Alaska

Time of year is an important consideration. Early season in Alaska is a bit darker and colder, but that means you can ski more aspects and the snow really holds. Peak and late season are a bit warmer and brighter. 

Don't be intimidated by Alaska. The movies have made us all believe that Alaska = extreme. But this is not the default setting. There is access to some incredible steeps, but there is also terrain that is more more accessible for intermediate skiers. 

Plan for a week long trip. The reason why the snow is so good in Alaska is because it tends to storm a lot. When it's stormy, windy, or low visibility, there is a good likely hood the heli won't fly. So, you need to be there for an extended period of time to take advantage of the breaks between storms. Alaska operators spread your flight time over several days for the week, to get you the maximum amount of ski time. It's worth it to plan on a week long program, and most operators function this way. 

One of the benefits of heli skiing in Alaska is you've had a full winter season in the Northern Hemisphere to prepare. Your legs should be strong, and you'll go into your big heli skiing trip with confidence and a lot of skier days under your belt. It's a terrific way to extend your season, or the perfect cherry on top. 

If you are looking to challenge yourself as a skier or boarder, Alaska is the place to do it. There is a wide variety of terrain to accomodate intermediate to advanced riders, but it's most know for it's expert terrain. Steep shoots, spines and epic peaks. You'll feel like you are in a ski movie if that's what you're looking for. 

A little known fact about Alaska is how quickly riders progress when they go up to America's most northern state. The big, open faces allow you to really open up your turns. These faces and fans give you the opportunity to do more big mountain skiing, really taking advantage of the full turn radius and making true carving turns in powder snow. No hop turns here. 

The vibe is also a huge perk. There is a very laid back attitude. You'll hopefully have a chance to catch the northern lights, spot an eagle fishing, or come across a bear in the wild. The towns have a perfect mix of ski bums, locals and fishermen. It really is unlike any place on earth for backcountry skiing.