Snowcats bring riders to helicoptor skiing terrain

By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times

Reaching the tops of mountains in the backcountry of Chugach State Park was once limited to heli-skiing. But when Girdwood based Chugach Powder Guides (CPG) began offering snowcat skiing in 1997, the white virgin powder once limited to the elite heli-skier was now affordable to the more budget minded skier.

CPG's heli-skiing trips cost $1,075 per day. However, their snowcat day trips are only $325 per day. Now that's a serious price difference.

“Snowcat skiing is a great alternative to heli-skiing,” said Chris Owens, General Manager and one of the owners of Chugach Powder Guides. “It's a guided backcountry skiing experience, but significantly less than heli-skiing.”

The affordable rate for snowcat skiing has opened up a niche market that is only growing.

And to meet the demand, CPG last January added a second snowcat, purchasing a used cat from Bitter Root Resort in Montana. Owens said the cat has a few hours on it and is fully decked out and holds up to 12 riders.

So, now you can make the approximately 3,600 foot ascent to pristine wilderness skiing while comfortably sitting in your own captain's chair, in a heated super-deluxe cat, offering large windows to view Alaska's world-renowned winter scenery, while listening to a state-of-the-art sound system, and sipping a latte with your own cup holder.

The cats leave in the morning at The Hotel Alyeska next to the base of the tram. They follow a path cleared by CPG annually prior to each season.

It's a 45-minute ride to terrain on the north side of Winner Creek to Sunnyside and Notch Mountain.

Once the cat reaches the top, the rest of the day is easy riding with only about 15 minutes needed to take skiers up and down a variety of terrain.

“Our snowcat skiing has pretty diverse terrain,” said Owens. “Tree skiing, chutes, rollers, headwall, steep skiing. It's a big area, 1,500 acres of skiing, and we added 500 acres. The new terrain is A-1 Glacier area, once helicopter skiing.”

The advantage of the cat, said Owens, is that it can reach more fresh snow and fresh tracks than a helicopter.

After a full day of riding the cat, you will have covered a total of about 8-10,000 vertical feet of skiing. And all for a few hundred bucks! That should leave a little left over for a weekend stay at The Hotel Alyeska, which CPG works with offering snowcat ski packages.

Now that's a fun weekend of wilderness skiing in Alaska, and you didn't have to fly thousands of miles to experience it. It all happens right here in the backdoor of Girdwood Valley only 30 miles from the state's largest city.

However, the snowcat season takes a little longer to get underway than the ski season at Alyeska Resort, which began Nov. 25, because CPG has to wait for enough snow coverage and freezing to allow the snowcats to safely cross wetlands and creeks and to avoid damaging them.

Last year CPG's snowcat season began at the end of December, but usually doesn't start until early January, peaking in February, said Owens.

But with Alaska's long winters, the snowcat season continues until late April, with more daylight skiing and warmer temperatures.

Reservations for CPG snowcat skiing can be made by calling 907-783-4354 or visit their website at www.chugachpowderguides.com.