H2O Guides Alaska Helicopter Skiing Trip Information

H2O sports thrive within two evolving states: frozen snow and liquid water, and like the H2O molecule, those who ride them share a common bond, only the bond between riders is eternal it's based on a lifelong quest to Access the Goods!

PO Box 2501, Valdez, AK 99686 (907) 835-8418 [email protected]

21 years of Accessing the Goods in Alaska's legendary Chugach Range! Welcome to Alaska helicopter skiing and snowboarding with Dean Cummings' H2O Guides, guiding on 4,000 square miles of the Chugach Mountains surrounding Valdez and Prince William Sound. We invite you to Access The Goods with our unrivaled small group program that has been deemed the pinnacle of remote guided aircraft operations. During each day of flying and skiing with us you access a region comparable in size to the Teton Range within one of the world's snowiest tract of mountains. The snow and the terrain where we operate are absolutely mind blowing. Each helicopter flight is thrilling, with views of surreal topography, steep mountains, and hidden glaciers from horizon to horizon. Few people will ever experience the Chugach Range the way that our guests do. You get the opportunity to pioneer new terrain on every run and descend untouched slopes. Heli skiing with H2O Guides enables you to feel what it's like to be an explorer and part of something profound. 2015 Overview We fly March 1 through April 26

Heli ski the morning after your arrival in Valdez

4,000 square miles of terrain with 28 interconnected regions and thousands of established and potential Landing Zones.

The only special use permit through the Cordova Ranger District for helicopter skiing in the Chugach National Forest surrounding Valdez and Cordova where no other operators are permitted for heli skiing, leaving all of this terrain for our guests' exclusive use

Industry leading safety and operations record.

Opportunities to explore truly remote regions of the Chugach with true first descents.

Trip insurance covers you if weather or a host of other factors prevent you from getting all your runs.

Small group size of 5 Guests to 1 Guide with only 4 groups in the lodge per week.

Comfortable accommodations at the Valdez Harbor Inn overlooking the Small Boat Harbor with authentic Alaska cuisine, warm ambiance, and stunning views of peaks, glaciers, and ocean.

Friendly guides and staff greet you at Valdez Pioneer Field airport. Why Choose H2O Guides? We offer far more than just world class heli skiing. Our small group size and focus on teamwork form bonds of friendships that last a lifetime. Flying through the vast massively glaciated Chugach Range, landing on remote towering peaks buried by immeasurable snow depths, and experiencing numerous time-stopping moments with good friends are some of the life-changing experiences you'll gain during your Alaska adventure with H2O Guides. The Chugach Range is famous for its long slopes of velvety powder that sticks to steep peaks like nowhere else. We offer access to the best regions in the Chugach; exclusive guiding regions that are



usually colder and more sheltered than the coastal peaks of the range. This generally provides safer and better snow for heli skiing. Pioneering terrain is what we've done for the last 25 years in Valdez. H2O Guides has more terrain options by orders of magnitude than other Alaska operators thanks to our sole special use permit to heli ski in regions of the Chugach National Forest between Valdez and Cordova. We are explorers who emphasize safety while respecting wildlife habitat, the environment, and access to the wilderness that we love. You learn more with H2O Guides. You become part of a cohesive group the moment you arrive in Valdez. Our certified guides demonstrate how to implement Dean Cummings' Steep Life Protocols terrain management techniques that enable you to become better, safer, skiers and snowboarders during your time in Valdez and beyond. We work as a team in the mountains focusing on visual-verbal communications, route selection, and group dynamics. You leave Valdez with greater skills and knowledge of backcountry protocol. Our inclusive packages are the best value around. We offer superb accommodations at the Valdez Harbor Inn adjacent to the iconic Valdez Small Boat Harbor in the heart of historic Valdez, with views of Port Valdez, a deep glacially carved fjord in northeast Prince William Sound. Following thrilling days of skiing and snowboarding Alaska peaks, enjoy acclaimed cuisine by Chef Roberto in the dining room at the hotel. What Kind Of Inclusive Packages Do We Sell?

