Friday, February 1, 2008

Alyeska Resort

Spectacular Views

Alyeska Resort is located 40 minutes south of Anchorage, Alaska, in the community of Girdwood. Here you will find a variety of lodging & activities that create a true Alaskan vacation for the entire family.

This resort is remarkably at the lowest base elevation (250 feet) for any major ski resort in the United States.

This burgeoning mountain resort features 1,000 acres of terrain, ranging from gentle slopes for beginners to a vast selection of double black diamond runs to challenge the experts.

Alyeska offers 68 runs, a vertical drop of 2,500 feet and an average snowfall of 720 inches -- all surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Chugach Range. Cross-country skiers can enjoy 50 km of nordic trails.

The Alyeska Ski School features learn-to-ski packages as well as learn-to-ski-better packages for ages 4 to adult. Night skiing, with more than 2,000 vertical feet of lighted trails, extends the ski day to 9:30 p.m. two nights per week.

A 60-passenger aerial tram was designed in part to accommodate the many Alaskans and visitors who had yet to enjoy the spectacular view of the Chugach Mountains, Turnagain Arm and Glacier Valley from the summit of Mt. Alyeska.

Two cars take skiers, snowboarders and sightseers from the base of the mountain to the 2,300-foot level. The five-minute ride takes you up the dramatic north face of Mt. Alyeska to the Glacier Terminal, where you can take in the view from two restaurants.

In addition to alpine skiing, enjoy a day of snow machining, ice-skating, snowboarding, telemarking, skijoring, snowshoeing, glacier and Northern Lights viewing, or flight seeing.

Throughout the year, numerous ski events, fun runs and festivals are held in the valley, making Alyeska Resort a popular year-round destination.