Guided Backcountry Skiing near Anchorage, Alaska
Farming powder on December 23 on Cornbiscuit above Turnagain Pass.
Anchorage Ski Zones
- Turnagain Pass
- Summit Lake
- Hatcher Pass
- Chugach Front Range
- Western Chugach Mountains
- Girdwood
Join IFMGA guide Joe Stock in the best backcountry ski zone in the US. The Anchorage area is STACKED with world-class skiing. Whether you want a single day, or from Outside and want a full week of adventure, Joe will show you the region like no one else.
Base on weather, snow stability and your interests, we'll select a ski zone for the day.
Please contact Joe to discuss your interests and schedule.
Anchorage area posts:
Read about backcountry skiing around Anchorage in Joe's guidebook The Alaska Factor.
Return to Skiing Overview.
Is Alaska Skiing Right for Me?
The ski terrain surrounding Anchorage covers the full spectrum: from easy trees, to steep monster lines, from mellow tours to multi-day trips. Let me know what you're interested in and we'll pick a trip to match.
Logistics
If visiting from Outside it works best to rent a car and stay in the comfortable ski town of Girdwood, an hour from Anchorage. If conditions are better in the Talkeetna Mountains, which is north of Anchorage, then basing in Anchorage is a better option. Accommodation is easy in the winter and spring months, so we can remain flexible.
If visiting for a full week then I suggest the Anchorage Ski Week, which includes an ideal length of time to sample Southcentral skiing. If you have more time, consider the Southcentral Ski Road Trip, where we make a huge loop around Southcentral including Valdez, a ferry ride through Prince William Sound and driving the Glenn Highway, the most beautiful road corridor in Alaska.
Guided backcountry skiing also works for locals. By joining a professional Mountain Guide, who is dialed with local terrain and conditions, you'll maximize great skiing and learn a few professional-level tricks.
Skill Level
- Intermediate to advanced alpine skiing skills
- Fitness for a day in the mountains
- Previous camping experience for multi-day tours
Dates
November through June. March and April are best for long days and stable snow in Southcentral Alaska. In midwinter we have seven hours of day light–plenty for a full day of skiing. By mid-March we have 12+ hours of sunlight.
Cost
- 1 customer: $450 per day
- 2 customers: $300 per person per day
- 3 customers: $225 per person per day
- 4+ customers: $200 per person per day (second guide added over four customers)
- In partnership with Alaska Alpine Adventures.
Includes
- IFMGA* guide Joe Stock. A second guide will be added over four customers.
- Cooking gear for camping (stove, pots, fuel, cook tent)
- Navigation, first aid and repair kits
- Emergency communication and shelter
*Joe is the only internationally certified mountain guide living and working in Alaska.
Does Not Include
- Travel to Anchorage
- Travel within Alaska. Using a rental car or your personal car is the best option.
- Lodging. See Southcentral Alaska Logistics.
- Food and drink
- Personal gear. See Alaska Backcountry Ski Gear List.
- Rescue insurance
- Trip insurance. See Booking for details.
Skiing high south-facing slopes above Turnagain Pass in mid-December.
Clouds fill Turnagain Pass as we tour away from the roadside crowds in search of untracked powder and sunshine.
On storm days, skiing powder in the trees is the safest option. Turnagain Pass has the best tree skiing in the Anchorage area.
Heading up the Mint Glacier for a powder run into Moose Creek, deep in the Talkeetna Mountains. Nothing compares to Alaska for vast and wild mountains.
Skiing in Peterson Creek in the Western Chugach Mountains above the ice-choked Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. In the background is Turnagain Pass in the Kenai Mountains.
Setting up camp at 5,000 feet in the Western Chugach above Girdwood. In March and April, when the days become long, these mountains become a stable and an unlimited skiing playground.