Arrival with teething troubles
As our customers always come first, a test trip like this isn't always easy in the high season. But after we strengthened our team with Max in December, the opportunity arose. I spontaneously planned the Alaska flight. However, 4 days before my planned departure, I was informed that the airport staff in Frankfurt were on strike on "my departure day". The chance that my flight from Frankfurt to Denver would be operated was less than one percent. What a disappointment and what an annoyance at the catastrophic performance of the airline service centers. But luckily there are tour operators and travel agencies that provide valuable added value in such emergency situations.

Thanks to the help of our airline team, I was able to rebook my flight and still flew out on Thursday evening. First to London, where I spent the night at the airport, then the next day to Denver and on to Anchorage. I arrived there shortly before midnight. Tired, but happy that I had made it to Alaska despite all the adversity.

Welcome to Third Edge Heli
The next day I was picked up by Third Edge Heli at around 3 p.m. and I drove with two other guests to the heliport, which is around 5 minutes from the hotel. From the Alpha Heliport we flew to Eagle's Nest in Wasilla in around 12 minutes. Even the heli-transfer to the lodge, a private house with 6 bedrooms, showed me the dimensions of the 49th state of the United States of America. Below me was the city of Anchorage, on the horizon the mighty Denali, which at 6,190m is the highest mountain in North America and one of the 7 Summits. Then we continued over the frozen Knik Arm. After the flight over the channel, we landed directly in front of our "home away from home" for the next 7 nights.

As soon as we landed, we were greeted warmly by the team. I immediately felt "at home". Third Edge Heli's philosophy is "100% boutique", so no two trips are the same. At Third Edge Heli everything is personally tailored to the guest - everything is bespoke, no off the shelf trip. Their individual approach helps to boost guests' confidence in the field, so you have the time of your life and feel like a rock star.

Guests become friends
And to make sure you remember these experiences forever, the guides take tons of photos and videos of you. Unforgettable memories that you can share with your friends. Third Edge Heli cultivates lifelong friendships with its guests, who they consider part of "their family".

After checking into the spacious room (each with a separate bathroom/WC), it was soon time for dinner. But before that, a local beer in the cozy lounge was in order, where I got to know the other heliskiers and the guides. Third Edge Heli offers a completely personalized experience. Their small group sizes - a private heli for 3 guests with 2 guides - allows guests to customize the terrain and skiing to exceed all expectations. This gives them the freedom and flexibility to organize one of the best experiences of your life.

Gourmet cuisine from the chef to the stars
In the open kitchen, "Delicious-Dave" showed what he's got up his sleeve. It's no coincidence that the chef has been on tour with rock stars such as Neil Young, Justin Timberlake, Jack Johnson and Kings of Lion. To anticipate: What we were served this week was absolute gourmet cuisine. All the ingredients are bought locally. And surprisingly, nobody gained any weight this week! Was it because of Dave's healthy cooking?

The chef obviously inspires everyone, as I could see from the entries in Dave's guest book: "I used to be a junkie. Now I'm a foodie. Thank you!", wrote David Crosby on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tour in 2012, for example. Al Gore (former US Vice President Al Gore) praised him in 2013: "Man, that's some gourmet stuff." And Zee Avi said on the Jack Johnson Tour 2014: "Thank you for nuturing our bodies with food and love."

I fell into bed at 9 pm, happy and content, eager to see what the next few days would bring.

Let's go!
An excellent breakfast awaited us the next morning: a continental, almost Swiss breakfast with freshly packed bread, cold cuts, fresh berries, muesli and juice. Coffee and tea lovers also got their money's worth. And then there was always a hot dish, be it avocado with a fried egg on toast, eggs benedict, enchiladas or huevos rancheros. And if someone wanted something else? No problem, it was conjured up. Around 8 o'clock, Jeff and Steve briefed us on the safety regulations. These are largely similar to those in Canada, but there are a few major differences: In Alaska, everyone has to wear a climbing harness, everyone is given a radio and they explain and demonstrate what is known as "sluff management".

Safety first: sluff management
"Sluff management" means anticipating sluffs, which are common on steep slopes, and taking measures to avoid being caught. A common approach is to ride short distances and then stop at a safe place to escape the sluff. Alternatively, you can always be one turn ahead of the sluff. Important: Don't ski or snowboard too slowly.

Afterwards, we changed and held the obligatory safety training. We dealt with the avalanche transceiver, the handling and explanation of the airbag and the radio as well as getting in and out of the A350-B3 helicopter. Speaking of safety: this is a top priority. Not least for this reason, there are two guides per group.

We flew into the terrain at 10 a.m. and by now the anticipation was as boundless as the white Alaskan wilderness. After all, we had a bluebird day!

