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i am planning a trip to valdez this march and am wondering if any of you have experience with any of the companies there. i am thinking about valdez heli-camps because they use my relatives bed and breakfast for a lodge during the season and they seem to have the best daily rate prices. any input would be appreciated.
Valdez heli-camps has a good reputation. If you can get cheap/free lodging at your relatives' place it seems like a no-brainer.
I used to have a great post on powder's forums that, of course, got deleted with pics and everything.
Anyways, if you can score cheap room and board with your relatives, your should definitly do that.
Now, just becuase you stay with your relatives doesn't mean you have to fly with Valdez Heli-Camps.
These guys are in such tight competition, plus, theres always extra seats on helis that would go unfilled. So get up early each day and go to each of the places and see who will give you the better deal.
They all fly in the same terrain more or less.
Other tips:
- Bring your own gear: skis, poles, boots, tranciever, climbing harness with a locking biner, backpack, water bottle, shovel, probes. Renting up there isn't cheap and you always know your own stuff best.
-It's not always blower pow. I skiied 6 days and saw very little pow. We skiied on crust on dust, through stastrugi and all kinds of wind features. Be ready for anything.
Have fun. :D
This subject has become contentious in the past, so I will tread lightly.
I think that the town of Valdez is interesting, but not really a great place to stay during a ski adventure. I still think that the best bet is to rent a motor home in Anchorage (easily done for under $50-100/day depending whether you are a group of two or four) and stay near whatever heli operation you fly with. I have even camped out for a week near the Tsaina.
For the best experience, I'd go with my friend Theo Meiner's Alaska Rendezvous Lodge (www.arlinc.com), because they treat you more as a member of their family than a paying client (i.e. - you eat meals with them, they invite you into the guide cabin, etc.). He has an excellent property to park a motor home or camp, and also has built a few cabins.
Though I've never flown with Dean, I have heard great things about H2O, and Odin is the man, which makes Matt White's Alaska Heli-Camp sound quite appealing.
Finally, let's not forget our host here, Chris Owens, who just became a principal investor in Chugach Powder guides, where you can stay at a premier resort and have access to a gondola on down days - we know that Owens will hook up his minion breathren to the best of his ability - I'd certainly consider this for my next AK trip.
Joshbu makes a good point: while the companies want to plan as far ahead as possible and get your money as soon as possible, you can always show up and walk on despite what anyone says, so just book your round trip airfare to AK and wing it if you like - it'll all be good. You really don't know until you go ;)