Photo: Jeff Curley

WHERE:
Valdez. Nowhere in Alaska does the snowboard community unite like it does here. With Thompson Pass and terrifying terrain blasting up right off the road, you can see right away that you have made a life changing decision. It also snows… a lot.

WHEN TO GO:
March and April are historically the best times to go, and the months that most everything we have witnessed on film has gone down. With improving weather, snow conditions and longer daylight hours, this is when Alaska happens for snowboarders. Plan your trip for at least a week, if not longer, due to prolonged periods of snow and cloudy weather.

HOW TO GET THERE:
1. Fly into Anchorage and rent a vehicle. From there it is a five-hour drive through some of the most breathtaking country you’ll ever see, massive valleys, endless forests and ultimately over Thompson Pass, then down to Valdez.
2. Fly directly to Valdez on a shuttle flight from Anchorage. Finding a ride up to the pass each morning is not an issue.
3. Drive. What better way to see a good portion of North America than with a couple buddies? This is a once in a lifetime kind of experience in itself.

WHAT TO BRING:
An open mind, humility, a bigger board, your “A game”, patience, climbing harness, avalanche gear, Gore-Tex, a change of underwear

WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME:
Jib board, entitlement, attitude, pant sag

HELI OPS:
Alaska Backcountry Adventures — alaskabackcountry.com
H2O Heli Guides — alaskahelicopterskiing.com
Rendezvous — arlinc.com
Valdez Heli Ski Guides — valdezheliskiguides.com

SNOWMOBILE OPS:
Big Mountain Taxi — bigmountaintaxi.com

WHERE TO STAY:
Mountain Sky Lodge Best Western Back of Your Truck Tent on top of Thompson Pass

MORE INFO:
TailgateAlaska.com
Tailgate Alaska on Facebook