Alaska News

Arctic Valley finally opens for skiing

With February looming, the Arctic Valley Ski Area will open to skiers and snowboarders Saturday and Sunday for the first time this winter.

Chair 2 and the T-Bar should open, as will the Afterglow Pub in the lodge. Skiing runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

"It was actually very good last weekend," said John Koltun, president of the Anchorage Ski Club, which operates Arctic Valley, leaning heavily on volunteers. "It was pretty surprising."

Koltun and other club members tested the conditions after about six inches of new snow.

"Although we do have good coverage, it is early-season conditions so there are many unmarked obstacles including rocks, bushes, tundra, squirrels, etc.," warned Arctic Valley's Facebook page.

The base of Arctic Valley is at 2,500 feet, with surrounding mountains rising to about 4,000 feet. Lift prices are $35 for adults, $30 for students, seniors and military members and $15 for children under 13 -- prices significantly less than those at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood.

Arctic Valley has opened as late as mid-February, and starting up on Super Bowl weekend may put a damper on Sunday's crowd, Koltun acknowledged. More than 300 people would constitute a big day, with 150 more typical.

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"A late season opening does have an effect on us," Koltun said. "A substantial amount of our money comes from lift tickets."

"We have a niche of the type of people we attract. We can't do a lot of grooming like Alyeska, but we can have really good snow. It's more of an intermediate to advanced ski area, and backcountry skiers coming up to practice a lot and use our lift."

Chair 1 will be closed for maintenance, and there's not enough snow yet to open the popular tube park. Four-wheel drive or studded tires are recommended for the six-mile drive up Arctic Valley Road.

Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell was a longtime editor for Alaska Dispatch News, and before that, the Anchorage Daily News.

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