Valdez Heli Camps - About Alaska Heliskiing

About Alaska Heliskiing

Valdez Heli-Camps was founded in 1995 by Matt White as Alaska's only all inclusive helicopter and snowcat skiing experience.

Matt, grew up skiing the Green Mountains of Vermont while working his parents dairy farm. At age 17, Matt heard the call to the west. Leaving the cows behind in the capable hands of his family, he left for the mountains of Colorado to expand his skiing horizons beyond the Green Mountain State. Matt spent several years working and traveling in the ski industry in the American West and around the World eventually finding himself in Jackson Hole in the late eighties. In select ski bum hovels and in the tram line at the village, talk of a place called "Valdez" slowly simmered in the minds and hearts of many of the people that today are at the core of what was to become this new freeskiing movement.

If the rumors and legends were even half true, Matt knew that it was time to pack the cows up again. He made the conscious decision to leave immediately and move to Alaska that very February. The Al-Can highway, a two wheel drive van, enough warm expedition gear to ensure against death by breakdown at 60 degrees below zero, about 10 pairs of skis and the rest is history.
Matt arrived in Valdez just in time to witness the burgeoning days of a fledgling heliskiing industry in the most prime location on the planet. He quickly realized that everything he had heard in back alleys and tram lines was at the very least, an understatement.

Matt also quickly realized that although Valdez was gaining a reputation for big steeps, incredible snowfall, and out of this world powder skiing, it was still being sold short on the fact that the terrain of the Chugach is accessible to more than just professional athletes and adrenaline junkies as was now being touted on the covers of the most prestigious ski and snowboard magazines. He was 25 years old, had found his calling, and went to work.

Matt is driven and since its beginnings, Valdez Heli-Camps has gained a steady flow of loyal return customers and a sterling reputation for service and quality. By focusing on all inclusive service under the simple premise of skiing whenever and however safely possible through integration of helicopter and snowcat access, Valdez Heli-Camps has become the benchmark by which backcountry skiing operations in the Last Frontier are measured. The success of this philosophy has created in Valdez Heli-Camps Alaska's most consistent and largest heliski operator, providing more of the safest, exciting, skiing and snowboarding over the longest season in Alaska.

Valdez Heli-Camps routinely guides skiers and boarders through one of the best mountain experiences of their lives. Complete dedication to serving our guests, a small capacity, a high staff to client ratio, and attention to every detail of your vacation from start to finish has allowed us to become most successful with our endeavors here in Valdez.

Valdez Heli-Camps employs (2) hosts, (2) chefs, (2) mechanic/snowcat operators, (12) guides, and (2) sales staff, and an office manager on a year-round basis. Valdez Heli-Camps contains within its format Valdez's only insured, guided, bonded, and permitted snowcat skiing operation. With three snowcats operating daily, our guests enjoy skiing and riding options each day of their stay regardless of periodic weather events that "stop our competitors in their tracks."

The VHC approach allows us to serve our guests and maintain a high quality experience as well as an equally high level of safety. Valdez Heli-Camps appeals to the widest variety of clients. We offer experiences for groups at all levels and those with a wide range of skiing desires. It is possible for guests with skills from intermediate to professional to equally enjoy our unique environment.

Still today, Valdez Heli-Camps remains as the only company to truly provide helicopter, snowcat, ski touring, lodging and meals in a relaxed and friendly setting in Alaska.

Here in Alaska, Valdez Heli-Camps sets the standard. Beginning from the first week of February to early May each year, and with prices ranging from a single day of snow cat skiing at just $299 per day, to $6299 for our premier all inclusive helicopter skiing week, Valdez Heli-Camps continues to give those seeking varied experiences in Alaska's Chugach Mountains the greatest variety of skiing and snowboarding options available anywhere. Come find out what we already know! We hope to see you on your own adventure to Valdez some day soon !!!