Alaska has to be on every bucket list
And my anticipation was more than fulfilled. Alaska is an endless expanse, rugged and wild with an intensity that only becomes apparent once you have seen it with your own eyes. Alaska should be on every bucket list. For skiers and snowboarders, the landscape offers almost limitless heli-skiing experiences. The coastal winter weather systems blanket Alaska's gigantic mountains with a deluge of maritime snow. When the weather systems pull away, the snow cools and dries out on the surface, creating a magical, velvety snow. Is it the best snow in the world? I don't know, but the snow is definitely damn good for heliskiing!

Truly "hero snow". On this snow for heroes, you can make fast, wide turns, which boosts your confidence. Every line will make you feel like a rock star. Big Mountain Skiing - from scenic glacier runs and powder bowls to steep couloirs, spines and sweeping rock faces. Alaska offers terrain for every level and ability.

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And while Alaska is famous in the extreme sports world for its challenging descents, it also offers a wealth of terrain options for those who prefer to take it a little easier. After all, Alaska with Third Edge is tailor-made so that personal wishes can be catered for.

Know-how and experience prevents "down-days"
The Third Edge team has spent decades cracking the code for Alaska's dynamic weather and snow conditions. Instead of settling on a single mountain range, they decided to strategically position their location in the middle of five different mountain ranges. This gives them the opportunity to follow the weather and snow conditions and have you in the right place at the right time. Thanks to the micro-climate and the 5 different mountain ranges, down-days are no more common here than in Canada, but the runs are absolutely unique and world class. The terrain options are immense and the guides know when and where to be.

We were in the Tordrillos in around 20 minutes. There are (almost) no limits, whether you ride your dream line in the Tordrillos, in the majestic Chugach or in the Kenai on the Pacific.

I was traveling with Jamie and Mark. Mark is one of the three owners of Third Edge. When Steve gave the okay, we slowly got out and crawled a few feet along the top of the mountain while the helicopter took off and created a small whirlwind. And now everything happened in a flash: Steve took off first and then gave us the command over the radio to follow one after the other. The guides are in constant radio contact with the guests and guide them away from the dangers of the terrain and towards the most beautiful descents.

The steepest first run of my life
I was the last to go; when I heard my name through the loudspeaker, I realized I had been holding my breath. I exhaled deeply and took in the vast wilderness that surrounded me. Then I plunged into the steepest first descent of my life - it was easily 38 degrees. My pulse felt like it was at 180. I was immediately in the flow and drew my line through the fluffy, light snow. 800 meters lower down, just under 3 minutes later I arrived with the others: big smiles and high fives, what a start!

We immediately climbed back into the helicopter, eager for more challenges once we had acquired a taste for it. And every descent was actually a highlight. Be it because of the narrow couloirs, the scenery, the landing on a knife-edge or because of the snow. The pictures and videos speak for themselves ...

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The right preparation for Alaska
I am asked time and again how to prepare for the steep descents and couloirs. Good physical preparation is important and indispensable, coupled with the mindset that you will be skiing very steep descents. And it goes without saying that you need to be a very good skier or snowboarder. But no matter how well prepared you are, you are guaranteed to have a rapid pulse before your first descent. And believe me, the moment the helicopter plunges its skids into a razor-sharp ridge, the exit platform is very, very narrow and your guide signals that it's time to go, you may feel like you're in the "wrong movie".

During the week, Jeff and Steve increased the level of difficulty and rarely repeated a descent. This week the weather gods were very kind to us - despite snowfall in Wasillia - and we were able to ski all 7 days: on 4 days we were able to ski perfect snow from 9am until sunset. And that was in February! When the helicopter took us home each evening, I have to be honest, I had damn tired legs. Luckily, the hot tub, sauna and massage room were so close by. The conversations in the hot tub, at the aperitif and at dinner with the guides and the "repeat offenders" were always very exciting and inspiring.

Overcoming the comfort zone for a mega feeling
At some point, the conversation turned to the descents that the group would like to ride the next day. I was more than happy with the terrain we had ridden so far. But when I saw Brad's eyes light up at "Manhatten" as he chatted with his crew, I realized that what I thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip would become a habit. More than half of all customers book a trip for the next season before they even leave. They get hooked, Brad tells me. It's not just the thrill that lures them back - it's something personal. When you step out of your comfort zone and overcome your fear, you really feel alive.

"When the snow is good, skiing is like flying," I keep thinking in Alaska. A feeling between stability and free fall. I find a rhythm, relax and let my skis do the rest - great. In terms of skiing, this was by far the best week of my life and yes, the "beware of addiction" phenomenon proved true for me once again. Just when you think you've seen and skied everything, there's obviously still room for improvement. And that is called Third Edge Heli. This is skiing in another dimension. "There's no such thing as can't" is the motto in this "heliskiing dreamland".

No goodbye forever
When I said goodbye after a week, I knew that I would be heading back to Alaska as soon as possible. But the fact that it would be just 10 weeks later in the first week of July was a surprise for me too. But more about that in another story.

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