The Tusk Package (5 days/nights) 18 runs: $4,485

Meteorite Mountain Package (7 days/nights) 30 runs: $7,389

Valdez Package (2 days/nights) 12 Runs: $2,933

"Blades & Skins" Heli/tour Combo (7 days/nights) 3 days Heli Skiing and 2 days Heli-assisted guided ski/splitboard backcountry touring: $5,881

"First Summit's On Us" ski/splitboard backcountry touring program (5 days/nights) 6 flights during 3 guided touring days (2 weather days built in): $2,271

"Astar" Private helicopter expeditions (7 days/nights) 14 hours minimum blade time with up to 10 people: $79,500

North America Mechanized Ski Guide Course (7 days/nights): $4,442 inclusive double occupancy

Alaska Steep Life Workshop for professionals who work in avalanche terrain: $3,400

Practical Leadership & Mountain Skills Development Workshop for outdoor industry personnel: call for pricing

Helicopter time is the most expensive portion of the total price, so we include two floating weather days into packages to increase the odds that you will get all of your runs. Prices are based on double occupancy; single rooms are slightly more. What Do Premiere Packages Include? The Valdez, Tusk, and Meteorite Premiere packages include 12, 18, or 30 guided heli ski runs, 2, 5, or 7 nights lodging at the Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn, trip insurance, hot continental breakfasts, hearty sack lunches for the field, ground transportation to and from Valdez Pioneer Field airport, and the best big mountain equipment available (H2OG skis and packs, Ortovox beacons, probes, and shovels).



What About the Accommodations? Most of our packages and programs include lodging at the Valdez Harbor Inn adjacent to the Valdez Small Boat Harbor with direct views of towering peaks, glaciers, and the ocean. From the hotel, watch commercial fishing vessels return to port or depart for the open expanses of the Gulf of Alaska. Enjoy hot continental breakfast each morning before launching to the field with H2O Guides. Every morning we depart directly from the hotel to our daily regions of operations and return you to the hotel at the end of the day's operations. Hotel amenities include a 24-hour business center with fax & photocopy service, guest laundry, and free high-speed wireless Internet, while rooms include LED HD TVs, premium cable with HBO, mini-fridge and microwave, desk with ergonomic chair, iron & ironing board, hair dryer, clock radio, climate controls, and coffee maker. The hotel is located within easy walking distance of other local restaurants, bars, and a supermarket. About Valdez Valdez, located at the end of a deep glacially carved fjord in the northeast corner of Prince William Sound in the northern Gulf of Alaska, is well-known as North America's snowiest town with an average snowfall of 27 feet annually at sea level. Valdez is a small coastal Alaskan town with a robust commercial fishing industry and the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Valdez has a variety of restaurants, local bars, and other amenities including museums, libraries, a modern civic center with a 420-seat cinema, and Providence Valdez Medical Center. Our guests enjoy the slower pace of Alaskan life and breathtaking natural beauty in Valdez. The town has seen gold rushes and fishing camps create local legends. Alaskas rich cultural traditions are present throughout Valdez including the Native American handicrafts and artwork that grace the walls of The Valdez Harbor Inn next to photos of the last gold rush. This is truly an Alaskan experience. The pinnacle of winter sports with world class heli skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, and ice climbing, Valdez has extreme weather, Alaska's deepest annual average snow fall, and several nearby glaciers that are accessible for glacier discovery and exploration. The Chugach Mountains surrounding Valdez are so vast and unexplored that less than two percent of its thousands of peaks and glaciers are named on USGS maps. This is truly one of the last unexplored regions on Earth. You've got to see it to believe it, and even then the scale is hard to comprehend. How Do I Make a Reservation? Please call (907) 835-8418 or email [email protected]. Reservations are tentative until we receive a 50 percent deposit of the total trip cost. Full payment is required 90 days before arrival in Valdez. If your reservation is scheduled within 90 days of your arrival, payment is due in full at the time of reservation. Payments can be made via check, money order, or wire, and major credit cards including VISA, MasterCard, and AMEX are accepted. You are responsible for covering all wiring fees. Our policies relating to weather, cancellations and mechanical issues follow in full at the end of this document. How Do I Get to Valdez? Direct flights are available to Anchorage from many major U.S. cities. Ravn Alaska (907-835-2636) has two daily connecting flights to Valdez from Anchorage. This is a gorgeous 40-minute flight with magnificent views of the Chugach Range on a clear day.



