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Alaska Range's Little Switzerland
Ski Mountaineering Trip
April 17-24th, 2010
click on photos to enlarge
We enjoyed a wonderful, week-long ski mountaineering trip into the heart of the Alaska Range to a region known as "Little Switzerland" due to the impressive spires and large glaciers flowing down and around these often described "Bugaboos of Alaska".
For info on joining our 2011 trip, check out the expedition details here.
Our skiing team of Eli Helmuth, Dave Ryan, Derek Drechsel, Coley Brenan and CLG apprentice guide Mike Arnold enjoyed overall great skiing conditions due to the more than five feet of snow that fell during our time in the mountains on top of a thick base - stepping off the ski plane was in 'up to the waist' deep snow.
Eli will be offering ski trips to the Alaska and Chugach Ranges again in April of 2011 with both tent-based and hotel-based trips for powder lovers of all persuasions. Eli is also returning to Little Switzerland in mid-June for a week-long alpine rock outing where we plan to summit most of the peaks in the photo below (and a few others). As two of the climbers on this trip are training for upcoming AMGA courses, we will likely be climbing routes up to IV 5.10 in difficulty. If this sort of trip interests you, we still have one spot available - contact
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or click here more details.
A view from camp looking southeast towards our Alaskan neighbor's camp and the surrounding peaks from (L-R) : The Throne, The Trolls, Telephone Pass Peak, and Crown Jewel.
Photo C.B.
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Dave Ryan near the bottom of the 900' tall 'Hobbit Hop' Couloir, one of the bigger and fluffier couloirs that we skied a couple of times during this trip with angles into the mid-40's and more than a meter of fresh snow making for bottomless powder conditions. Photo C.B.
Looking down the Pika Glacier on our one bluebird morning with Mt. Foraker (17,400' ) in the distance. Foraker is Alaska's second highest peak. Photo C.B.
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Dave floating over bottomless powder at the bottom of the "Hobbit Hop Cooler".
Photo C.B.
Talkeetna Air Taxi is considered the top flight service in AK and with few climbers and skiers in the mountains this time of year, we had no problem flying onto the glacier on schedule. Photo E.H.
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Basecamp in the middle of the Pika Glacier was comfortable as we were able to bring 130# of camping equipment and food per person, so we brought lots of tasty food for a healthy diet along with ample post-ski beverages. Four tents for five people and a cook tent gave us plenty of room to stretch-out after big days of skiing. Photo C.B.
The west face of The Trolls following one of our daily snow storms. We were denied again from skiing the central couloir so it remains on the 'to-do' list for a future trip. Photo C.B.
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Eli checking-out the conditions at the start of the "Hobbit Hop" Couloir with the lower Pika Glacier flowing into the massive Kahiltna Glacier. Photo C.B.
The crew enjoying the flight into the Pika Glacier in a beautifully restored 1954 DeHavilland Otter ski -equipped plane, flown by TAT owner Paul Roderick. Photo C.B.
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Heading back to camp after a big run on the north face of The Hobbit. The Royal Tower is the large peak on the right that we climbed and skied halfway to the top the following day. Photo C.B.
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Eli assessing avalanche potential, pitch length, and best snow conditions at the top of the "Hobbit Hop Cooler". Photo C.B.
(L-R) Dave, chef Eli, Derek, and Mike settling in for a big burrito dinner in the cook tent, a BD Betamid Light, following a huge day in the Little Swiss.
Photo C.B.
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Doing some group spooning on "The Milk Run", our favorite powder run that rises just above camp. Photo D.D.
Eli and Mike breaking trail up to the top of the upper Hobbit Couloir- the first of two north-facing 'coolers' that we accessed with a relatively easy skin-up from camp. Photo D.D.
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Checking out our tracks after a couple of laps on the Milk Run- photo taken just a few feet away from camp. Photo E.H.
Eli and Mike breaking trail past the east face of The Royal Tower. With over a foot of new snow on five out of our six days in the mountains, we spent more time trail breaking than usual as our previous day's trails were completely covered each day. Photo C.B.
Paul Roderick in his Otter, flying over The Royal Tower as he departs from our drop-off onto the Pike Glacier. We didn't see or hear another plane except for a couple of fighter jets that passed impressively over the peaks one morning. Photo D.D.
Derek and Dave near the top of the skin track on the Milk Run with The Throne shining beyond base camp. Photo C.B.
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Thanks to Big Agnes for providing a couple of our group tents for this Alaskan Expedition- they are great shelter from the storm!
Photo C.B.
Eli mid-way down the big couloir that splits the east face of The Royal Tower on what was our steepest skin-up, climbing, and ski descent of the week, near 50 degrees in deep snow. We snagged this run in perfect conditions just as the next storm blew-in. Photo D.D.
Mike and Eli discussing the snow conditions and descent plan for The Hobbit Hop. Photo D.D.
Our Alaskan neighbors setting a track below The Throne.
Photo C.B.
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Derek on the long slide down from camp to the start of our skin track up The Hobbit. Photo E.H.
Coley loving the powder at the base of the Hobbit Hop Cooler. Photo D.D.
Eli making the first turn in the 1200 feet above the glacier highpoint, and start of the descent of the 'Splitter Couloir'.
Photo D.D.
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The 'Splitter Couloir' on the east face of The Royal Tower that we climbed 1/2 way up and skied down in an oncoming storm. Photo D.D.
Mike making big turns on his big ski's: the BD Megawatts... lots of voltage in those things! Photo C.B.
The cook tent after another all night storm. Photo C.B.
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The Otter plowing through deep snow on the pick-up with master pilot Paul Roderick in the cockpit.
Photos C.B.
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Mike getting ready to float the "Milk Run" next to The Munchkin with The Troll across the valley.
Photo C.B.
Sunset at 10:30pm on the Pika Glacier. Photo C.B.
Eli Helmuth of ClimbingLife Guides has been leading safe and successful trips in Denali National Park yearly since 1994. These trips have included multiple summits of Denali via the complete West Rib, on the Moose's Tooth, and on more than 21 alpine training courses and ski mountaineering expeditions in numerous glaciers throughout North America's greatest mountain range.
Please call with inquiries or to book your next backcountry skiing, mountaineering, or rock climbing trip:
970.744.4898 or contact us at:
 
Eli Helmuth is an AMGA certified Rock, Alpine, and Ski Mountaineering Guide and IFMGA/UIAGM Licensed Mountain Guide.
ClimbingLife Guides is an authorized and insured permittee of Rocky Mountain National Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Denali National Park and Preserve, and the Boulder Mountain Open Space.
www.guide.climbinglife.com
© ClimbingLife Guides, 2010. All Rights Reserved.
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