Alaska
S. big-mountain region from Girdwood to Haines and Valdez | Known for: Chugach spines, Alyeska lift access, Thompson Pass heli terrain, Natural Selection Ski, FWT Alaska returns | Season: December to April with heli windows strongest from February to April | Best for: advanced freeriders, film crews, heli guests, and backcountry skiers with avalanche discipline Chugach Faces Above Tidewater Snow The Chugach Mountains rise directly above sea-level communities such as Girdwood and Valdez, putting maritime snowfall against slopes that climb fast from the coast. Alyeska Resort lists 1,610 skiable acres, 76 named runs, 7 lifts, a 40-passenger aerial tram, 2,500 feet of vertical rise, and 650 inches of average annual summit snowfall.... Read more on the Location page