tricchio

Hey everyone..

I will be getting stationed at Eielson AFB close to fairbanks and i was wondering how the snowboarding was out here, ive got to have something to look forward to when i goto this cold state coming from california. Well if anyone knows let me know!


Thanks

killclimbz

There are a bunch of small little ski areas in Alaska. What is nearest to Fairbanks I don't know. I believe there is a little over a month where you are not going to do a lot of riding. Limited to no daylight in the middle of winter. Of course you can probably ride well into June too.
One thing about Alaska is that backcountry riding is where it is at. Get some avy sense and gear and get after it. AK Powder Monkey over at TGR seems to know a bit about the Alaska scene. You may ask him for some help as to what is available in the area.

Snowolf

I used to be stationed at Eielson AFB. Your best bet is to go to Mt. Auroa Ski Land. They have rentals and instruction. To get there take the Stese Highway out of town and at mile post 21 the turn off to Mt. Auroa is on the right. This is also an incredible place to watch and photograph the northern lights to be away from the light polution of Fairbanks.



Mt. Aurora Ski Land

Another ski area is at Moose Mountain out by the U of A Fairbanks. This is an interesting set up for they have no chairlifts;they bu people back to the top of the hill. Moose Mountain also has a ski & snowboard school. Take Sheep Creek road out to Murphy Dome road, then turn off on moose Mountain road.



Shredthemoose

There are a lot of backcountry opportunities around Fairbanks; the best hills are out on the Chena Hot Springs road. A great area is the Granite Tors Trail. If the snow is good, there are huge, wide open glades up top. Down south on the Richardson Highway at paxon, you have the Alaska Range which as you know is huge.

Another forum member lives in Fairbanks and had similar questions. got this thread for more info about Fairbanks:
http://www.snowboardingforum.com/sno...1057-help.html

You guys might meet up and go riding together.

EDIT: Added info...you might find this kind of interesting regarding the history of Mt. Auroa Skiland...........
Cleary Summit

__________________

ak907girlie

There is also Birch Hill, which is really close to Ft Wainwright (the Army base about 20 miles north of Eielson) A lot of guys drive down to Alyeska (FAR from Eielson) or to Summit, which is about 4 hours south.

I lived in North Pole (no joke, its between Eielson & Fairbanks) for 10 years, but now I live about 300 miles south in Anchorage.

tricchio

thanks for the input so far, this should help a ton