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Pro Guiding Service
Domestic & International Trips & Courses with Certified Mountain Guides
Trip

Valdez Ski Touring Week

Overview

Valdez is well known for its heli skiing, and the Thompson Pass area is one of our favorite ski mountaineering areas in the U.S. The mountains are wild and spectacular, but surprisingly easy to summit on skis. The snow pack is very maritime and therefore perfect for steeper lines. The fact that we get to stay in the port town of Valdez and enjoy great salmon dinners night after night makes this a uniquely Northwest American experience.

$2,450 Per Person
6 Days
Difficulty
Ratio:
4:1, 8:2

Trip Information

$2,450
Price based on 3-4 skiers. Please contact us directly for private trips. 425-888-6397 x2 | info@proguiding.com

Valdez is well known for its heli skiing, and the Thompson Pass area is one of our favorite ski mountaineering areas in the U.S. The mountains are wild and spectacular, but surprisingly easy to summit on skis. The snow pack is very maritime and therefore perfect for steeper lines. The fact that we get to stay in the port town of Valdez and enjoy great salmon dinners night after night makes this a uniquely Northwest American experience.

Duration: 6
Ratio: 4:1, 8:2
Difficulty Level:
Click here to learn more about difficulty ratings.

Overall Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skills Required: Advanced skiing ability and prior ski touring experience

Fitness Level: Strenuous


Private Trips Available

Pro Guiding Service proudly offers the most diverse ski touring and ski mountaineering programs of any guiding service in the Northwest.
Learn MoreView Dates & Availability

Itinerary

Day One:  Our first day skiing in the Chugach will be geared towards getting adjusted to the terrain, finding some excellent views, and making our first turns in Alaska.  We will tour from Thompson Pass up among the peaks that segment the Twenty-seven Mile Glacier in a loop that brings us back to our starting point at the end of the day.
Day Two:  Our goal will be to tour up and ski the Berlin Wall, a classic Valdez line and a great introduction to the steep skiing so classic in this area.  Our high point will be 5,740 feet with many additional ski descent options available.
Day Three:  Let's ski north of the road and go up the broad expanse of the Worthington Glacier towards Girls Mountain.  This is a longer tour that takes us through big terrain and offers a classic steep line off the summit at 6,134 ft.
Day Four:  Today we ski “The Python”.  This striking feature offers the potential for ski descents in many directions, and is another Valdez classic ski descent.
Day Five:  Our biggest tour of the trip:  Mt. Dimond.  This peak tops out at 7,202 feet, with several world-class descents from its summit, glaciers clinging to several aspects, and knife-edge ridges leading to the summit. 
Day Six:  This final day can take a variety of forms.  Our options vary from seeking out another large peak to finding and skiing the best corn available at the pass…the plan is open to best fit the conditions and finish our week in Alaska with a great day of skiing. 
Please be aware that this is a suggested itinerary. It may have to be changed due to weather and/or conditions. Depending on the wishes of the group, we might also incorporate a heli backcountry drop into the program. The cost of this drop is not included in the advertised price. 
 

Private Trips

Pro Guiding Service proudly offers the most diverse ski touring and ski mountaineering programs of any guiding service in the Northwest. Smaller, more intimate custom itineraries or instructional tours are available for any of our destinations. Tell us what you want to do, and we can create a customized plan for you.
View Private Trips

Pricing

$2,450
per person
Price based on 3-4 skiers. Please contact us directly for private trips. 425-888-6397 x2 | info@proguiding.com
View Dates & Availability
What's Included In the Trip Price
  • hotel cost and breakfast
  • transportation to and from Thompson Pass
  • permit fees
  • guide fees
 
What's Not Included
  • travel to Valdez
  • rescue insurance
  • dinners and lunches
Payment Policy
If booking a domestic trip that is over 30 days away or an international trip that is over 60 days away, you can book your trip by paying a 20% deposit.  View Full Policy
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel for any reason 30 or more days before domestic trips or 60 or more days before international and Alaska trips, we will refund everything you have paid minus half of your deposit. No refunds will be provided if you cancel your trip for ANY REASON (this includes but is not limited to illness including CoVid-19, injury, or work-related issues) within 30 days of the start of domestic trips or 60 days of international and Alaska based trips.  View Full Policy

