$900 – Call 907-831-9686 or email Info@ChugachSnow.org for inquiries and registration.

This is a five-day springtime course for advanced backcountry skiers and snowboarders that want to develop and refine skills for ski mountaineering, especially in areas where avalanche forecasts and observations are limited or unavailable. Curriculum is focused on planning, conditions assessment (avalanche safety, snowpack stability, surface conditions, objective hazards), big mountain terrain management, group dynamics, and technical skill development (glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and mountaineering). This course delivers as much mentored big mountain ascending and descending as possible, in addition to skill development for ski mountaineering glaciated and technical terrain. For interested students, it’s also possible to obtain American Avalanche Association recognized Rec Level 2 certification through this course.

Prerequisites: ability to ski or snowboard advanced terrain in variable snow conditions, fitness to tour via ski or splitboard for consecutive 8+ hour days in the mountains, completion of American Avalanche Association recognized Rec Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue course(s).

Central Chugach (Valdez, Thompson Pass, Tiekel Valley) course dates:

• Wednesday, April 10 – Sunday, April 14, 2024
• Wednesday, April 9 – Sunday, April 13, 2025

Develop your ski mountaineering skills in the most incredible road-accessible destination in Alaska (the world, arguably) with the area’s only resident mountain guide. CMI’s Mat Brunton has pioneered numerous new routes, first ascents, and descents in the Valdez, Thompson Pass, and Tiekel Valley area Central Chugach. Being based in this area and living here year-round, no other ski guide knows the terrain in this region as well as CMI’s Mat Brunton. From the small town of Valdez, there’s a nearly 60 mile stretch of road (the Richardson Highway) that provides access to some of the most incredible big mountain ski mountaineering terrain on Planet Earth. The terrain here is unlike anywhere else: continuous ascents and descents of 4000′ are standard, and fall line descents of 35º+ for 5000′ exist.

Anchorage area (Hatcher Pass & Western Chugach) course dates:

• Wednesday, March 26 – Sunday, March 30, 2025

Most ski mountaineering terrain in the Western Chugach is conveniently located within a 45 minute drive of Anchorage and its international airport. Even more terrain, within an entirely different ambiance, is available only an hour drive from Anchorage in the Hatcher Pass area Talkeetna Mountains. Prior to relocating to Valdez and the Central Chugach, CMI’s Mat Brunton lived in Anchorage for 16 years. During this time he pioneered an avalanche information and education program, countless new routes for alpine touring, and numerous first ascents and descents in this region.

CMI also provides private and custom ski mountaineering instruction throughout Alaska with rates starting at $500/day. The options and potential are endless. Fly-in or from-the-road, develop your ski mountaineering skills with Chugach Mountain Institute: Southcentral Alaska’s resident ski mountaineering guide that has established numerous first ascents and descents in the Chugach, Kenai, Talkeetna, Wrangell, and Alaska Range mountains.