Guided Backcountry Ski Excursions
Fly beyond the Tin Can parking lot. Ski top-shelf Chugach.
Explore the glaciers and big-mountain terrain of the Chugach with Goat Mountain Air and Chugach Ski Guides. Fly from Girdwood into the surrounding backcountry, then spend the day skiing with an experienced local guide.
Whether you're visiting Alaska or discovering new terrain close to home, we'll shape the day around your group, the snowpack, and the conditions.
INQUIRE ABOUT DATES VIEW CANCELLATION & WEATHER POLICYThe Day Trip
What's included
- Glacier landing flight with Goat Mountain Air
- Professional ski guiding with Chugach Ski Guides
- Group equipment, including radios and ropes
Experience & equipment
Recreation Level 1 avalanche education or equivalent required. Guests should have recent experience completing at least a four-hour backcountry day using their own touring setup.
Not included: personal ski or splitboard equipment, avalanche safety equipment, and other personal gear.
New to glacier travel or looking to build your skills? Ask about private avalanche education, glacier travel, and crevasse rescue training.
Make a Day of It
Ask about a catered lunch from Scratch Kitchen AK, a local Girdwood chef, or an optional après-ski backcountry sauna experience where conditions and logistics allow. Add-ons are subject to availability and a separate quote.
Meet Your Guide: Merrick Johnston
NORTIND-Certified Ski Guide
Merrick grew up in Alaska and has spent more than 20 years guiding in the mountains, including 16 years in Norway. She co-founded Tromsø Ski Guides and now brings her international experience home through Chugach Ski Guides and Alaska Guide Collective.
Merrick enjoys sharing the mountains, helping people develop their skills, and building confidence through thoughtful backcountry decisions.
The Goat Mountain Air × Chugach Ski Guides Partnership
Goat Mountain Air provides aircraft access to remote ski terrain around Girdwood. Chugach Ski Guides brings professional mountain guiding, local knowledge, and experience assessing snow and terrain. The pilot makes flight decisions; the guide makes mountain and terrain decisions.
Go Beyond the Day Trip
Custom Multi-Day Adventures — Up to Five Days
Make the mountains your base. Plan a custom overnight or multi-day adventure with aircraft drop-off and pickup, remote base camps, and skiing or splitboarding on surrounding glaciers and mountains.
Build your itinerary around skiing, mountain skills, or both. Dedicated or integrated crevasse rescue and glacier travel instruction can cover rope systems, knots, rescue techniques, and team travel. Custom trips beyond the local Chugach area are available by inquiry.
Routes, camps, pickup times, and flights depend on weather, snowpack, glacier conditions, permits, and operational considerations.
REQUEST A CUSTOM TRIPWeather, Safety & Cancellations
Safety comes first. If conditions or an operational issue prevent the agreed trip from starting, we'll offer a feasible alternative or new date. You may decline a materially different trip or date and receive a full refund for the canceled, unstarted package. Ground-access alternatives require your agreement and a revised price reflecting the unused flights.
Guest-initiated cancellations and changes after a trip begins follow the full policy. Remote overnight trips require flexible return plans and appropriate rescue and evacuation coverage.
Read the full Reservation, Cancellation & Weather Policy (PDF)Ready to Explore the Chugach?
Tell us about your group, your backcountry experience, your dates, and what you're hoping to ski. We'll help find an option that fits your goals and the conditions.
INQUIRE ABOUT DATESAll trips are subject to available operational authorizations, weather, safety assessments, and written booking confirmation. Chugach Ski Guides is an equal opportunity service provider.
