The area around Haines is a spectacular mix of fjords and glaciers, rising to elevations of 19 000 ft (xx – logan?/) m, with snow cover to the ocean during winter. The mountains must be accessed by ski plane or heli, thus long tours or camps are the norm. Gentle glacial bowls and steeper mountain faces are what’s on offer here. The vertical isn’t huge closer to the coast, with most options in the 300-1000 vertical metre range, but deeper into the range some bigger descents are possible; numerous 1000m+ descents can be had. In addition, Mt Logan, just across the border in Canada, offers the serious ski mountaineer a worthy challenge.

In this terrain there are two options. The first, to set up camp in one location and explore for a week or so, is a great way to get in a ton of vertical and really explore an area. The second, to make a traverse, is a good way to make the most of the long, flatish glaciers in the valleys and cover a lot of ground, seeing more of the range and setting up camp for shorter stays to just ski the most tempting lines. Traverses over 30 days have been completed here – the limit is only yourself in these boundless mountains.

The views are truly unique; in some locations you can see the ocean on 2 sides. Plus, there is very little heli skiing here so you will usually be well and truly on your own. Haines is a small town on the coast that has everything you’ll need at a reasonable price. It’s a long way up here but the people are very friendly and low key and it’s a nice place to relax between tours. Good maps, a reliable ski plane operator who is a ski tourer himself (he makes a day trip of the glaciers alone in is plane when he doesn’t have clients!), a fully guided service and a mountain range where you really can’t go wrong, make Haines a good introduction to Alaskan ski touring.