Alaska is beautiful. Huge peaks, great snow, big food portions, friendly locals, rustic, real and a chill vibe. Join us in Alaska..!
Core Camp rider, Andrew James’ Blog of his week in Alaska with us recently:
What do you think of when you hear “Alaska snowboarding trip”?
Not sure? Well let me tell you what I think. I think long epic runs in deep blower powder. The kind you see in movies where every turn produces an epic powder spray. Each one bigger than the last as you gain speed down what is surely a very steep and very long run. This what I had in mind as I made the decision to book my trip to Alaska.
Thankfully snow quality is not the only metric there is to measure the quality of a snowboard trip to Alaska. If it was, then I wouldn’t be coming home feeling happy and fulfilled with my Alaskan experience. There are many different metrics to measure the quality. I’m going to explain each now.
Lack of snow due to the high pressure system that just seemed to hang on for the entire duration of my stay, with the exception of two days where it clouded over and gave us just a very light dusting of new snow. This high pressure produced plenty of sunshine which meant great visibility when we are at the summit, in the helicopter, or just driving around. And let me tell you, the views were world class. I know living near Lake Superior I am spoiled with some very spectacular views whenever I so please. But there’s something special about seeing nothing but jagged mountain tops and glaciers everywhere you looked.
This was my third time with Core Camps, and it never ceases to amaze with the wonderful people you meet through these camps. Being in a group of twelve like-minded individuals for 7 days is a beautiful experience. I got to spend my week with a fellow Canadian, an Argentinian, two Brits, three Aussies, a Brazilian, a Russian, an American, and a Person from Hong Kong. A worldly group from many different cultures and life styles all staying together in one property in 3 separate cabins for a week. We skied/rode together, we ate together, we drank together and of course we laughed together.
Due to only 5 of our group going heli-boarding and the helicopters only having room for four, I ended up drawing the short straw and being placed with a different group than my fellow Core Campers. This ended up being a pretty cool experience in itself as I got to meet another group of like minded individuals. As we were doing our pleasantries in the morning (hellos, where you from, how long you here for, ect.) I simply stated that I’m from Northern Ontario and left it at that. Later in the day however when speaking with the pilot he again asked where everyone was from, I decided then to be more specific and said proudly, Sault Ste Marie. The nice newly wed couple looked at me kind of funny and asked me if I said Sault Ste Marie. As it turns out, this couple from Utah actually has family in the Sault and visit every summer. They of course asked me a couple names, I didn’t know anyone they mentioned but a couple last names sounded familiar. A reminder of how big our little city actually is.
Alaska is a beautiful place filled with nature (or neature as I prefer to call it (see: Neature Walks on youtube)). With Core Camps we were given a day off to do something as a group or on our own. And thanks to the recommendation of a past Camper who happened to be in Alaska at the same time, we decided we would go and check out the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Area. Here we got to see buffalo, moose, black bears (they were still in their den, but we were able to still able to see them), a brown bear (it had just emerged from its den within the previous couple of days), reindeer (Santa wasn’t around, something about being on vacation elsewhere), black tailed deer, great horned owl, a one winged bald eagle, a wolf pack, and a bear cub that wasn’t quite a year old yet. The wonderful thing about the animals here is that they are all rescues. Each animal present had its own unique story of how it was found, and the condition it was found in. If not for the conservatory each one would not likely of made it on their own. After our tour through the conservatory we drove into Anchorage for a round of mini putt (random activity we found online-turned out to be good fun) then on the way back we ended up seeing a black bear that had climbed high up a tree that was growing on top of a cliff face above the highway. The bear must have been at least 150ft (45m) above the highway.
The camp was only scheduled Saturday to Saturday, but I decided to extend my stay for a three extra nights. With those extra days I was planning on using Anchorage as my sort of home base and taking each to drive around and take in as much sights as possible. My first stop was a two and a half hour drive south to Seward based on the northern point of Resurrection Bay. As soon as I drove into this quaint little town I fell in love. And knew then that I wasn’t going to be heading back to Anchorage that night. I visited another conservation place. This time it was a sea life conservation. They had many different species of fish, which was cool to see, but I’ve been to Ripley’s in Toronto and once you’ve seen one aquarium, you’ve seen them all. What caught my attention about the Alaskan Sea Life Center was the rescue sea otters, sea lions, and sea bird exhibits. Watching the massive sea lions swim around their replica sea area was very cool to see and once you saw them from above, you finished the tour by watching them through the glass below water. The way they torpedo through the water was a mesmerising sight.
After I left the Alaskan Sea Life Center, I found my hotel for the night and it wasn’t long before I realised there was a boat tour offered right outside my hotel window. I immediately went down and made sure I had a seat on the boat for the next day. It was a four hour tour that took us out to where Resurrection Bay meets the Gulf of Alaska. On the cruise we got to see two separate colonies of stellar sea lions, multiple bald eagles perched up high on the tops of trees along with many other species of aquatic sea birds, mountain goats on what looked like a steep cliff face with no way in or out, and what I was hoping to see most-a couple of humpback whales.
With our time in Girdwood we stopped and ate a couple of the restaurants. Each with their own unique atmosphere. The first place we went to Chair 5, had some amazing burgers. The second night we were treated to an (as authentic as you can have in Alaska) Argentinian style BBQ cooked by our coach and guide for the week Marcos. One night we went to the Silvertip Grill where it just happened to be open mic and we got to hear a short bit of the local talent with our dishes. I missed out on the nights where most of the crew went to the higher end places in town. Which I made up for during my extra days.
One of my new British friends Jon had mentioned earlier in the week that he was going to be staying in Anchorage after everyone leaves as well-but for only one night. He spoke of a restaurant that he had seen on Man vs. Food and that we was going to be heading there for dinner that night and invited me to join him. This was where I finally got to enjoy some true fresh Alaskan seafood. Had a salmon steak with a half-pound of crab. It was absolutely amazing.
