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Chilkat Range Down on the Pan Handle, the Chilkat Range cuts an impressive profile, and Juneau is the doorway in. Chugach may be the king of heli-action and might have more terrain, but Chilkat's weather is less volatile (meaning more fly days) and, because the terrain is more accessible, it's also less expensive. Check out the Juneau Ice Fields, on the cutting edge of the extreme skiing scene and site of Imax's Extreme film. Glaciers stretch infinitely into the distance and vertical drops from 4,000-6,000 feet of solid granite rise from the waters of the Lynn Canal. In the event of bad weather, check out Eaglecrest Ski Area. There are no roads in or out of Juneau, it is accessible on ly by air or sea. The famous ferry from Bel lingham, WA to Alaska docks in Juneau. Contact: Out of Bounds & Alaska Heli-skiing Adventures, 907 -789-7008, www.alaskasnowboard.com _______________________________________________________ , Paying for Your Heli-High Helpful Hints on Avoiding Avalanches -Wearing an avalanche tranceiver and having the knowledge to use it properly is absolutely mandatory at all times. -Don't ski during a storm or the day after. Allow the snow to bond and stabilize. -Consider climatic changes that affect the snowpack. Extreme sun exposure can melt the snow and make it unstable. Wind cre ates large drifts of unstable snow. -Any movement can trigger a slide in unstable snow. Be con scious of where other people are at all times. Before you descend, allow everyone below you to clear out of the way. -Each skier in your group should descend individually, being watched by the group. If a skier disappears, you will know where they were last seen and be able to begin the rescue search from that point. With most hel i-outfitters, you can either pay for a fu ll day of flying, aver- , aging six runs, or you can purchase multi-day packages. Some outfitters : ... -.... -Listen for telltale cracking sounds and look for fracture lines and hollow areas in the snowpack. use the Chip System, where you pay for each run. This allows you to :I The Best Little Snowboard Camp in North America ... - ... - --- -... -- -... - ----- ... -... - ... - - - - - -----... -- - - - - --- --- - - determine the number of runs you want to take and when you want to : Alyeska's Borderline Camp is considered this by some. The camp take them. If stormy weather moves in, or your body is begging for a : takes place in June so there's lots of light for riding all day and reprieve, you can save your pennies for a better day. Locals usually pay , moose-hunting all night. Features of the camp include top-notch by the run. To cut costs, consider flying standby. If, at the last minute, a helicopter has an extra space, they may offer a discount. The bottom line is that things are pretty informal. Discuss your needs with the heli- peop le and work out a system that's best for you. _______________________________________________________ The Season to Sojourn : Borderline Camp, 907-349-9931 I line ticket to get there. end of February through March. But during April and unti l mid-May, the : Getting to Alaska days are warmer and longer and you can stay on the slopes under the midnight sun. (degrees Farenheitl The best powder can be found when temperatures are coldest, from the :-------------- -- ------------------------ ---------- By Air: Anchorage is Alaska's major air hub, although Alaska Airlines has flights into Juneau. Direct flights from Seattle cost Go AK Style A good way to travel in Alaska is to rent an RV. Fly into Anchorage, rent a rig and drive toward the mountains. This is an inexpensive solution to lodging expenses, provides space to store gear and allows you to travel free ly between snow meccas. ______________________________________________________ Proceed with Caution In exploring Alaska, make educated decisions on the risks you choose to take. The region leaves almost no margin for error. Although most guides and tours will brief you on helicopter safety, avalanche aware ness and rescue training before departu re, take responsibi lity for your own life by learning the ropes independently. Check out the following mountaineering schools: Alaska Mountain Guides and Climbing School, Glacier National Park, 800-766-3396 or 907-766-3366, www.kcd.com/ams. St El ias Alpine Guides, Wrangell and St Elias mountains, 888-933-5427 or 907-345-9048, www.steliasguides.com. Alaska Mountaineering School, Alaska, Talkeetna, Chugach, Brooks and Wrangell ranges, 907-733- 1016, www.mountainzone.com/ams. Alaska-Denali Guiding Inc, Denali National Park, 907-733-2649, www.alaska.netl-adg/index.html. Alpine Guides Alaska, Talkeetna Mountains, 907-373-3051, www.alaska.net/-a lpineak. I I I I I from US$250-$500 and from LA US$300-$800, depending on the season and the ai rline. The main airl ines that service Alaska are: Alaska Airlines, 800-426-0333, www.alaskaair.com Delta, 800-221-12 12, www.delta-air.com Northwest, 800-225-2525, www.nwa.com United, 800-241-6522, www.ual.com Continental, 800-525-0280, www.continental.com By Bus: Busing is not necessarily cheaper than flying, but it does give you a closer look at the scenery along the Alaska Highway. Be prepared for long rides and transfers if you go via Greyhound (800- 231-2222) and Alaska Direct (907-277-6652 or 800-770-6652). The alternative is a trip on the original hippy bus, the Green Tortoise (800-227-4766). The Tortoise runs two 30-day trips from San Francisco to Alaska every summer for US$1,500 per person. By Car: Drive from northern US through Canada to Fairbanks along the mostly paved Alcan Highway (aka the Alaska Highway). By Boat: Take the Alaska Marine Highway (800-382-9229 or 800- 642-0066) from Bel lingham, WA, or Prince Rupert, BC, to Juneau. The ferry from Bel lingham takes three days and departs once a week. From Prince Rupert it takes only a day and a half and has more frequent ferry service. • instruction by the Borderline Team and guest coaches, technical trick tips on hand-built halfpipes and natural kickers. Apart from the fun and stoke of the Alaskan locals, the best part of the camp is that it's cheaper than a camp at Mt Hood-and that's inc luding the air- 40