During a seven-day blizzard that trapped me in Alyeska a few years back, I found myself checking my back for moss and commenting when I saw my shadow. There was that much moisture pouring off the Pacific.
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Nobody was flying a heli within 200 miles and there I was, storm- skiing waist-deep powder with no more than 50 other people. Alyeska—less than an hour south of Anchorage—gets you the treeless Alaskan skiing experience without the risk of sitting in a lodge all day watching it snow. Although foreign owners neglected the place for years, the Alta ski bum turned Alyeska savior John Byrne III bought the resort two years back. He can't do anything about the daylight (don't go until February), but expect more expert terrain and backcountry access. The beginner and intermediate lift service has already seen big upgrades, and the locals are waiting for lifts and gates to the big peaks out back.
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