The next morning I decided I would just drive around aimlessly until I found an original restaurant to eat at. I found this incredible little 50s style diner. The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere of the place was so unique, I loved it.
After I got my hotel in Seward I was feeling hungry so I started looking around for restaurants to eat at. I quickly discovered that Seward is a summer tourist town and most places are closed for the winter season. The first place I walked into was this little cafeteria style café. Where you go to the counter to order your meal and then sit and wait for your order to be brought to you. My first impression was not a great one, but I ordered a blackened fish wrap and it was simply amazing. I loved it.
As you can see, there are many different things you can use as a metric to measure the quality of a Alaskan snowboard trip. These passed ten days were absolutely amazing, I learned a lot about the many different species that call Alaska home, the way the land moves, Alaska as a whole, and most importantly I learned things and was reassured of things about myself. It was a trip of a lifetime and I cannot wait to return one day.
“Its so quiet, its loud” – Marcos referring to the absolute dead silence at Hatcher Pass
“There is one word of advice and caution to be given those intending to visit Alaska… If you are old, go by all means, but if you are young, wait. The scenery of Alaska is much grander than anything else of its kind in the world, and it is not wise to dull one’s capacity for enjoyment by seeing the finest first” – Henry Gannett Harriman, Alaska Expedition 1899 – saw on a sign board at one of the many sightseeing stops along the Seward Pass Byway
“Oh you’re from Canada, is it true you guys say sorry for everything?” to which I replied “Sorry, but yes that’s true.” He then gave me props for adding the accent on it. I never actually changed my accent at all. – This was an exchange with the guy working the gift shop at the Alaska Sea Life Center
The thought of being alone for the three extra days had originally scared me. Traveling around this massive foreign area. Who would I speak to? What would I do? Would I be able to motivate myself enough to go out and do and explore the things I wanted?
After the first night in Anchorage staying in my first hostel I quickly realized that being alone is exactly what I wanted. Which made my decision to pack and bring my bags with me to Seward-just in case-that much easier. The more that I settled into my new lonely setting, the more my mind began to wander, explore, and fanaticise.
On the way out of Resurrection Bay on the boat tour I stood out on the deck, as close to the bow as I could with crowd. I met a nice couple vacationing from Mississippi, we spoke a bit. They took a picture for me. We talked about why we’re in Alaska, they seemed fairly fascinated with the idea that people actually travel just for snowboarding. The fact that I would travel that far just for the sport made them ask if I was a pro or if I aspired to become pro. I laughed and politely said no, but appreciated the question. On the way back in from the bay after we had already seen the wildlife, glaciers and mountains seeming exploding out of and standing high above the ocean the crowd settled into the cabin. But I stayed out on the deck, once again alone in my thoughts. This time standing right at the tip of the bow. Looking at the towering mountain peaks around me, imagining the countless possibilities of snowboard lines down each unique face. What the view must look like from the top of each peak. What is on the other side of this mountain range I’m looking at. How many different species call this untouched piece of Alaskan wilderness home. It was about an hour that I stood out there, immersed in thoughts like these. Uninterrupted by the stresses of life back home. Suddenly money didn’t matter, deadlines didn’t matter, nothing seemed to matter, except for what was right there in front of me. No small talk with a kind stranger. This moment, being on the bow of this boat was bliss. Real bliss.
What traveling alone allowed me to do was be myself. I mean truly be myself. I was in a land so far from home, that it didn’t matter what people thought of me. I didn’t have to engage in pointless small talk if I didn’t want to. I never once had to explain myself or my decisions to anyone. I didn’t have to take into account the wants and needs of the people I was with when deciding where to go or what to eat. I just made a decision and went with it. This feeling of total control again helped to just clear my mind of the meaningless nonsense that usually fills it. And replaced it with this very blissful feeling.
When I was preparing to leave for this trip, I knew that it would be very rewarding and memorable trip. What I didn’t know was why it would be so rewarding and memorable. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to go and experience snowboarding in Alaska. But it was the time I spent alone that I’m truly thankful for. It was an experience of significant growth and self realization.
I would now like to thank individually Turner Montgomery at Core Camps Whistler for organizing another great camp experience. There’s a reason people coming back to Core, and more and more new people keep coming into Core. Keep up the great work Turner.
http://www.coresnowboardcamps.com/
Marcos Groenenberg for being a great coach/mountain guide with the whole group of us when Turner came down with the flu and couldn’t ride. Doing speed laps trying to break 100 km/h with you was great. Can’t wait to ride with you more in the future.
Dan Starr and the whole Chugach Powder Guides staff. You guys put on a pretty great heli ski operation. I never once felt like I was in danger. Or at a great risk of injury. And when an injury in the group did happen, you were very professional in taking care of that individual and making sure they were comfortable and safe before proceeding with the rest of the day.
https://www.chugachpowderguides.com/
Nick at Remarkable Adventures. Thanks for changing your plans with us and heading North in an attempt to find more snow. That really payed off with the conditions and views we had. It really felt like we were in heaven. You too did a great job of making us feel safe and always made sure to keep our exposure to the risks at an absolute minimum.
The entire staff at Major Marine Tours. Thank you for offering an early season cruise. I really enjoyed being out on the ocean, the captain of the vessel was very knowledgeable about the aquatic life we were viewing was able to offer some very interesting facts about the area. The brief time I spent on the ship was my most zen and biggest personal growth moment.
https://majormarine.com/
And thank you to anyone that took the time to actually read this as I babbled on about how amazing my time was. If you’ve ever thought about to going to Alaska, do not wait. you won’t get a true sense for the magnitude of the state until you actually go and visit.
