Christmas and New Year's Chutes

View of North Face from Crow Creek Road:

Congrats to Sarah & Ryno!

Long time lift operators, Sarah and Ryno, wed in Healy, Alaska this past Saturday.

Cheyenne (also longtime lifty) helped get the cakes together.
Alyeska Lift Crew Group photo:
This was a very fun event!

Vacation

Hey ya'll! I'm currently on vacation (pictured below after riding a gondola in the redwoods) and will be back with you this weekend. Hope you are enjoying spring!

Alyeska Slush Cup 2010

Spring Carnival at Alyeska 2010

For more info on this weekend's Spring Carnival at Alyeska, click here. It is going to be a lot of fun, with some great events planned, most are free (to watch). Hope to see you here! The weather is supposed to be nice; don't forget the sunscreen.

Too Much Fun

Ben, Devon, me & Walt at the top of 6 yesterday.

Riding up with Michael R. and Ian; we took a sweet run off high traverse.
My friend Jenn was visiting from UT the last few days and the weather for her trip couldn't have been better. We had a blast!
Today is beautiful and sunny, and also 2-for-1 tickets if the ticket purchaser is in all green, head to ankle. Happy St. Patrick's day!

Personal Note

Last week my sister, Suzy, and her boyfriend, Jonny, were visiting from California. We had a great time!

This was their second day here and the weather was nice. It snowed later in the week, that was fun too!
While out skiing around, we ran into Jenn (Marketing Dept, former lift ops) and Zach (Building Maintenance) and enjoyed the sunlight before we had to duck back into the fog.

S. White - Private Half Pipe

A little something to get you psyched for the new Super Pipe at Alyeska.

Fall at Alyeska

The top terminal's reflection in the Courtyard pond.

And the lower tram terminal building.

A view of the half pipe from room 702.

Fantastic Fall Weekend

Alyeska from the train:

Iridescence in the clouds:

North Face Hiking - ADN Slideshow

Slideshow

North Face Trail

The Anchorage Daily News wrote a great article about the new North Face Trail, check it out here. The slide show is pretty cool and only a couple of minutes long.

There are definitely a few errors, like John Byrne III is the name of the owner of the resort, and the Glacier Express is the restaurant he was talking about, but overall it was positive press.

Flying, Driving & Grounded

The paragliders have been making lots of flights lately with all this good weather!

Peter brought some loads of gravel to the top of the tram. This will be used for the new bomb tram going in on Mighty Mite (for avalanche control on the North face).
Iris in the tram loop. The flowers are just SPECTACULAR right now. Nice work to Robbie and his grounds crew.
Wondering what is going on around Alyeska Resort this summer (& fall)? Calendar of events

Forest Fair, Ash & Noctilucent Clouds

Hula hooping fun at the Forest Fair this weekend.

You can see the ash (from March's eruption of Redoubt) on the glaciers at the head of the valley.
Noctilucent clouds glow above the glaciers at 3 am last Friday night. (click to enlarge)
Interested in upcoming events? Check out the Fungus Fair and mt. bike race.

Alaska Travelgram

Girdwood Forest Fair

The Girdwood Forest Fair starts tomorrow. Admission is free. There are 2 stages of music. Click links for more information. Notice the earlier closing times (8pm Fri & Sat). I will be posting some pictures of the fun times. Hope to see you there!

Forest Fair Hotel/Rail Package

Celebrate the 4th of July and the Annual Girdwood Forest Fair with the Alaska Railroad and Alyeska Resort!

On Friday, July 3, take the Glacier Discovery train from the Anchorage Historic Downtown Depot, departing at 10 am. This highly scenic trip rolls past Potter's Marsh, Beluga Point and aside the beauty of the Turnagain Arm to Girdwood, arriving at 11:15 am.

Enjoy two-nights' deluxe accommodations at the Hotel Alyeska at Alyeska Resort, shuttle service to and from the train depot as well as transfers to the Girdwood Forest Fair. Take time for a fabulous spa treatment and dine at the renowned Seven Glaciers Restaurant in between all the Forest Fair fun!

Return to Anchorage aboard the Glacier Discover train on Sunday, July 5, departing Girdwood Depot at 7:35 pm and arriving back in Anchorage at 9:15 pm. 

$249 per person, based on double occupancy. Space available basis.

Rail only is $59 per person, roundtrip Anchorage – Girdwood or one-way for $30 per person.

Guests can book this package by calling 907-265-2494 or 800-544-0552 or http://www.alaskarailroad.com/arrc280.html.

PNSAA - The Journey Home

Flying into the Anchorage airport, looking up the Turnagain arm at Portage.

There are so many beautiful views from the plane between Seattle & Anchorage.
Flying into Seattle, Rainier in the distance.
Somewhere between Seattle and Anchorage:
Flying out of Wenatchee:
The stars last night (still in Leavenworth).
Corey in the "shared space" room.  The whole set up was really nice, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen and living room.
I don't think he was authorized...
Corey & I board the plane out of Wenachee.

PNSAA - Good Times!

Out on the town: Ducks & Drake.
Corey with a goat.
An eagle soars above us on one of our walks.
These patches are used at Schweitzer to differentiate between levels of lift ops.
They also get cards for discounts at local retail stores.

PNSAA - Tradeshow

The Alyeska Crew Representing- Corey, me, Jeff, Melissa & Karena.  The dinner was good.

At the tradeshow.
Corey with some of his former Mt. Hood co-workers.
HR ladies
There is a mini golf course just below this goat.  This is looking down from the sidewalk on the way to dinner last night.
I am having a blast hanging out with a bunch of people who like talking about mountain ops as much as I do and getting input from different resorts.