Thank you to our guests, friends, lodge staff, partners, sponsors, contractors, guides, pilots, mechanics and more who continue to believe in the dream of small group Alaska heli-skiing. The pursuit of big mountain lines drives our company’s ethos and we couldn’t make it happen without everyone’s support.
Was it really year 5 in Palmer? Wow.
As a company, 2022 was an amazing growth year. We expanded our season, added new team members, pushed our operational reach, explored new zones, skied more than ever and opened new terrain and first descents. Here are some interesting stats from the season:

• Total runs skied: 602 runs
• Average ski days per week: 6! 
• ​Operationally flyable days: 48 out of 56!

Longest fly-day streak: 15 days straight
​​First descents: Too many to count
Late February and early March in Alaska means more storms, colder temps and shorter days which equates to deep powder, 360 degrees of skiable aspects and amazing light to cap off unforgettable days.

February inevitably rolls into March and the season kicked into overdrive as the storms coming off the Gulf continued to deliver great snow and huge windows of opportunity to get into the mountains. With the onset of March, daylight hours begin to get longer, and the average temps in town slowly start to climb.
We were able to maximize our location and operational flexibility to ski almost everyday. Stability remained excellent throughout the season, as did the snow quality throughout all our zones (the Chugach, Tordillos, Talkeetnas, Neacolas and Alaska ranges). Our guests maximized their private ship waiting steps from the front door and the flexibility it provides. Other highlights included:

• Pilot Connor ferried us to the most amazing places. He is phenomenal pilot and we are super grateful to have such an awesome asset to the team.
• Chef Taite kept everyone happy at the lodge with amazing food from huge breakfasts to mouthwatering dinners. Here’s a quote from a review left by guest Will H: “Chef Taite was almost too good at his job it was ridiculous”! Read more reviews here
  …………..And as always our guide staff continued to deliver the goods each and every day
  

In Alaska we strongly believe in the concept that: “You must be present to win”, and that was certainly the case again in 2022. There are numerous complexities and variables that pop up throughout the season that continue to reinforce you just have to be here to truly maximize skiing in Alaska. We are able to deliver unforgettable experiences because our operation is built to be nimble, small and custom. There were countless days that seemed non-operational the night before that then opened up for windows of skiing the next day.
The smiles, stoke and high fives from scoring in the Alaska, Talkeetnas and Chugach ranges continues to motivate us through the heat of summer, and we look forward to 2023 in Palmer, Alaska. Thanks for always believing in us and we hope to see you in Alaska this spring.
- The TPX Team

We have had quite a few bookings for 2023 already and lots of inquiries. We strongly recommend getting a crew of 4 or 8 together to have the ultimate experience. Or come solo and we will put you into the perfect group for your skill level.
You will notice a lot of “possible” dates and “contact us” mentions below. We have numerous groups interested but have yet to deposit and secure the seats. We will give those groups first-right-of-refusal, but if those are the dates that work for you, and you have a group of 4 or 8, let us know and perhaps we can make it work.
2023 Dates and Remaining Availability:

• ​​Feb 25 - March 4 - only 4 seats remaining ​<-- perfect for solo skiers/riders
• March 4 - 11 - 4 seats left
• March 11 - 18​ - ​8 seats available, preference given to groups of 4 or 8
• March 18 - 25​​ - ​​Sold out but 4 seats may become available, ask for details
• ​March 25 - April 1​​​​ - ​8 seats available, preference given to groups of 4 or 8
• April 8 - 15​​ - All seats on-hold, but still inquire if this is your preferred dates
• ​April 15 - 22​​ - only 1 seat remaining​ <-- perfect for solo skiers/riders

I’ve heard all the excuses about exploration and adventure:

• It’s too far to go
• I’ll be tired from the time change
• I don’t speak the language
• The terrain isn’t as good as what I expect
• The weather is fickle

