Guided Trips & Instruction
Thompson Pass Backcountry Skiing & Ski Mountaineering
Central Chugach Ski Guide
Thompson Pass Ski Guide & Avalanche Education Provider
Thompson Pass was used as a trade route by Alaska’s indigenous peoples for generations prior to the arrival of peoples of European descent. It may now be the most sought after backcountry skiing, snowboarding, and ski mountaineering destination in North America (if not the world)!
Thompson Pass is the snowiest place on the road system in Alaska averaging over 500″ annually. It holds the U.S. record for most snowfall in two and three day time periods. The copious snowfall that builds a deep and relatively stable intermountain-transitional snowpack combined with its high elevation (for northern latitude mountains) makes for nearly unlimited access along a 20 mile stretch of road.
There’s usually enough snow by late October with access options expanding through November and December as more brush gets buried. Generally, most terrain is accessible along the 20 mile stretch of road by January (if not before).
November through February provide some of the highest grade powder skiing in the world in a semi-glaciated mountain environment with big relief that is second to none in its sublime beauty and riding pleasure. The sun this time of year doesn’t degrade snow quality even on solar aspects.
Through March powder skiing can still be excellent on most aspects, although timing relative to solar exposure becomes more important.
April is a fantastic month for corn skiing while powder skiing can still be widely had in the upper elevations.
The first half of May serves up world-class corn skiing with powder still available on upper elevation northerly aspects.
People come to ski and ride Thompson Pass from all over the world, with primetime beginning in March and lasting through April. November through February Thompson Pass is practically empty, which makes these months ideal for visiting if you’re looking for an extremely quiet wilderness experience.
Access is relatively easy and straightforward, but these are BIG mountains with complex and extreme avalanche terrain.
Few, if any, have explored the Thompson Pass area more extensively via human-powered alpine touring than Chugach Mountain Institute. CMI is the only ski guide service based and residing in this area full-time, year-round. CMI is in these mountains on a regular basis throughout. CMI knows this terrain with an incomparable depth of knowledge and experience. CMI follows the snowpack here from the first snowfall through the last.
This area is surprisingly accessible for human-powered touring, and CMI guided rates are a fraction of the price of heli-skiing. With good fitness and guiding from CMI, you’ll be blown away by what you can accomplish on Thompson Pass via skis and skins. CMI also offers day and multi-day fly-in (round trip and fly-in, ski out) skiing and riding on Thompson Pass.
CMI won’t just guide you. As a Master’s-level outdoor educator and American Avalanche Association approved avalanche education provider, CMI will help you build the knowledge and skillset to be more self-sufficient with avalanche safety and snow-season backcountry travel so you can develop the ability to experience the “freedom of the hills” on your own.
If you seek the optimal Thompson Pass backcountry skiing and splitboarding experience, contact CMI to plan the best trip for you or your group.
Booking information is available here. Call 907-831-9686 or email Info@ChugachSnow.org for inquiries and availability.
This zone is 25-45 minutes drive on a well-maintained highway from the town of Valdez where there are breweries, a cannabis shop, restaurants, a supermarket, and many options for lodging. There are also extensive vehicle camping opportunities outside of town and through Thompson Pass, which is an excellent way to cut down on expenses. Hot showers can be had in Valdez at the Harbor.
Hairpin, Moonlight Basin, & Odessey (aka Odyssey) area
This zone lies just to the east of Thompson Pass proper. It’s one of the highest elevation access points (entirely above tree line) and features road runs (car shuttle between the Richardson Highway hairpin), the giant south-facing Moonlight Basin cirque, and Odessey Peak.
This area, near Thompson Pass proper, has one of the highest elevation starting points making it a great early and late season destination for skiing and snowboarding. It often has a good base as early as mid October and almost always by mid November. The corn skiing is epic through May.
This area is a classic Central Chugach backcountry zone with a lot of terrain options to accommodate different levels and types of skiers and snowboarders. It’s one of the best early and late season destinations having a relatively high elevation starting point near Thompson Pass proper.
Worthington Glacier area: Sapphire, Hershey’s Kiss (aka Repeater Peak), Acapulco, Sister Spire
This zone provides the easiest access to human-powered big mountain glacier skiing in the world! The toe of the Worthington Glacier is less than half mile from the trailhead. Steep skiing exists on multiple aspects of the glacier’s prominent peaks: Sapphire, Hershey’s Kiss, and Acapulco. Plenty of mellow powder skiing is also available, and the area often holds wind-sheltered snow.
Girls Mountain area: Little Girls, Bad Girls, Bro Bowl, Baldy (aka Bruin Benchmark), Hoodoo
This is a big area that has something for everyone: easily accessible and mellow lower slopes, long glaciated powder runs, steep chutes and couloirs, incredible ski mountaineering, and options for big adventure tours.
This area features a few easily accessible gullies and lower slopes that lead to vast upper elevation areas that feature the full spectrum of Chugach ski terrain: steep faces, chutes and couloirs, technical ski mountaineering objectives, long mellow powder and corn runs, ribs and spines, and the opportunity for adventure tours linking multiple cirques and valleys.
Python, Cracked Ice, Rhinestone, & RFS area
This huge area of terrain is one of the most classic zones on Thompson Pass, and for good reason: it hosts several iconic Chugach ski and snowboard destinations like Rhinestone Cowgirl, RFS, Cracked Ice, and the east aspect of Python.
Diamond area (aka Mt. Dimond): Stairway, Gun Barrels, Promised Land
This area is likely home to some of the most concentrated, easily accessible steep chute and couloir riding in the world.
Hippie Ridge area: Cheese Wedge, Max High
This is a great mid winter zone: a vast area with long, south-facing powder runs. Above the 2000-3000′ lower slopes, a relatively flat upper elevation area hosts several prominent peaks that afford the full gamut of the Alaska backcountry skiing experience.
Crudbusters area: Iguana Backs, Total Crud, Purple Nurple, Elephant, Wilbur’s (aka 40.5 Mile Peak)
Crudbusters is one of the best “bang for your buck” human-powered touring zones on the interior side of Thompson Pass. It features over 3500′ of direct, continuous fall line skiing along its north ridge. Crudbusters also provides access to classic Thompson Pass zones like the Iguana Backs, Wilbur’s, and Elephant. Endless potential exists in this area for the entire spectrum of backcountry skiing: from casual tours to extreme steep skiing.
Three Pigs (aka 42 Mile Peak) area
This big massif on the interior end of the Thompson Pass (Richardson Highway) corridor provides access on its south, east, and north sides. Everything (in terms of the Alaska backcountry skiing experience) exists here: HUGE (4000′) chutes, tree skiing, spines, ribs, powder bowls, steep faces, and plenty of opportunity for BIG adventure tours and ski mountaineering trips.
Billy Mitchell area: Key to Lisa, Seal Glacier, Happiness, Fork It In
Mt. Billy Mitchell (7217′) is one of the highest peaks in the Valdez, AK area Central Chugach. It is the highest peak along the road corridor that cuts through Thompson Pass. The Billy Mitchell massif provides numerous backcountry skiing opportunities. While not an area for novices, if you can ski black diamonds you should be able to enjoy the terrain this area has to offer.