Arrive in Anchorage at least one hour prior to the connecting flight keeping weather delays in mind. You also have the option of driving or hiring a car service. If you choose this option, H2O Guides can assist with recommending reputable companies. The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is a scenic 6-8 hour drive depending on road and weather conditions. Check road conditions at 907-835-2231, and be prepared for potentially harsh winter conditions if you drive especially as you cross Thompson Pass. What Down Day Activities Do You Offer? Weather in Alaska can be fickle, and on days when weather prevents us from flying we have a variety of exciting Alaska adventures that will make your trip memorable. Some of these adventures are themselves dependent on weather, snow pack stability, and guide/staff availability, and some will incur additional fees. Those adventures include:

World class ice climbing with beginner, intermediate, and expert routes

Glacier discovery and exploration including getting inside glaciers formed millennia ago

Thompson Pass vehicle-assisted skiing / snowboarding and local backcountry touring

Cross country and skate skiing on the world class City of Valdez groomed trail network

Dean Cummings' Steep Life Protocols workshops (dependent on Dean's schedule/availability)

Snow shoeing

Snowmobiling (additional fees)

Indoor swimming pool, weight room, yoga, and other activities at Prince William Sound Community College (small daily fees)

Valdez Museum & Historical Archive

Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum one of the world's largest collections of Native Alaskan Art and Artifacts

Free indoor rock climbing wall at the Middle School

Free indoor swimming pool at the High School

The Valdez Consortium Library Do You Offer Trip Insurance? Included within your package is H2O's custom Travelex trip insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption and delays, lost or delayed baggage, weather that keeps you from skiing, medical emergencies, and a host of other items. Insurance quotes are based on H2O's average customer age and trip cost. Higher ages or more costly trips could result in a slightly higher insurance quote and trip cost. Guests are responsible for the difference. Our insurance offers one of the heli ski industry's best policies to help cover unforeseen circumstances such as weather and flight delays during your trip. How Should I Prepare For My Trip To Valdez? Our typical day may include 20-25K vertical feet of skiing and snowboarding and is physically demanding. We strongly encourage you to arrive in good physical condition. This improves the margin of safety and allows you to enjoy your experience in the Chugach to the fullest. What Other Programs Do We Offer?

North America Mechanized Ski Guide Course in Valdez, Alaska for aspirant heli ski guides (April 18-25, 2015 space is still available)

Alaska Steep Life Workshop for ski patrollers, mountain operations professionals, backcountry professionals, and mountain guides (April 19-24, 2015 space is still available)

Las Leas Ski and Snowboard Camp in Argentina, August 10-18, 2015 (Space is limited)



Dean Cummings' Steep Life Protocols events held in mountain towns, ski resorts, and gear shops

Commercial filming and expeditions (call for info)

Training and leadership workshops What to Expect Upon Arrival In Valdez We greet you and your group at the airport, load your gear, and then head straight to the helicopter pad for aircraft orientation followed by check in at the hotel. That evening well complete pre-flight paperwork, safety briefings, and gear checkout/review. The next morning we conduct transceiver orientation and practice then depart for heli skiing. We strive to depart the hotel by 9 AM, weather depending. H2OG Skis Available For Rent H2OG handcrafted skis, designed by Dean Cummings, are available for rent for a nominal fee of $10 per day. We would love for you to try our skis as we think they are the best. H2OG Skis were designed in Alaska, for Alaskan slopes. However, we highly encourage you to bring your own skis in case we do not have the size or ski that you prefer as there are no ski shops in Valdez. The skis that we have available for rent are the AK Masters (133 mm underfoot), Kodiaks (120 mm underfoot), and the Tazlinas (108 mm underfoot). ABS Avalanche Backpacks Available For Rent H2O Guides has a limited number of ABS Avalanche backpacks and canisters with triggers available for rent. These tools might help you, but do come with additional risks (Please reference ABS Backpacks for more information: www.abs-airbag.com). Rental per person is $40 a day, $100 for 3 days, and $200 for 7 days. Canisters with a trigger are $10 a day per person.