Equipment List

Clothing
Base Layer
  • 1-2 Lightweight or midweight tops (avoid cotton)
  • Lightweight or midweight long underwear bottoms
  • 2 pairs warm ski socks
  • 2 pairs liner socks
  • non cotton underwear
Mid Layer
  • Fleece or wool or similar warmth layer
  • Wind shirt or soft shell jacket - wind & water resistant, breathable
Outerwear
  • Waterproof/breathable jacket with hood
  • Soft shell ski pants
  • Waterproof/breathable ski pants
  • Down or synthetic puffy-type jacket
  • Warm hat - should cover ears
  • Sun hat - baseball type or visor
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Ski gloves or mittens
Personal Gear
  • Day pack – large enough to fit everything inside (around 30-40 liters) - dedicated shovel pocket preferred
  • Water bottles - enough for a full day - wide mouth best to prevent freezing shut
  • Sunglasses - adequate for snow travel
  • Goggles
  • Sunscreen - SPF 25+, waterproof
  • Lip Balm - SPF 15+
  • Headlamp - lightweight LED recommended
  • Face mask/covering - for when close contact is unavoidable
  • Hand sanitizer (there is no running water in the huts)
  • Earplugs - essential for sleeping
  • Personal toiletries - keep it simple: toothbrush, tiny toothpaste, bath wipes
  • Small personal first aid kit - just the basics: blister care, ibuprofin, prescription meds, etc.; your guides will have a substantial group first aid kit
Technical Gear

Snow Travel Gear

  • Snow travel equipment - alpine touring or telemark skis or splitboard
  • Boots - touring ski boots or snowboard boots
  • Poles - adjustable poles are ideal so you can adjust the length when going uphill/downhill
  • Climbing skins
  • Ski brakes or removable ski leashes
  • Ski or splitboard crampons - ensure they are compatible with your bindings and ski/board width

Safety Gear

  • Avalanche Beacon
  • Shovel - compact, lightweight, metal blade preferred
  • Probe - dedicated probe only (240cm or longer strongly recommended)

Technical Gear

  • Ice Axe - lightweight, 55-70cm is fine
  • Boot Crampons – ensure they fit your boots (steel required for Bernese Oberland and Monte Rosa, all other trips aluminum okay)
  • Anti-ball plates for crampons
  • Climbing Harness - lightweight, (no padding; ex: Petzl Altitude, Black Diamond Couloir)
  • Glacier Travel Kit:
    • 2 Locking Carabiners - at least 1 large HMS style and 1 regular locker
    • 2 Non-locking Carabiners - any style, we recommend wire gates
    • 1 Single Length Dyneema/Dynex Runner/Sling (60cm/24in diameter loop)
    • 1 Double Length Dyneema/Dynex Runner/Sling (120cm/48in diameter loop)
    • 1 Cordelette - 6 mm cord, 6 meter length

 

Optional Items
  • Notebook and writing utensil
  • Compass - adjustable declination a must
  • Altimeter watch
  • Helmet - recommended (not required)
  • Maps - contact guiding office for appropriate quadrangles
  • Map case - large Ziploc bags work well
  • Camera
  • Skin wax
  • Sleep sack - lightweight silk or cotton
  • warm socks - to sleep in
  • Thermos - vacuum type is best
  • Foot powder
Equipment Sales & Rental

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FAQs

Should I tip my guide?

Although tipping is not a requirement, it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your course or trip cost or a flat amount that you are comfortable with.

Why Book With Us? 

Certified Professional Guides & All Access
All of our guides have the highest quality training and certification in the industry, and you can be sure that we have the permits, licenses and insurance in every location we operate.
Safe, Well-Planned Tour Design
Every tour has a carefully thought-out guide-to-customer ratio. You always get a safe, high-quality trip or learning environment with us.
Pioneers In The Industry
You will travel and learn from experts. We've pioneered several alpine climbing routes, ski descents, and traverses and we've written books on skills and routes in the industry. 
Read Our story
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