A Canada Heliskiing & Heliboarding Alternative
A Compelling Alternative: Explore Alaska's Heli Adventures
Why travel internationally when some of the best heliskiing and heliboarding in the world is right here in the U.S.? Alaska heli skiing and snowboarding is an unforgettable adventure when you go with Alaska Backcountry Guides.
Heliskiing and heliboarding are, by their nature, edgy and exciting. But when barreling down the ski slopes at Vail or Aspen, Whistler or Lake Louise gets ho-hum, you can’t help but start a search for a more adventurous type of adventure. That’s when you start thinking about heli skiing in Alaska.
Alaska Helicopter Skiing
Alaska is known as the Last Frontier State because of its wild, untamed terrain. It’s more than half a million square miles of wilderness, home to elk, sheep, bears, and more. You can’t climb to the top of the Chugach Mountains when they’re covered with snow (it’s a formidable challenge when they’re not), so the only way to get there is by helicopter.
Once you try Alaska heliskiing, you’ll be hooked. The deafening quiet, the icy blue skies, and the miles of untouched snow that are part of the Alaska helicopter snowboarding experience feel almost holy.
While we agree that heliskiing in Canada is beautiful as well, it has its limitations.
Hassles of Canadian Heliskiing
First, the majority of heliskiing or heliboarding is done in Brtish Columbia which is lovely country, but not remote in the same way Alaska is. Depending on where you go, you might be only an hour or two from downtown Calgary.
Additionally, while many Americans can remember a time when all you needed to cross the Canadian border was a driver’s license, that’s not the case anymore. Today, you need a valid passport. If you aren’t a big world traveler, the hassle, expense, and waiting period associated with obtaining a passport means you could miss an entire ski season getting your paperwork in order.
If you live in the U.S. but don’t hold a U.S. passport, getting back inside the U.S. could prove tricky. It should be easy, but it rarely is. The worst-case scenario would be if you lost your green card or other important documentation and had to wait for replacements. Another concern is that travel bans could be implemented while you are out of the country, making it difficult or impossible to get back in.
Currently, Americans are only allowed to travel to Canada if they are vaccinated — or many other countries worldwide — due to the dangers of carrying and transmitting COVID-19.
Advantages of Alaska Heliboarding & Skiing
Skiing in Alaska is an unforgettable experience, as is snowboarding in Alaska. Adding in a helicopter so you can get to the backcountry kicks up the experience not merely a notch, but 100 notches. Alaska heli skiing is for experienced skiers and boarders who are also the ultimate thrill-seekers as well as intermediates who are looking for their next adventure.
To learn more about Alaska heli snowboarding or heliskiing in Alaska, contact the team at Alaska Backcountry Guides. We’ll tell you how we can make your next ski trip nothing less than extraordinary.