VALDEZ, AK
There isn't a whole lot going on up in Alaska, but that is exactly the point. I am lucky enough to be included in a Valdez Heli trip at H20 with Freeskier Magazine. The crew is a fun bunch, composed of: Matt Harvey (editor), Luke Blaser (ad guy), Gabe (Scott USA), and Jimbo Morgan (Olympic Medalist, Electric, Skullcandy dude) and myself.
We arrived in Anchorage, rented an RV and drove to Valdez. Fun road trip of looking out over the mountains and seeing the scenery. After six hours of cruising the roads captain Blazer brought us into the Valdez port. We checked in, got a briefing and then did our beacon searches. Long day of getting up at 4:30am to bed at a little past midnight.
Next morning we were on weather hold for a while, then got up and flew for the afternoon and logged some runs. Half of the fun is just riding in the helicopters, banking turns, taking off, and coming in for landings. Some impressive landings on top of very small LZ's.
Then today we got in a few more runs until it got super milky and we had to huff it out on a glacier. Polling out of the glacier was actually pretty fun. The mountains, the vastness of it all, and the thrill of landing on huge peaks keeps my blood pumping. Today we had the legend himself, Dean Cummings, as our guide.
These are just a few pics from the last couple days. I have a ton more and will put some together in my gallery when the trip is done.
Can you see the guy in the picture skiing? Hard to tell as the light was getting bad by now.
