2013 AK TR - April at PNH

[powpig]

Previous TRs from 2009 , 2010 & 2012


Life is good, recently got back from another month up at Points North in Cordova, AK!

My first week up there I got to ski with guide Al-z, the Germans and DB who was there to celebrate his 50th in the Chugach.
After sitting for a couple days the skies cleared and we flew straight out to Toon Town, on the north side of Pontoon.

Somewhere there's a skier mid slope, while the others are still up top.


Well if the chopper's gotta go get fuel, we may as well lap it up.


We moved around the corner in the afternoon and found some great snow and steep shots on the Pontoon Film Wall, and then landed a bit higher and ski'd off the other side into the YeeHaw Couloir, a beautiful, huge highway visible from much of PNH's terrain.





The next day we started the morning out in the Full Support/Oz area.
I think this is on top of Atom Smasher


Always a treat to ski Oz! On top, a few pics before we click in.


1 of the Germans at our first re-group spot, a 1/4 of the way down


Looking back up at the 3200' vert of Oz


He'll be coming back for us

[Ripzalot]

sick! i wanna go next year for my 50.

[powpig]

We moved on over to the Worm Glacier in the afternoon and found great snow and some spines on Ate The Worm, landed on the top of Buddy Love & had a nice long pow run on Nailed It. Battery died so no pics, you'll just have to take my word for it. It was good!


The next day would begin kind of a recurring theme for my trip, wind.
We were a bit limited on where we could fly so we ended up north in the Targhetto/Bullseye area by the Cordova Glacier.


The wind subsided a touch in the afternoon so we were able to land up top of The Funnel


DB working his way down to our guide, perched up on the fin about halfway down.


A look around the corner into the Funnel itself.


Waiting for the call from the guide.


A look back up, you can see where we worked that spine before dropping back to our left.


Just a random afternoon coolie, the guide scoping it out.


One of the Germans working his way down the top section.


A scenic pick up spot by the glacier they called The Hole.

[powpig]

Heading home.


Clear again the next day but a month before my trip I was told by a doc I needed hip surgery and shouldn't come. I of course ignored that advice but after 26 runs & 3 straight days it started growling at me pretty good so I opted for the rest day.


After sitting for nearly a week with a bit of storming, we got out late in the afternoon, landing for our first run just a couple minutes before 4. I was with the old man group this week with Kim as our guide. The conditions were phenomenal, some of the best snow I've ever ski'd in AK and certainly the best pow I ski'd this season. We were kind of tiptoeing around and stayed on lower angle terrain but it didn't matter, a flat AK run in deep blower pow is still longer, steeper and better than just about anything lift served you're likely to ski in the lower 48. We lapped up South Funkytown and Pilot's Perch. We got 6 runs this afternoon before landing back at base at about 8:40.
A couple pics before our ride home, it was getting dark in a hurry.




We were pumped to get out and slay all that pow the next day.

Was not to be.
That recurring theme reared it's ugly head, the wind. Sustained 50+ with higher gusts had us grounded and unable to fly under sunny skies. Bummer!

The following day the winds had died enough to get out for a few hours, it was changeover day so the groups got scrambled and I was with guide Andrew and a crew from Utah led by the woman once named "the Best Female Big Mountain (extreme) Skier in the World".
We were right back in the Targhetto/Bullseye area and the word of the day was Variable. It was hard work trying to read the snow. Where it was smooth and looked good was breakable crust. Where it was rippled by the wind was actually pretty good pow snow. Everything in between was mostly carvable windboard, except of course for that knee high sastruggi. Many slopes did seem to benefit from a few hours of sun.

We landed on the backside here and worked our way into this coolie which was nicely sheltered and still held good snow.








We got 7 runs before we had to bail as the rest of my group was on the afternoon flight back home.


A new week & a new group had me skiing with guide JMack and more blustery weather had us back in that same Targhetto area. An extra day did seem to soften things up a bit and make the snow more consistent. Nothing too exciting but 10 runs is still a pretty big day.

