Valdez

Valdez is not a classic ski resort with piste maps and lift systems – there are no ordinary ski lifts to ride on. Instead, it's one of North America's most mythical areas for ski touring and heli-skiing, where skiing is all about finding lines in vast mountain terrain rather than grinding piste.

What draws people here is especially Thompson Pass in the Chugach Mountains, a road passage along the Richardson Highway where you get massive terrain directly from the road. The area is known for huge amounts of snow – Thompson Pass is usually cited as one of the snowiest places in Alaska, with around 12-42.7 feet of snow per year on average.

The skiing is often done in the format "park at the roadside and walk", or via helicopter for longer rides and more distant lines. The terrain offers everything from open bowls and big faces to couloars and glacier environments, and when the weather is right, this can be among the most impressive rides you can find in North America.

What makes Valdez unique is the combination of the seaside climate and large mountains, which often gives a lot of snow and a snow that can feel both deep and bearable when it is right. For those who want to experience "real Alaska", Valdez is therefore more of a freeride destination than a ski resort – with a focus on snow, mountains and adventure rather than lift queues and groomed slopes.