The list goes on…… but the truth is with a little motivation, a solid but loose plan and proper timing, these dreams can be reality and the froth for ski season year round can be temporarily quelled.
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I’ve personally spent the last 15 summers pursuing the Southern winter and can confidently say that skiing on the other side of the world never disappoints. This year I changed up my routine and traveled to South America instead of New Zealand. Here’s a look at how my appetite for snow was satiated one stop at a time in South America this summer:

My take home from the trip:
Can you curb the froth? My answer to that would be why try to squalor that fire. There is always adventure and terrain out there if you are motivated enough.​

LowePro Toploader Pro 75 AW II
One key to shooting great photos on the go is having a camera ready at all times so you can click a few off and keep moving. Having the toploader outside my pack and on my chest or slung at my hip, facilitates easy access to my gear allowing me to capture all of the imagery in this post.

Shop:
https://store.lowepro.com/toploading/toploader-pro-75-aw-ii​

I’ve been fortunate to have surf lifeguarded at Namotu Island Resort for a decade or more (I’ll be honest I’ve lost count). Fiji is one of the most special places on the planet and I’ve enjoyed countless days of my life surfing some of the worlds best waves in this beautiful paradise. The last couple weeks there were a bit different as I didn’t even bring a surfboard and only packed my camera equipment to shoot photos.

What was once a annual 6 - 8 week stop over enroute to and from the New Zealand heli-ski season has now been cut down to a quick photography strike mission. Not to mention I’ve had to take a couple year hiatus as Triple Point has taken off and I’ve pursued other opportunities. It was really good to be back and I was super stoked for the new challenge of shooting photos in such a special place.
The first thing to hit you as you get off the plane in Nadi is the familiarity as well as the change. The airport is being re-done and looks amazing. The roads are bit more paved and the town has more traffic. But the Fijian locals still wave from the sugarcane fields as you drive by and the morning sunrise over Vita Levu as you walk off the plane is more beautiful than I remember.

Namotu is located on the Southern most tip of the Mamanuca chain and lies 5 nautical miles west of Viti Levu — Fiji’s largest and most populous island. It is truly a waterman’s paradise. The island is situated within striking distance of many of the best waves on the planet. Cloudbreak, Tavarua Right, Restaurants, Swimming Pools, Namotu Left and Wilkes Passage are all a short boat trip away and can accommodate anyone’s surfing abilities depending on wave size, tide and wind.

The waves have certainly remained the same since I was last back but it’s the amazing Fijian people and the new guests you meet along the way are etched in my memory. One cannot underestimate the beautiful Fijian culture with their amazing hospitality and true zest for life. The Aloha spirit is truly alive and well in the Fijian islands
Thanks to Scotty and Mandy O’Connor for their generous hospitality, the guests who were on the island for letting me share their holiday with them and all the amazing lifeguards who look tirelessly after each surfer knowing exactly where and when to be to get the best waves possible.
I can’t wait to get back. Vinaka Vakalevu!

​--Tucker Patton

​Typically I shoot from a jet ski especially at places like Mavericks and this trip was a challenge artistically and logistically in that regard. I picked up a new housing for my 5D Mark iii and had a blast using it in the surf especially when I need to scratch the creative itch. I’ve got a long way to go perfecting this skill but the Aquatech housing was easy to use and I found the controls and function to be exactly what I needed to explore this new artistic challenge.

Wrapping up my 13th heli-ski season guiding in Alaska gives me time to reflect and appreciate the amazing experiences we offer through Triple Point Expeditions. It is truly one of my favorite destinations and one that I plan my entire year around. I hope you enjoy this quick write-up, gear recommendations and photo compilation from my annual pilgrimage North.
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Alaska is the ultimate ski destination on all fronts. The coastal mountains wait patiently on the doorstep to the Gulf of Alaska. Trickling down from the towering peaks the gulf extends out to the Pacific Ocean’s never ending weather engine sending storms racing across from Japan and Russia. The mountains’ proximity to the Pacific and the sheer magnitude of the ranges that stand against the onslaught of weather allow us, as skiers and riders, to explore our personal snow centric dreams. Alaska’s vastness, beauty and solitude are unrivaled.

