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April, 2025

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Spending winter in Alaska, Is it worth it?

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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
Since AK fourm is dead Im posting this here. Mods if it's and issue just move it.

So I'm considering the option of skiing in Alaska for a winter season. I'm living near Healy,AK right now for the summer/part of fall. I know all you midwest-east coast skiers will say go for it but I looking for the  people who live here or have been here in the winter.

I know where I would be staying if I stay, Girdwood. Probably work on the resort somewhere or in town.

My first question is how is it actually living in Girdwood? I know prices for food and goods are expensive compared to lower 48. Whats the vibe of the town? All locals in one bar and tourist in another? or is Just an open place friendly to all walks of life?
Does everyone ski Alyeska til it's skied out then rally to ptarmigan pass with snowmobiles and avalanche beacons? Other palaces to hit I know include Chugach state park, thomas pass in Valdez, Hatcher pass north of Palmer. Would like this list to grow if you can help.

Second is how's living in a town that doesn't get any light for 4 months? I can't imagine that's fun to deal with. Being from Minnesota living in a super cold, wet environment is nothing new. But trying to ski on massive mountains in that cold wetness is something new to me. How is dealing with the super cold temperatures while trying to ski in the dark? Is the standard just do a couple laps then go inside warm up and repeat? Does that happen just on the super dark cold day in the beginning of the season or does that continue all season long? What is the average temps in Girdwood?

Lastly I would like an honest opinion about spending the winter in Alaska? Is a full season gonna fulfill the lifetime wonderfulness of skiing in Alaska? Or could I just go ski Colorado this winter again and come to Alaska for a two week trip in spring?

Thanks for any help NS'rs. +K to all that help or chime in.
12 years ago
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walrussteeze
Posts: 327 - Karma: 212
All I know is that it probably won't be as cold as you think since you are skiing around sea level probably just as cold as most western resorts.
12 years ago
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,472
Having been to the area twice during the summer, I'm super jealous... I would go for it.
12 years ago
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T.O.
Posts: 740 - Karma: 97
I live in Girdwood. It does not get cold at all and the no light thing is not to bad. I really don't even notice it. The park skiing blows and the powder can be amazing if a good season, however if its a slow season it can suck. Most of the locals are chill, but some can be a pain like anywhere else. Also the resort opens at 10:30 Which is nice if you ain't a early bird. I know rent is expensive but if you work at the resort you can get employee housing.
12 years ago
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muel
Posts: 168 - Karma: 688
Its usually not crazy cold at Alyeska because its so close to the water. Girdwood is a pretty cool town but very small. EVERYBODY goes to the Sitzmark Bar after skiing and they always have live music and stuff like that. The terrain park at alyeska is horrible. Anchorage has a small hill called hilltop and has an okay park. Alyeska gets so much snow, but the powder doesn't last long because the mountain is pretty small. Id say if you do all mountain skiing it would be worth it.
12 years ago
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Calb3rt
Posts: 6005 - Karma: 2,202
What are you doing in Healy? Are you working at Usibelli or something? I live in Fairbanks, but i went to school at UAA for a bit and try to make as many trips to aly/ hatchers/ turnagain/ thompson as i can, basically trying not to be in fairbanks... I have a lot of friends who either work at the resort or live in girdwood and have sleds and spend most of their time in the backcountry. I would say it is worth it, especially if its a good snow year.  They get more light down there than in fairbanks (3hr45m on the solstice), it is around just not plentiful.  The cold isnt an issue either, you will be fine being from MN, you definitely wont have to go in every other run to warm up. I think it really depends on what type of skiing your looking for. im guessing you are leaning more towards the backcountry?  AK has amazing backcountry, the biggest issue though is being able to access it.  If you have any friends with sleds and beacons you will have an blast. even just touring around turnagain or hatchers is epic.  Everything is much more expensive as you are already aware. In all honesty though, CO is probably much more well rounded as far as what skiing has to offer but I would recommend spending a summer and winter here. Alaska tends to generate a love hate relationship and people either really love the place and never want to leave or hate it and cant wait to get out.
12 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541

Im actually working by the Denali park entrance. I got a job with ERA helicopters helping them run flightseeing. Not a pilot. I just say Healy cause most people don't know where milepost 238 on george parks hwy is (a mile after the park entrance). 

Defently coming for the BC. If I want park I'd stay at Buttermilk. Proably my biggest fear is coming up hear and it's a drought year (Last two winters in Colorada have been), I know it's unlikely being a coastal town but still worries me. Now if it was another 900in season I'd come up here no proablem.

12 years ago
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MartianMan
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 2,094
I wouldn't worry about Alyeska getting skied up, it gets about 650 inches a year, so theres snow for everyone. Alaska Heli Skiing is bet from between March and May, so winter might not be your best shot. (Thompson Pass btw)
12 years ago
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imakestickerz
Posts: 477 - Karma: 673
Hope this helps

Bomb Snow TV: Episode Four "Shallower, Closer, Shorter" from Bomb Snow Magazine on Vimeo.

12 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
It doesn't make my desicion any easier. And thats my favorite episoode of the 4. Never buy a $500 trailer.
12 years ago
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
depending how much money you have to spend on gas, anchorage might be a better option. Turnagain pass is 1.2 hrs, hatcher pass is 1.2 hrs and thompson is 4-6 depending on snow.

Cost of living would be cheaper, and personally I think alyeska sucks anyways, unless you are working there and get a free pass.
12 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
gonna probably work at the resort somewhere. Also isn't Turnagin pass like a 10min drive from Girdwood and Thompson pass/Valdez is just across the sea?
12 years ago
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
thompson is a 40 minute drive plus a 3(maybe?) hour ferry plus another 40 minute drive. or the other way you can drive 6-7 hours.

alyeska is your only real option for working at a resort. Turnagain is about 30 mins past alyeska/girdwood
12 years ago
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imakestickerz
Posts: 477 - Karma: 673
it made me want to go to Alaska. I thought the eviction party looked pretty fun too
12 years ago
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garrett.
Posts: 9304 - Karma: 3,670
yeah but when it does snow at alyeska its skied out within 45 minutes. Obviously there will still be goods to be found but for the most part pow does not last at alyeska simply because its small.

Heli skiing, I hope you have lots and lots of money.

Turnagain pass is awesome, sled side or hike side. Lots and lots of options in turnagain pass.
12 years ago
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alex=
Posts: 1738 - Karma: 2,835
i'm sorry, i'm from the ec, but what does "skied out" mean?
12 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
So when you have fresh snow that has no tracks you'd call it untracked pow. A few ski tracks would be fresh pow. Pow with a lot of ski tracks would be called chop. Pow with fresh snow thats all skied out would be called tracked out or skied out.
Context: "I went up to the top the mountain to get some fresh pow but it was all skied out".
12 years ago
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SteezoSaurus
Posts: 2630 - Karma: 2,671
Alaska is definitely a place that every skier must experience at least once in their life. The options in AK are endless and the terrain is astoundingly large. Going to Alaska redefined me as a skier..
12 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,541
I mean it's making my decision even harder cause it's awesome.
I'm really torn between spending winter in Aspen again or going to Girdwood. I know I got some time to decide but I think about it a lot when people ask me everyday at work.
12 years ago
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A1aska
Posts: 33 - Karma: 10
alaska is pretty cool
12 years ago
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