Getting There | Journey to AK Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
So you are planning a trip to Valdez are you? Rest easy in the comfort of your own home because when you leave for Valdez its almost as if your leaving for another world and your entire body will be put to the test. The test of physical ability, the tests of a patient mind and the ultimate test of decision making while trusting your gut instinct.
As we roll out our first edition of All Roads Lead to Valdez Alaska we prepare you, this story is about the first part of our trip which involved no heli boarding, that’s coming in part two. This portion of our story is about snowmobiling in Alaska and your ability to do so even without your own snow machine. We rolled up to Alaska in the SNOWREV RV, which is a perfect set up for housing and driving but we knew that anything in tow would take a major toll on our vehicle so we brought no sleds up with us.
On April 7th we arrived at the MTNOPS Tailgate Alaska base camp, which was located on Thompson Pass in the center of a 360-degree view of a portion of the chugach mountain range. Also located at this location was Alaska Backcountry Adventures heli operation, and an additional 15 sleds parked in the front yard.
The sleds were all personally owned but the owners were eager to double riders for $10 each run, as well as create a partnership where you double them for their run and they will double you. This was key for a five-man crew with no sleds and one flying days worth of heli budget.
Each day there were a few key players that made our journey worthwhile. First off, Rob Kingwill, owner of Avalon 7, was a great help and allowed us to rally his sled even when he wasn’t there; we just had to pay for gas. Aaron Robinson was another big help, although he was primarily after his own goods, he understood the trade off of I double you and you double me. There was a 64 year old war vet named Steve that helped us out beyond any of our expectations, he had three sleds posted up at the base camp that he allowed us to use. He also loaded us up with a free batch of fresh halibut and salmon filets that fed the entire crew real well. Steve stands out in my mind mostly for this reason. We were waiting at the LZ (Landing Zone) of a run called Skatepark while using Steve’s sled and he pulled up on another sled that he paid for a ride. He unloaded from his sled ride, at the LZ, said what’s up, strapped in to his snowboard and dropped in to the run we were about to session. This may not sound like anything special if you hadn’t picked up on the fact that Steve is almost a senior citizen and he is still out getting it.
Thanks to all of the people that helped out our crew with sled rides. It was a bigger help than you can imagine.
To sum up fourteen days into a few hundreds words is really difficult. Some key points are; this was a once in a lifetime trip, and if you ever have the opportunity to do it take it. Alaskan terrain is accessible by snowmobile; just learn about glacier travel before heading off and doing it. Find a good crew and head up there yourself, just being there is worth the trip, add in a few good riding days and it will be something you never forget.
- We arrived at the perfect time. Clear skies and a super bright moon greeted us the first night.
- Valdez has quite a bit of sled access. No heli budget, no problem.
- Elliot Levitt was very anxious to get on slope each day. No sled budget, no problem.
- Elliott and Barry from agoodreed.com decide to barrel each other.
- Mark Sullivan, Rob Kingwill and Aaron Robinson get after The Berlin Wall.
- Barry and considering how much vertical we got on the sleds today.
- Wyatt Caldwell and Elliott Levitt criss crossing down the hill.
- Wyatt had a short hike to this wide open pow field.
- I got this little guys attention. He seemed very cold and very tired, and wondered what the hell we were doing bothering him.
- It'll Do, Valdez, AK
- Truly the last frontier. Alaska might as well be its own country.
MTNOPS, Tailgate Alaska base camp.
- Worthington Glacier,
- "Rob Kingwill is the most underrated rider in snowboarding" Kevin Jones
- Kinger gets after it.
- Kinger puts it all in perspective.
- A Rob, Aaron Robinson is a ripper from Montana.
- It seems that Aaron is very comfortable on the steep terrain.
- This frame is sick because its my world flipped upside down. As you see, there is little sky and lots of land, not quite like Western New York.
- Wyatt knows how to ride a sled.
- Wyatt also knows how to ride his snowboard.
- This is my first pow slash of the trip, pretty stoked. There were four that followed this one. Big ups to Mark Sullivan for letting me borrow his MTNOPS Harpoon board. It rides so good.
- Mtnops, Tailgate AK.
- Ice Caves between Thompson Pass and Valdez.
- I spotted this view and asked Andrew to shoot a reflection shot from here and this is it.
- Valdez harbor. Fresh Halibut or Salmon anyone?
- Classic RV in AK shot. Snowrev in Thompson Pass.
- This is one of the coolest totem carvings I have ever seen.
- Mark Dangler didn't shower for thirty days, the entire duration of this trip.
- Happy from ABA told me that we had the most pimp RV that has ever pulled into Thompson Pass.
- Elliott Levitt looking for the right tunes to pass the down days away.
- ABA, Thompson Pass. Sled headquarters.
- Wyatt Caldwell getting deep on the edge of this cornice.
- Kinger backside slasher
- Sick fucking grab. Aaron Robinson sending it.
- Aaron handling the start of a 3,000ft vertical run called skate park
- Sled Dogs of a different sort up here in Valdez.
- Aaron getting himself a good meal while Mark Dangler interviews Wyatt in Post holia.
- Aaron shows that camping doesn't mean not eating right. In and out eat your heart out.
- Blueberry ABA local.
- Rob Kingwill on choosing the right zone.
- Rob Kingwill on choosing the right line.
- Kinger is the man.
- Classic Alaska bald eagle shot.
- Snowrev at the Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass, Valdez Alaska. Home is where the heart is.
- I watched the sunset fall over some of the Chugach from the top of the RV. Everything told me that it was the perfect moment.
- A bonfire for ABA intern North. Turning 18th in AK on Thompson pass is not a bad way to celebrate.
Continue reading ALL ROADS LEAD TO: Valdez Alaska - Part 2
