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1,800 vertical at 55 degrees and Full Support, 3,000 vertical at 45-48 degrees.The only time I skied Coogan’s Run was on 3/27/2006. I was skiingwith three guys. When we landed, we all looked over the side and I rememberwe exclaimed “Geez”, - in unison. Our guide, C.J. Ware, dropped in andskied to a safe zone under a rock on skiers right. He had us ski to him - oneskier at a time.The first six turns had to be jump turns as the entrance was so narrow.We only had a few feet of width at the entrance because the skier’s rightwas not an option. After we dropped in, we had to ski on the skiers right,as the skiers left had been baked in the sun. This run starts out around 12feet wide and gets to about 30 feet wide at the bottom of the 2,500 verticalfeet. But, we were only able to ski the right half of the run reducing theturning area. After we all gathered at the safe zone, we all skied out - oneat a time - to the bottom of the glacier. I have seen this run in a couple ofWarren Miller movies. Currently living in Park City, I met the guide whonamed this run after her mother. She was in the Warren Miller movie andwas helping to promote it in Park City.When your heli approaches your run, the pilot will fly up the run andthe guide will point out any huge rocks, crevasses or bergschrunds**. Onceyou land, your guide will remind you about the run and will then ski to asafe zone and guide you down the mountain via your two way radio. Theguide and skiers always have, “eyes on” every skier. It is mandatory to havea two way radio to communicate with each other. I have mine plugged intomy helmet as this eliminates any wind noise.Last April, we skied over a bergschrund which I have on my Go Pro.I had first powder run. The “bergie” was about five feet wide and ran from2 to 5 feet high and who knows how deep. The run, called Country Corner,was so much fun that our heli group voted to ski it again.A few years ago, we actually got to ski on a Saturday - transition day!My group had five fantastic runs of 2,000 vertical in the best untouchedpowder you can imagine. It was one of those early mornings with the sunshining on the snow at just the right angle. It looked and felt like you werefloating on diamonds. Every snowflake glistened. Our guide did a great jobnavigating us through five runs before we had to head back to base andcatch our return flight to the lower 48.This past April (2012) was my best month at PNH. I was there for28 days. Four were turn over days. Of the remaining 24 days, I had 14days of skiing with 119 amazing heli runs: approximately 300,000 vertical.The first week, almost every run had one to two feet of fresh Chugachpowder. I have heli-skied with people from all over the world which makesthis experience even more interesting and rewarding. Most skiers or boarderswill spend a week, then a new group arrives. In the third week, I skiedwith four Finnish skiers and boarders in their thirties. They only wantedto ski steep terrain, so most of the runs were 45 to 50 degrees. Many WarrenMiller runs were photographed from this run.Over the nine years, I have averaged about 3.5 days a week during themonth’s stay. They only heli on blue bird days or days with scattered clouds.Overcast days are down days as flat lighting makes it too difficult for pilotsto see definition when landing, and for guides and skiers to see crevasses.One of the nice things about skiing with PNH out of Cordova is beingless than two miles from a town of 2,500 people. There are down day activitiesincluding: skiing Mt. Eyak, the local ski resort which has the originalsingle chair from Sun Valley and amazing Chugach powder, ice climbing,swimming at the local pool, going to the gym for some basketball or dodgeball and hiking the Sheridan Glacier. Another possibility is going to the localbars for pool or shuffle board. Or, you may just want to relax at the lodge.**A Bergschrund, from the German word for mountain cleft, is a crevasse that formswhere the moving glacier ice separates from the stagnant ice or firn above. - WikipediaThe food at the lodge is fantastic. The staff does an excellent job. Theyserve a huge buffet for breakfast with everything you can imagine and allyou want. After breakfast, they make a sandwich for your lunch which youcarry in your back pack while skiing. Suppers are also huge and delicious.The seafood is especially delectable.I have been to PNH three times when they were filming the WarrenMiller movies. Each time you get to eat with and talk to the athletes and ifyou are lucky enough, you might see them filming a shot. I am so impressedwith Tom Day, the cinematographer. He skis with an 80 pound pack to getto the exact location he needs for that shot.PNH has been in about 13 Warren Miller movies. Of course, you onlysee Kevin, Jessica, or the pro skiers or boarders like Seth Westcott, OlympicGold Medal winner or a few of the top skiing guests skiing 60 degree slopes,but they also have very nice 35 to 45 degree runs that are fantastic. I’venever felt guilty skiing a 2,500 to 3,000 vertical foot run on a 40 degree slopein untouched powder. Remember, if you decide to heli-ski Alaska, make sureyou can board or ski steep deep powder, as this is no place to learn.I have a workout routine for Alaska. I am a member of the Park CityMountain Sports Club and I try to ski as much powder as I can in Utah.There is no shortage of black and double blacks with good snow nearby. Ialso go to the gym and work out the upper body and the legs, especially thequads. The last thing I want is to get too tired on a steep deep run and gethurt. I figure I currently have around 700 or so heli runs at PNH.Think this is an activity only for Gen Xers? I celebrated my 70th birthdayheli-skiing this last April. What a way to bring in a new decade! Cordova,Alaska received approximately 18 feet of new snow in two weekswhile I was there.PNH offers an annual Alaskan Ladies Week. Guided backcountry touringis also becoming very popular. Participants spend the week skiing orboarding and stay in yurts scattered around the area.Heli-skiing has also allowed me to get some great photographs of PrinceWilliam Sound, which can be viewed from the lodge. There is an abundanceof wildlife in the area. Amazing shots of eagles, sea otters, glaciers, the Iditarod,sunsets, the aurora borealisand more are everywhere. Ihave over 600 photos of eaglesalone.The easiest way to get toCordova is to fly into Anchorage.Before or after your heli week,you might want to visit Alyeska,Alaska’s largest and most luxuriousski area also in the ChugachMountains approximately 40miles from the airport. Althoughit has skiing for all abilities,Mount Alyeska is known for it’ssteep terrain and deep snowpack.It also has a Nordic trail system,snowshoeing and dog sledding,as well as both heli-skiing andcat-skiing, flightseeing adventuresand guided ice climbing.nearby. Is this your year to goNorth to Alaska? ▲▲NOTE: If you have any questions you can contact Bill at: www.monoskiusa.com.Additional Alaska photos can be found at: www.BillSillimanPhotography.com.64 Far West Skier’s Guide 2O12 - 2O13 / See the Digital Edition of the Far West Skier’s Guide at www.fwsa.org.