ALYESKA, ALASKA
BY DEREK TAYLOR


	Alyeskaresort.com, 800.880.3880 LIFT TICKET: $55 (2006/07) ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 631 in SUMMIT: 2,750 feet VERTICAL: 2,500 feet SKIABLE ACRES: 1,000

Despite pulling in over 600 inches a year and offering a 2,000-foot tram, Alyeska has been largely overlooked by hardcore skiers as a destination, aside from a down-day option for heli skiers. Perhaps it was the former owners’ intent on marketing mostly to families, or perhaps it was due to the misconception that Girdwood is hard to reach. Whatever the case, that is about to change. Purchased recently by John Byrne, a Salt Lake City-based businessman with a penchant for 100-day seasons, Alyeska is spending $4.5 million on upgrades this summer.

South Face shots such as First Point and Eagle Rock will still be go-to runs on powder mornings while people wait for the North Face and Christmas and New Year’s chutes to open. The biggest change so far is that those openings have been more consistent. Also look for more frequent openings of Glacier Bowl and Headwall—1,000-foot hike-to faces above the resort.

WHAT'S NEW: The facelift started this summer with expanded snowmaking to the top of the tram, which will allow the resort to open more terrain by Thanksgiving. The resort also expects to put in two new lifts in the Winner Creek area within the next couple of years, opening up more tree skiing.

INSIDE LINE: Alaska’s dark mornings mean the resort opens at 10:30, so no need to set an alarm to make first chair. For eats, try the Double Musky.