Another perfect sunset run at 10:30 p.m.! |
When the sun is shining everyone runs around sparked, eager and anxious. The hurry up and wait game is frustrating. Get your group together, be ready and wait. Everyone wants to go, right now, up there. The days like this end with ecstatic and exhausted faces.
Helicopter skiing here is not like anywhere else in the world. Most operations are incredibly expensive and highly structured. At these places, you must make reservations, (sometime years in advance). Everything is taken care. Lush accommodations, 4 star dining, an overly attentive, friendly staff. Perfectly relaxed, endless gentle powder turns are the order of the day. The heli scene in Valdez is not like this. In fact, from what I hear, all of Alaska, is anything but that!
In Alaska, the list of rules and regulations for flying operations are more safety suggestions than anything else. On our second day in the Valdez area, we make the rounds, undergo all the safety briefings, and sign liability releases. There is something about the laissez-faire attitude of the average Alaskan that make this place what it is to the snow riding world. Up here it is understood that it is the right of the individual to be responsible for his own action. If he wants to risk his own neck - that is his God given right. Why is this such a difficult concept for the rest of the main stream world to accept. Out there you are exposed and vulnerable. No excuses are made. Ski with extreme caution and even paranoia, one wrong turn or slip is all it takes. The multiple of potential risks are clearly identified. Oh yeah, dont forget to buy your chips - have fun.
Tom Thibodeau, one of the owners at ABA, is a 30 year resident of Alaska. His relaxed, laid back attitude is exemplary of the Alaskan way. His manner is perfect to the flexible manner by which this show runs. As he puts it, we are the classic Alaskan Taxi , we will take you wherever you want to go.
The Menace, home sweet
(portable) home |
The Menace (Brian McGrath), slaves away the whole year to pull together a portable camp. His home is set up right at ABA. The place is fully equipped with stove, cot and wood palate floor ( compliments of the unsuspecting grocery store in town). He assures me that thanks to a great sleeping bag as some diligent fire stoking he never gets cold. This man has roughing it down to an art form. In one corner lies a pile of gear, it the other is a couple of boxes of bulk canned food, soups and noodles. He looks around and smiles,
welcome to my junk show. Who says that you cannot survive on Ramen Noodles.
For people who love to ride snow and discover new limits of decent, there is no other place on the planet better set up to help make it all happen. The rules seem relatively simple: just get here. Save every possible penny you can and come ready to fly. The precious heli-poker chip is the ticket to bliss. For most of the real ski fanatics up here, the financial strain is out of control. Every single possible saved penny holds the potential promise for another flight to another first descent down something perfectly sick. Some of the guys up here have nothing. Yet, they always find a way to fly. Luxuries such as lodging, transportation, even regular balanced meal are easily waved for this pursuit, this space for only the mentally and physically fit. Next year we will go even deeper.
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