Years of guiding taught us that each guest is after something a little different. So we became the only heli ski operator in Valdez to offer choices — in accommodation, transport, meals and on-snow experience — instead of dropping everyone into one inflexible package.
Our location on Thompson Pass does not hurt either. It is the premier destination for heli skiing and heli boarding in Alaska, because of the terrain features and because the snow quality is astonishingly consistent. Professional skiers and snowboarders have flown with ASG since we started, for the easy access to the goods and for the standards we hold.
Who rides with us
From pros trying to get work done, to the motor home or tent camper with sleds in tow, to casual-intermediate skiers and riders who want the best lodging and dining Valdez has — we will work with you to make the week worth it.
Because of where we are based, we can reach a large amount of varied terrain that suits multiple ability levels. For strong intermediates there are wide open bowls, wind waves and features to slash and play on. For anyone who wants to challenge themselves on terrain that looks like the movies, the opportunity is there — as long as the guide judges your fitness and ability sufficient for it.
Whatever your level, you will leave ready to come back next season with a clearer idea of what your perfect trip looks like. We take some pride in watching guests improve their big-mountain skills year over year, and in the faces people make the first time they see the scale of Thompson Pass.
Thompson Pass
The heli-highway.
A short drive from Valdez, Thompson Pass has held a reputation as one of the premier heli destinations in the world for decades. Mountains that seem to stretch forever, a thriving heli scene, and an epic annual snowfall — it holds the U.S. record for highest annual snowfall, 974 inches, set in 1953.
Our primary base sits on the pass about 35 miles outside Valdez, positioned for the most efficient access to the good terrain and for missions pushing deeper into the range. Since 2014 we have also run a secondary staging area about 17 miles from town, which opens up more terrain and lets us pick the best elevation, aspect and slope for whatever the snow and weather are doing that day.
Snow and weather
Freeze-dried Alaskan powder.
Unlike the arid, high-elevation snow of Colorado or Switzerland, which falls dry, the Chugach makes its powder in two steps. Some of the largest low pressure systems on earth roll up off the Pacific and dump feet of snow — wet snow, straight off the ocean.
Then the clouds blow north, the sky clears, and night-time temperatures drop well below 0°F. The air above the snowpack is far colder than the snow itself, and the moisture simply leaves. The next morning is sunny and you are riding the top two feet of it: bone-dry, bottomless powder.
The bonus is stability. Twenty-four hours after a storm ends, the snowpack is better bonded than the Rockies or the Alps, because all that moist snow is still down in it — only the surface has dried out. That is why you can ride aspects here that would be off-limits almost anywhere else.
Average daily temperatures in the heli season run about 20°F (−7°C), ranging from 40°F down to 0°F. And while the snow is drying out, you have a decent chance of a northern lights show.
The guides
The people who decide where you drop in.
Most of our crew has been in the Alaska heli industry for years, and the combined knowledge is the reason ASG works. Guides are picked for their ability to run a comfortable but exciting day while keeping safety first.
Every ASG guide holds qualifications of the highest standard, from the American Avalanche Institute, the Wilderness Medical Institute, the Canadian Avalanche Association and the Alaska Mountaineering School.
Dave Geis
Came to Alaska in 1999 as a pro snowboarder and competitor in the original King of the Hill. Launched ASG in 2011. His instinct for snow quality, line choice and stability assessment makes him a snowboard guide that skiers ask for.
American Avalanche Level 1 (1991), Level 2 (1999), Level 3 Guides (2002) · Wilderness First Responder · American Mechanized Ski Guide 2
Dan Caruso
Guiding on Thompson Pass since 1995, back when there was one helicopter operator in Alaska and he was working with Doug Coombs and Dave Muccino. Has guided in New Zealand and led film crews to 6,000 m summits in South America.
American Avalanche Institute Level 3 · SLF Level 3, Davos · Wilderness First Responder · Swiss Red Cross Alpine First Responder
Justin Befu
Guiding film and photo crews since 1996, on both sides of the lens. Head snowmobile guide and a helicopter guide, and one of two on the team who guides on either a board or skis. If photos are what you are after, Justin is the answer.
AIARE 1 · AIARE 2 · Wilderness First Responder · El Dorado County Search and Rescue
Chad Colby
An Alaskan heli guide since 1999 with well over 1,000 guided runs in the Chugach and Tordrillos. Off-season he runs Runner Up Sports in Whitefish, Montana. His run selection makes him a favourite with skiers and snowboarders alike.
Professional member AAA · Level I, II, III certified · NSP and AAA instructor · Search and Rescue instructor
Travis Elquist
Grew up in southeastern Idaho, and is a certified surgical technologist when he is not guiding or out in the mountains around his home in Anchorage.
Wilderness First Responder (2005–current) · American Avalanche Level 1 & 2 · Crevasse rescue · American Mechanized Ski Guide 2 · AIARE Level 2
Hear from our guests
What people say when they get back down.
“There's an energy here bigger than words can describe. The snow is incredible, I mean it's completely mind blowing — the stuff we can ride. I had the best turns of my life today.”
Brian Iguchi · Pro snowboarder
“After years of running DH and SG across this country, I found the next level. The most freeing experience of my life. A must do before your final ticket is punched.”
Robbie Cravens · National masters speed champion
“Every run that we took was the best run of our lives.”
Pat Moore · Pro snowboarder
“Having spent the last decade working within the snowboard industry, I can spot a fake when I see one, or more importantly spot the real deal — and ASG is the real deal. They have history and understand what it means to be a snowboarder. The stoke these guys have for getting you on the run of your life is infectious and honest.”
Tim Peare · Professional photographer
History
Started in 2011 by people who were already here.
From lead guides to office staff, all of us started out working and skiing with other operators in Valdez, going back to the early nineties. In 2011 we assembled, made our own operation and asked our friends to come ride with us. That let us build something flexible fast.
In 2012 we were the first operator offering a full package with genuine flexibility — enough time to actually complete your runs. If the weather is good and you finish in three days, you are welcome to buy more. If you get a rough week, you should still finish your package.
From 2013 we added packages including transport and lodging for guests who wanted a more comfortable version of the week, and we have kept expanding that since.
