What a great way to end the ski season than to experience North America’s last frontier.  Scenic wilderness largely untouched by human hands.  Wildlife so abundant the views seem surreal.  Experience the Iditarod Sled Dog Race festivities, and, oh by the way, there is challenging skiing.

This trip begins in Anchorage, Alaska for the start of the Iditarod.  We will be staying at the Hotel Captain Cook, located downtown Anchorage on 4^th Street where all of the festivities will be.  The Hotel Captain Cook has 547 rooms, with a choice of deluxe accommodations and majestic views of the Cook Inlet, Chugach Mountains, or Mt. McKinley.  Most will spend two nights in Anchorage before departing for Alyeska.  Those that would like to come early will have the opportunity to train with the dogs and assist the teams in the start of the race on March 6^th.

After the start of the race on Saturday afternoon, the group will depart on a scenic round trip train ride along the scenic Turnagain Arm. 

We will have 4 train cars converted to a Texas party train with food and drink.  We will spend Saturday night in Anchorage and everyone will have an opportunity to experience the shopping, dining and nightlife that is uniquely Alaskan.

Sunday we will depart on a short coach ride to Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska.  The chateau style hotel features 304 luxurious rooms with all of the amenities.  The Spa at Alyeska offers a full range of services, including skin-care, facial, manicure and pedicure treatments, and a full line of massage treatments.

Dining at Alyeska runs the whole gamut of options, from the casual Sitzmark Bar & Grill, to the Seven Glaciers, which is Alaska’s only mountain-top Four Diamond restaurant. 

The Hotel Alyeska sits minutes outside of the town of Girdwood, that has many local charming shops and restaurants, that are only a shuttle away.  Shuttles will be running all day from the hotel to the town, which is less than a mile away.

 The wildlife is everywhere, and the opportunities will be plenty.  Helicopter flightseeing is available close by for experiencing North America’s most glaciated mountain range.  The tour will allow you to see many glaciers and land on one for an up close view of blue glacier ice.  A day trip will be possible to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward and a cruise of Resurrection Bay.   For those that love the dogs, you will have the opportunity to visit the kennels of a professional musher, 9 time Iditarod veteran Dario Martinez.  Learn the history of dog sledding in Alaska, hear about Dario’s adventures on the Iditarod trail, and drive the team yourself around the fields of Moose Meadows.

 Oh, did I mention skiing?  Alyeska Resort Mountain has 1,400 skiable acres with an elevation of 3,939 feet.  The great thing about skiing Alyeska is the base is at 250 feet, so there are no altitude issues to deal with.  There are 68 runs, 9 lifts including one high-speed detachable quad, three fixed quads, two double chairs, two magic carpets, one pony lift, and one 60-passenger aerial tram.  The mountain is 11% beginner, 52% intermediate, and 37% advanced.  This is a ski-in ski-out mountain.  Walk out the back door and get on the tram.  Heliskiing and cat skiing are available out of the resort.

Some of the questions that I am asked include how cold will it be, and how much daylight will there be in March.  The average temperature in March is 32 degrees and there is an average of 14 hours of daylight.  Perfect conditions for skiing.

For those that are looking for other things to do, there is ice climbing, snowmobile tours, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, horseback riding and sleigh rides.  There is something for everyone.

Come experience the trip of a lifetime.