I was asked the next morning if I minded swapping groups so some family of the guide could all ski together. I willingly stepped aside and chose to ski with guide Bilek & the Columbia crew from Steamboat. Me & 5 snowboarders. I chose wisely!

First stop was Ate The Worm. I've ski'd this run a good dozen times over the years and this day was some of the best turns I've ever had there! We lapped it 4 times, each run finding deep blower pow & working the spines.


We also ski'd the hourglass, a new one for me.
Some weather was forecast to move in and we watched a wall close in from the south just as the north became obscured, we were seemingly in the bubble and pulled the plug mid afternoon after 6 runs.

Snowing to sea level the next day.

[powpig]

After 2 down days, it cleared and out we flew to see how much new snow had fallen.

First stop was South Funkytown and what do we find but, wind.


The snow was great up top but transitioned to crust lower down. We weren't sure how long we could stay out, it was absolutely howling as we waited for our pick up.
We ducked around the corner and took a couple cruiser runs while trying to come up with a game plan, and then all of a sudden, it didn't seem so windy.
So we headed over a couple ridges to the Worm glacier and ski'd Icebox, Nailed It and this one, the Rabbit Hole


We then headed up to the Crown Couloir.


There was a bit of a runnel through the gut, as seen in the shade. The best skiing was gonna be on the left side lower down, the right side was likely to be crusty and the gut would probably not be soft. The entry was on the right and when the first boarder dropped in, most of the top new snow cut loose. There was a split second where he was about to turn back into it, but we were all yelling and he luckily pulled up and let it go by. That could've been bad!
I went next and jumped on it real hard to cut whatever hangfire was left, proceeded through the top choke and the buffed left side was soft & consistent as hoped.

Looking back up.


We had some time later so onea the guys posted up for some action shots.




Another big 10 run day!

Last day with the boarder crew, we started off as the guinea pigs, out to scout out some good snow.

First run on South Bubby's was a top to bottom breakable crust slog for me, was feeling awfully jealous of those snowboards. The chopper just hung out and shuttled us onward, across the Scott Glacier to the Full Support valley.
Sweeter Than Wine looked soft & beautiful and when I got to the bottom, there was just 1 track in there. Would've been a great pic but I was buzzing and never thought to grab the camera. Oh well.

Next stop, Oz!

There's a boarder there, mid slope




We moved over next door to Coogan's.
There's a lot going on in this pic. The guide is posted up on the right above the rollover, and if you look real close you can see a couple of groups and 2 helis down on the glacier. Humble Pie is the big peak in the back.


We hit a couple more coolies in the Red Light District later that afternoon, G Spot, and here's Banana Hammock.


Another big day, 11 runs this time!

[powpig]

The final week of the season, my guide is Bibby and we head out the first day in milky flat light conditions.
We find nice snow off the backside of Oh Canada and then move over to the other groups in the Super Bowl area.
We get ambitious and land on a bigger run, 5150, and the guide drops in and posts up about 1/2 way down so he can have eyes on each of us the whole way down. The boarder drops in first and about halfway to the guide, the lights go out. He makes it down and the next guy follows. We're watching and we can't make out any detail as he drops behind rocks and ridges we can't even see. It takes him a good 10 minutes just to reach the guide who decides it's just not worth it and makes the call to have the heli pick us up.
Me and the other guy are both longtime PNH customers but it's still a first for both of us, the heli picking up just the 2 of us up top and loading our own equipment, no guide present.
We take a couple more runs after that but the flat light takes some of the fun out of it. 5 runs ski'd today.

More shuffling the next day & I'm with a different guide, Delzer.
We start out on Cavemans, then Better Than Sex & a couple of us take a detour into Scarsdale.


One of the guys brought his speedwing and goes flying off Better Than Sex.




Then we head over the ridge to Full Support
I'm looking for the good snow


There it is!


Close up


Then Coogan's where the guide takes a turn on the speedwing.


Across the way to the Red Light District and Double Penetration and then the final run of the day on Ridiculous where I still find late day pow!

