Alyeska

We were unfortunate enough to get some rain while we were there, which pretty much ruined the pow up top, but it was still a great day to be riding. Alyeska has a wide open feeling to it that not many other resorts can boast. I have visited Alyeska many times, and have never been disappointed. Even when the snow isn't good, there is such a variety of terrain that you can find something fun. This trip we stuck lower on the mountain due to the ice caused by rain up top. The areas where they were making snow were quite fun to ride, and it was a wonderful early-season day.

Many visitors say that Alyeska resembles a European resort more than one from the US; I haven't visited the Alps, but I can definitely say that Alyeska is in the upper eschelon of the resorts I have ridden. Alyeska features some of the shortest lift lines (even on weekends and holidays) and highest average snow numbers that you will find anywhere. If you are going to visit five resorts in the U.S., choose Alyeska as one.

Alyeska Resort is the best known ski resort in Alaska, located in the small town of Girdwood, 45 miles south of Anchorage. The mountain consists primarily of freeriding terrain, offering little to freestyle park jibbers, but your not coming to Alaska for that anyway are you? It is one of the best freeriding areas I've found, offering gobbs of powder and natural hits galore. The whole mountain has fairly advanced terrain. The best of it is found on North Face and High Traverse. North Face is some of the most advanced terrain occurring in resorts anywhere. It gets tracked quickly, so get there early after a dump. High Traverse is accessed by hiking out across the mountain from the top lift. From there you can pick your line. Alyeska Resort doesn't build any hits on their mountain, but if you look hard enough you can find plenty of natural hits and with a little bit of sculpting, make them into near perfect park launches.

Alyeska was surprisingly empty for a resort of its size. It hadn't snowed recently, but we were able to find good powder only a short hike away. I didn't get to ride North Face since it looked pretty tracked, but according to everyone I talked to it is awesome after a dump. My favorites were the cat track launches by Chair 4. If you're willing to sacrifice the time and energy you can hike to good powder even without a recent snow.