We had some issues with our flights and did not get to bed in Anchorage until 3AM. But ski hours at Alyeska in spring are 11AM-6PM, so we were fine getting on the hill at noon.
It was a clear day, so Liz got an eyeful of Alyeska’s world class scenery. The view out to Turnagain Arm.
The top of the highest lift chair 6 at 2,750 feet.
The bowl above is another 1,100 or so. In foreground is the top snow plot, which averages over 600 inches but has only had 445 this year. The locals were complaining about “low tide” conditions, and there were quite a few alder bushes visible that I do not recall on my previous 3 visits.
The more serious weather issue this season was the torrential rain in January, which resulted in the huge wet avalanche that closed Thompson Pass outside Valdez. This storm left Alyeska with a lot of ice that needed to be covered before the North Face finally opened in March.
After a couple of cruisers we headed out the High Traverse.
The objective was these shaded powder leftovers, 2-3 days old.
The powder was good quality but only about 4 inches deep over a firm subsurface. I wouldn’t call it refrozen but it could be tricky skiing in contrast to the powder on top.
Farther out I sent Liz into this area that looked promising.
She said it had a more irregular subsurface and the steeper area below me was more consistent.
So we went back to the groomers that were mostly packed powder up high and hardpack near the base. About 2:30 we went into Seven Glaciers for a leisurely lunch, waiting for the ungroomed to soften some more. We had a scallop bisque and mac and cheese with fresh king crab.
After lunch we headed down the North Face. This also had the 4 inches powder over the firm subsurface, but at ~30 degrees needed to be skied cautiously. Liz got trapped in the alders a couple of times and took awhile to get out. Back up top here's the view over never opened this season Christmas Chute to glaciated mountains NE of Alyeska.
By 4:30 the south faces in the main bowl had finally softened so I poked my way through one of those runs and then we both skied Alpine Gully.
We took a final cruise to the base via Sourdough and got off the mountain shortly before 6PM closing.
Sunset is already around 9PM so I knew we would have time to take a scenic drive down to Portage Lake. Much to our surprise we found quite active with kite skiers so we walked out there for a closer look.
This one was getting some air.
These guys were very hospitable and let us try holding a small kite. First me:
And then Liz:
They even offered to let us borrow skis, but with a week at Points North just ahead of us we decided not to risk a screwup. I will say I’m probably tempted to try this before a board in the water though.
2 kite skiers at the far end of Portage Lake.
We went back to Girdwood for a fresh sockeye salmon dinner at Double Musky and got back to Anchorage about 10:30.
We spent a couple of hours Saturday morning in the Anchorage Museum before catching our flight to Cordova.
It was a clear day, so Liz got an eyeful of Alyeska’s world class scenery. The view out to Turnagain Arm.
The top of the highest lift chair 6 at 2,750 feet.
The bowl above is another 1,100 or so. In foreground is the top snow plot, which averages over 600 inches but has only had 445 this year. The locals were complaining about “low tide” conditions, and there were quite a few alder bushes visible that I do not recall on my previous 3 visits.
The more serious weather issue this season was the torrential rain in January, which resulted in the huge wet avalanche that closed Thompson Pass outside Valdez. This storm left Alyeska with a lot of ice that needed to be covered before the North Face finally opened in March.
After a couple of cruisers we headed out the High Traverse.
The objective was these shaded powder leftovers, 2-3 days old.
The powder was good quality but only about 4 inches deep over a firm subsurface. I wouldn’t call it refrozen but it could be tricky skiing in contrast to the powder on top.
Farther out I sent Liz into this area that looked promising.
She said it had a more irregular subsurface and the steeper area below me was more consistent.
So we went back to the groomers that were mostly packed powder up high and hardpack near the base. About 2:30 we went into Seven Glaciers for a leisurely lunch, waiting for the ungroomed to soften some more. We had a scallop bisque and mac and cheese with fresh king crab.
After lunch we headed down the North Face. This also had the 4 inches powder over the firm subsurface, but at ~30 degrees needed to be skied cautiously. Liz got trapped in the alders a couple of times and took awhile to get out. Back up top here's the view over never opened this season Christmas Chute to glaciated mountains NE of Alyeska.
By 4:30 the south faces in the main bowl had finally softened so I poked my way through one of those runs and then we both skied Alpine Gully.
We took a final cruise to the base via Sourdough and got off the mountain shortly before 6PM closing.
Sunset is already around 9PM so I knew we would have time to take a scenic drive down to Portage Lake. Much to our surprise we found quite active with kite skiers so we walked out there for a closer look.
This one was getting some air.
These guys were very hospitable and let us try holding a small kite. First me:
And then Liz:
They even offered to let us borrow skis, but with a week at Points North just ahead of us we decided not to risk a screwup. I will say I’m probably tempted to try this before a board in the water though.
2 kite skiers at the far end of Portage Lake.
We went back to Girdwood for a fresh sockeye salmon dinner at Double Musky and got back to Anchorage about 10:30.
We spent a couple of hours Saturday morning in the Anchorage Museum before catching our flight to Cordova.
