deal.

Why is Jonny Rocketship Smiling?

He felt the sunshine and knew the snow would be terrific on the descent.

After climbing up from the highway trailhead, we spent all day lapping the Main Bowl above Seattle Creek on the backside from the road. We scraped a rock or two on the backside, but mostly found a good snowpack for skiing with excellent quality. On the frontside run back to the trailhead where the snowpack is typically thinner, I did find a rock garden with only about 6" snow coverage. Being watchful of the terrain and finding the swales with the deeper snow make the run back to the car more enjoyable.

Tin Can Infantry

Tincan Mountain, a skiers' place. Good snow in November is a good bet at Tincan, the most popular backcountry ski touring area in southcentral Alaska. Exceptional snow quality, sunny skies, and mostly calm wind put smiles on every Tincan skier's face on Nov. 7, 2015.

Old School Route

With so many people embarking from the 'normal' Tincan trailhead, yours truly opted for the slightly longer, somewhat older route. There was a time when the 'old school' route was the normal way up Tincan, but that was 30 years ago. 

 

Tincan Infantry

The Tincan infantry marched up the mountain in a great skin track. Later in the day, the boot packing crowd showed up and just pulverized the skin track.

Tincan Tracks

The Tincan infantry attacked the 'common' bowl and tracked it out. If you don't want to ski tracks, skin a little further and find solitude and the untracked experience.  



Solitude

Old School Trail Home

One Last Look

This was one of the eastern-most lines, perhaps the eastern-most line on Tincan south face that I have ever skied. After solo skiing a few short laps in the south-facing bowl, I skinned and booted up the rocky ridge on looker's right in the photo above, and made the summit ridge near the entrance to north facing Todd's Bowl. Skiing the early season Tincan snowpack was dreamlike; the top layers were cold and smoky with a soft base under the smoke.

Summit Glacier Sojourn

Ski touring up the Crow Pass Trail to the top of Summit Glacier is an arduous trek, but the autumn powder on the glacier is a just reward.


Jewel Mountain - South Face

The north face of Jewel is not quite skiable yet. The Jewel permanent snowfield has shrunk, but the northerly aspect and prevailing winds may yield a worthy run this season before the avalanche hazard makes it off limits.

Jewel North Face

Yours truly stayed on the safer Summit side of the Jewel-Summit massif. Trudging up Summit and viewing its gaping crevasses, I wondered whether it may be safer on Jewel, after all.

Summit Glacier Crevasses - Patrick's Line

Summit Glacier Schrund

Summit was safe enough. A couple of untracked lines didn't quite erase the specter of a crevasse fall, but fresh powder kept the fear in check.

Summit Line

The terminal moraine has an excellent base. With a few 'shark teeth' protruding, the moraine had some wet snow set up really well covering most of the sharp cobbles and several inches of powder have fallen on top of the base. 

Jewel-Summit Terminal Moraine

 

Tour de los Volcánes de Chile, Part 1

Chile Backcountry created an extraordinary experience nearly perfectly suited to our objectives. We skied on Volcanes Casablanca, Mocho, Villarrica, Lonquimay, and Lliama. Kruser and yours truly made our way to Puerto Varas by bus from Chillan.



 Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesus

After many, many bus stops, we finally arrived in the picturesque resort town of Puerto Varas on Lago Llanquihue.  Our multi-skilled guide, Vicho, met us at the bus terminal and took us to our lodging in Puerto Varas to wait out a storm in the mountains.

Skiing the mountains of the Chilean Lake District and Araucania was our objective. We were able to ski the areas of Antillanca, Huilo Huilo, Pucon, Corralco, Arenales, and Las Araucarias. Antillanca was wet, and we didn't see much, but it was a good start to a fantastic trip.

Antillanca Base

Vicho Working, Yours Truly Not Working

Wet in Patagonia

Several wet laps in a whiteout were enough, and after securing lodging, we moved on the Neltume, where we found the magical Reserva Biologica Huilo Huilo.  After overnighting at Bosque Encantado, we made our way up the mountain, and caught a snowcat ride a little ways up Volcan Mocho. We skinned on to the summit and enjoyed adventure skiing back to the Bosque Nevado base.

Bosque Nevado Base

Hot Ascent

Clouds Closing in on Mocho Summit

Next stop: Pucon!

Excellent Spring Skiing on Volcan Mocho Choshuenco