The season started with a major wind event across the entire state followed by unseasonably cold temps and sunny skies. Finding good snow was tricky at this point but we were able to sniff out some great runs and the clear skies allowed us to hunt for snow in the helicopter.
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It’s a strange feeling hoping for snow in Alaska as usually you want the weather to go away. But eventually the snow dances worked, the skies clouded over and it puked silver dollars for days. Inevitably though, after a couple days of snow, the emotions swing the other direction and you start hoping for sunny skies. Once they did, it was game on for the rest of the season.

As my attention turns its focus toward toward my upcoming months in Alaska and it’s shangri la of steep skiing, I will look back with pleasure at a winter to remember. I’m stoked to have captured just a couple of those fleeting moments.
Enjoy the photos.
— Tucker Patton

Gear We Recommend for Charging Deep Powder in Sun Valley:
Outerwear:

• Outdoor Research Maximus Jacket: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/catalog/product/view/id/64178/category/2206/
• Outdoor Research Whiteroom Pants: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/men-s-white-room-pants.html

​Skis:

• K2 Pinnacle 118 

Goggles:

• Oakley Airbrake: http://www.oakley.com/en/mens-snow/airbrake-snow-prizm/product/WGOO7037PZ/?skuCode=OO7037-32&categoryCode=mens-snow

Note: All Photos by Tucker Patton

Traveling the globe in the modern age always amazes me that you can board a plane in Sun Valley, Idaho, close your eyes for a bit, watch a movie or two and arrive on the other side of the world. We are truly fortunate.

Flying into Japan's capital: Tokyo, which is home to more than 13 million people, you're immediately floored by the vastness of one of the most dense and bustling cities in the world. Straddling the large Tokyo bay, tankers, tug boats and ships are surrounded by the sprawling metropolis. Upon arrival, you can get almost anywhere by train, subway or rail car as the vast network of public transportation allows you to explore the city.

Tokyo is incredibly diverse, vibrant and stimulating. The streets bustle at all hours of the day and around every corner is another shop, restaurant or alley to explore. It's the perfect cultural compliment to a ski trip to the other side of the earth. Not to mention, it's a very humbling feeling being in a foreign country, not speaking the language and having to navigate such a vast city. None-the-less there is a certain sense of accomplishment when you start to figure it out and get your bearings.

Heading north to Sapporo you find the fourth largest city in Japan, host of the 1972 Olympics (the first ever in Asia) and the largest city on the northern island of Hokkaido. It is a quick flight north from Tokyo and the area hosts an endless array of ski resorts that you could spend years exploring. When you think of Japan you are certainly thinking of Hokkaido. Deep snow, volcanoes, endless face shots, snow covered trees and nonstop accumulation, epitomize the Hokkaido region. Although ducking ropes and skiing under the lift is strictly forbidden, with a little knowledge and exploration we were able to discover arguably the best powder skiing anywhere. The photos don't do the snow justice as the skiing is like nowhere else on the planet.

The sun doesn't come out often in Japan, but when it does, the mountains that the light reveals are simply amazing. Hakuba's terrain does not disappoint. We were called in to help with the Freeride World Tour's first Japanese stop. After the event successfully ran, we had a couple days to explore the Hakuba Valley. Hakuba was the home to the 1998 Winter Olympics where snowboarding was first introduced as an Olympic sport and American Johnny Moseley took home gold. There are large ski resorts and a vast lift network and infrastructure system allowing for endless skiing around the city centers. We were lucky to have one sunny day that allowed for exploration above the resorts in the backcountry and it was amazing to see the terrain surrounding this beautiful valley.