H2O Guides Reservation & Weather Policies Due to the unique and dynamic nature of heli skiing, large commitments are made on your behalf before your arrival that allow us to provide a premium experience. H2O Guides is proud to have the fairest policies in the heli ski industry with no hidden costs. Typically, industry standards do not allow back-up days for weather, and many heli ski operators have confusing vertical foot policies that require a calculator to understand not so with H2O Guides. Payment Reservations are tentative until we receive a 50% deposit of the total trip cost. Full payment is required 90 days before your arrival. Payment is due in full if your reservation is made within 90 days of your arrival in Valdez. Weather Policy H2O Guides worked hard to be the sole operator to secure permits from various city, state, and federal land agencies from the coast of Prince William Sound to the interior of the Chugach Range, giving us more potential fly days, terrain, weather, and snow options than all other operators in Alaska. H2O Guides earned the only permit to heli ski in Chugach National Forest terrain that is east of the iconic Valley of the Tusk, and our guests are the only skiers and boarders that leave tracks on the peaks and glaciers in that permit area. Inclement weather is what makes Valdez such an impressive snow belt and creates world class heli



skiing. Since Alaska weather is fickle, we have built in potential weather down days for every package, increasing your odds to fly on all of your reserved days. If the lead guide or pilot deems conditions unsafe, your runs carry over to the next day. Additionally, any days not flown during your package stay will be valid for the seasons duration (based on availability); unused days do not carry to the following season. On down days, H2O Guides may provide activities including ice climbing, ski/snowboard touring, Thompson Pass road runs, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and avalanche transceiver training at no additional cost and at the discretion of the guides. We can also arrange other Alaska activities such as boat tours, deep-sea fishing for King Salmon, Halibut and Rockfish, or sea kayaking these out-of-house activities will incur additional fees. The H2O Guides team strives to get you into the mountains every day during your trip to Valdez. We are here for you to Access the Goods. Mechanical Policy If we cannot fly due to a helicopter mechanical problem and weather would have allowed it with a minimum window of 3 hours, you will be credited for that fly day based on your package. This is a credit for fly days only and no money will be returned. Credited fly days are valid for the current season only and any days not met during your package stay can be used later, but only based on availability. If weather was not conducive to flying with a window of 3 hours that day it will be considered a weather day and no credit given. We work with reputable contractors and pilots and this is rare. Remaining Runs Policy Because helicopter time is the most expensive portion of the total price, we build two floating weather days into our packages to increase your odds of flying. In some cases, you may have runs remaining due to weather or mechanical circumstances that are out of our control. Due to the high costs of flight operations it is necessary for us to fly a minimum of at least 3 runs. Therefore, if on the last day of your trip you have 2 runs left in your package you must purchase 1 additional run at a discounted rate to go out for the day, and the helicopter must have a full load of 5 guests. Cancellation Policy If you must cancel your reservation, we require notice in writing. If we receive cancellation notice more than six months before the skiing date, your balance will be refunded less a $300.00 administration fee per seat and $500.00 per seat for expeditions or privates; additionally, you will be responsible for any non-refundable travel insurance fees. If we receive cancellation notice less than six months prior to the skiing date, the entire balance is non-refundable unless you are able to fill your seat. For cancellations made before your arrival due to medical emergencies, you will receive a 100% credit less a $300 administration fee per seat with valid documentation (e.g. Doctors note). This credit is valid through the following two seasons. Guest Responsibility Clients are responsible for all reserved days and no refunds will be given for poor fitness, poor skiing ability, injury, if you are endangering your group in any way, late arrival, early departure, etc. If you need to leave the field early for ANY reason, you will be responsible for your seat and any additional helicopter and ambulance charges. In the event of an injury, the injured party assumes additional helicopter/ambulance charges. H2O Guides, Inc., reserves the right to cancel operations for any reason.



Travel Insurance/Medical Insurance Your package includes H2O Guides' custom Travelex insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption, delays, lost or delayed baggage, weather delays that keep you from skiing, medical emergencies, and a host of other items. Insurance quotes are based on our average guest age and trip cost. Higher guest age or costlier trips may result in a higher insurance quote and subsequent trip cost. You are responsible for any difference in cost.

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H2O Guides Alaska Helicopter Skiing Trip Information