Evening Classroom and Full Day in the Mountains
Sharpen avalanche rescue skills and spend a full day touring Turnagain Pass with professional A3 guides. This focused refresher blends evening beacon drills with on-snow snowpit testing and progressive terrain coaching to boost your backcountry confidence.
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Difficulty
challenging
Duration
6+ hours
Fitness Level
Participants should be comfortable skinning uphill for sustained periods, carrying a 30–35L pack, and skiing variable terrain; aerobic endurance and basic touring experience recommended.
Wildlife
History
Turnagain Pass sits along the Seward Highway corridor and has long been used by local guides and backcountry skiers as a nearby training and touring zone.
Conservation
Small group sizes, focused decision-making, and strict leave-no-trace practices help reduce human-triggered avalanche incidents and protect alpine vegetation and wildlife.
Girdwood Backcountry Guides
Evening Classroom and Full Day in the Mountains
Girdwood Backcountry Guides is an Anchorage, Alaska–based guide service that runs backcountry skiing experiences in Turnagain Pass and helicopter-assisted drop-off tours into the Chugach Mountains. The company offers a Half-Day Tour designed to take skiers into untouched alpine terrain in Turnagain Pass, and Girdwood Helicopter Drop-Off Backcountry Tours that include a scenic helicopter flight followed by ski runs and touring laps in the Chugach range.
The Half-Day Tour is described as suitable for all skill levels, with expert guides leading participants through scenic, less-crowded slopes and alpine vistas away from resort terrain. The Girdwood Helicopter Drop-Off option provides a flight into remote mountain zones for extended laps and expansive views. Both trip descriptions emphasize access to raw backcountry landscapes and focused guided time on snow.
Girdwood Backcountry Guides operates from Anchorage, Alaska, and advertises unique access to Turnagain Pass and helicopter-assisted terrain in the Chugach Mountains. Trip summaries highlight expert guides, untouched landscapes, and the opportunity for memorable runs and touring laps. For visitors seeking guided backcountry skiing experiences originating near Anchorage, these offerings present distinct on-snow options: a convenient half-day for varied ability levels and a helicopter-supported day in the high alpine.
Terrain Covered
Turnagain Pass & Chugach
Iconic Alaska alpine landscapes
Location
Anchorage, Alaska
Base for all tours
Tours Offered
2 Trip Types
Half-day and helicopter drop-off
Guides
Expert guides
Led by expert guides
Reserve a Half-Day Tour or a Helicopter Drop-Off backcountry experience for scenic runs in Turnagain Pass and the Chugach.
Check the avalanche bulletin
Read the regional avalanche forecast for Turnagain Pass the morning of your trip and ask your guide how the reported problems affect planned terrain.
Service your beacon
Bring a three-antenna beacon with current firmware, fresh batteries, and practice a quick three-person search before you leave town.
Pack layered warm fluids
Carry two liters in wide-mouth bottles and an insulated thermos to avoid frozen hydration; fluids help maintain decision-making in cold temps.
Carpool and plan timing
Meet at 1553 Alyeska Highway, Girdwood, AK and use the provided carpool to limit roadside congestion and minimize group exposure near the highway.
Avalanche beacon (3-antenna)
Required for all participants to practice rescue scenarios and companion search drills.
winter
Probe (>=280cm) and quality shovel
Essential for realistic avalanche rescue practice and accurate snowpit sampling.
winter
AT skis or splitboard with skins
Light touring gear improves efficiency on skintracks and uphill progress during a full day in the mountains.
winter
30–35L backpack with hydration and space for gear
Holds rescue tools, extra layers, food, and water while keeping items organized for quick access.
winter