With a great forecast for the end of the week, I had no idea at the time that this would be my final run of the trip.
It stormed for a couple days and as predicted, Thu brought sunny skies but also those howling winds that just wouldn't quit. 50+ sustained with gusts near 70 kept us grounded the final 2 days and that was all she wrote.

11 Days & 92 Runs! My thanks to all my guides and the entire PNH crew. See ya next year!

[powpig]

sick! i wanna go next year for my 50.

Happy Birthday dude!

Mine's in July, probably not gonna be on snow.

[Jim S]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiice! Way to slay!



What were the down day activities?

[powpig]

What were the down day activities?

In addition to the old standbys of Drunkenness & Gluttony, I heard some people:

rode the lift at Mt Eyak and went skiing,
skinned up & went skiing,
hiking through rainforests (probably more of an April thing than March),
kayaking,
sightseeing for wildlife,
catch up on some reading,
nap,
hang out at a bar(s) and shoot pool or play shuffleboard,
post on TGR (dependent on finding high speed internet)

[subtle plague]

nice. looks like it wasn't much better windwise than haines.
we were wondering when they/you got that 10 foot storm and we only got two.

[LARRY01]

Nice TR. Thanks for sharing. Great group of people up at PNH. Can't wait to go back again.

[airdoug]

It was an awesome season. I had a blast weeks 7 and 8, Again, year after year I SCORE at Points North Heli!

[Franz Klammer]

PNH is awesome. And the best down day activity is ping pong!

[hutash]

In addition to the old standbys of Drunkenness & Gluttony, I heard some people:

rode the lift at Mt Eyak and went skiing,
skinned up & went skiing,
hiking through rainforests (probably more of an April thing than March),
kayaking,
sightseeing for wildlife,
catch up on some reading,
nap,
hang out at a bar(s) and shoot pool or play shuffleboard,
post on TGR (dependent on finding high speed internet)

Wow, with all those activities, why go skiing?

Great way to slay some great lines.

Jealous is a word I try to avoid, but it applies here, thanks for the TR.

[PointsNorth]

Thanks for your good words Powpig! That also goes out to the rest of you that have commented!

Though we are certainly not perfect here at PNH we try very hard. Most importantly, we try to be very honest with folks. No matter where you go in Alaska you will find what your looking for IF you get the weather.

Next year is a very big year for us as PNH. I am very reluctant to comment on that at this time but, those that know whats happening will attest that it may be the one season you dont want to miss out on. Stay tuned as it becomes a reality in the next few weeks to come.

Quinner

[basom]

/buys powerball ticket

[Incompetent Boob]

Looks like a nice trip and some nice lines, good stuff. I was just a little surprised that you only got 11 days in a month.

[liv2ski]

/buys powerball ticket

I know...I really want to go next year for my 55th bday.

[otto parts]

Thanks for your good words Powpig! That also goes out to the rest of you that have commented!

Though we are certainly not perfect here at PNH we try very hard. Most importantly, we try to be very honest with folks. No matter where you go in Alaska you will find what your looking for IF you get the weather.

Next year is a very big year for us as PNH. I am very reluctant to comment on that at this time but, those that know whats happening will attest that it may be the one season you dont want to miss out on. Stay tuned as it becomes a reality in the next few weeks to come.

Quinner

Bump for badly needed summer stoke.
Quinner, ready to share?

[PointsNorth]

Bump for badly needed summer stoke.
Quinner, ready to share?

6 more days Otto...and it will be posted here I assure you!

Quinner

[SchralphMacchio]

AE crushes it on skins or with a rotor. Quinner, you should get all of the guides rifle training and have them run AK lines with the guns just because of the Radness factor

[PointsNorth]

6 more days Otto...and it will be posted here I assure you!

Quinner

You mean something like this...

[SchralphMacchio]

you bet Quinner! and I know whose photos those are

any word on the announcement you were working up?

[PointsNorth]

Just heard today we have another week of waiting as the process has been extended again. It will be news one way or another.

Stay tuned

[Chugachjed]

I'm interested to hear. Are you going to be looking for hunting guides or boat captains? I know a guy...