It's no surprise the food and drink in Japan are an amazing experience unto themselves. We instigated the "Ramen Challenge" on day one and continued the tradition of eating at least one meal consisting of ramen everyday of the trip. Even after the consumption of countless delicacies I honestly still have no idea what a lot of them were. I went in with an open mind and did not turn down a single suggestion. I can confidently say that the Japanese cuisine is some of the best in the world and not to be missed. I have never had better tasting or larger portions of sushi anywhere. Not to mention, the automated ordering of food and coffee at the most random of street locations is amazing.

It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait till next year. Until then, the skiing continues back home in Sun Valley where we're loving the nonstop fresh pow every day. 

--Tucker Patton

It's been a shotgun start to the 2016/17 winter and the New Year is already stacking up to be one our biggest yet. There has certainly been no shortage of travel for the last couple months as we’ve been searching out the best in surf and snow.

After a long run of Mavericks swells that solidified November as one of the best kickoffs for a winter season in years the swell generation machine in the North Pacific backed off and our focus turned towards ski guiding, production work, travel and a general disregard for everything other than powder hounding.

Notable highlights include:

• Baldface Lodge with Hiball Energy
• BWRAG safety summit on the north shore of Oahu
• Hokidaho kicked into gear in Sun Valley
• Japunauary continues with Stellar Media as we travel to Japan

Diving into the last few months allows for much needed reflection of the past year as well as planning ahead for an exciting 2017.

TPX owner Tucker Patton was honored to be included in the Big Wave Safety Summit put on by the BWRAG team. This safety summit is similar to the avalanche communities version held every other year called ISSW. We were fortunate enough to travel to the famous Turtle Bay Resort on the fabled north shore of Oahu. This amazing event brought together hundreds of big wave surfers from around the world looking to learn important safety skills, improve their risk assessment decision making and collaborate with other participants from Fiji, Hawaii, Ireland, Brazil and beyond.

​It was an amazing learning experience and served as a great building block and much needed resource in furthering the safety protocols used in big wave surfing. We found it particularly useful as individually and as a company we cross into both worlds: big waves and avalanche mitigation. It is truly a privilege to be on the forefront of safety for our two biggest passions and it’s always important to keep training and getting better every day. Lastly we were able to attend the opening ceremony of the Eddie at Waimea Bay which was a truly special experience.

Mid December brought together a unique opportunity for us to travel with the HiBall energy team to Nelson, British Columbia. We were excited to work with the best athletes in world as they came together to push themselves in Balface Lodge's amazing terrain all while representing an amazing brand. We spent the week skiing with all the athletes and shooting photos as the trip was blessed with perfect snow, good stability and sunny skies.

A majority of our time was spent working with adaptive super athlete Grant Korgan as he challenged himself for the first time on a sit-ski in deep powder. It was truly an impressive performance watching Grant push himself and re-learn to ski powder after suffering a spinal cord injury a few years ago. His stoke and zest for life will encourage us for years to come. We think the pictures speak for themselves about the conditions.

We’ve traveled the world in pursuit of surf and snow and we can confidently say that Balface is at the top of our list for great destinations and deserves a very humble thank you.

​Of course the trip wouldn't have been possible without HiBall and a special thank you needs to be extended to this exemplary brand and it's founder Todd Berardi for including us in this special opportunity.

Upon returning home from B.C. to California we packed up our belongings and moved shop to Ketchum, Idaho where we were immediately greeted by cold temps and a white Christmas. Sorting out a winter base for TPX is never easy to pin down and as we settled into Sun Valley to have the skies open up and blanket the mountains with deep, cold snow. Since our arrival we've been on many awesome adventures with Stellar Media and Sun Valley Heli Crew. We look forward to many more adventures in our new home.

With a couple late additions to a Stellar Media trip we jumped on the opportunity to pursue powder in the winter snow globe of Northern Japan. We are currently enroute and adding stops in SFO, Tokyo and Sapporo via planes, trains and automobiles. We are looking forward to deep powder, hot pools and sushi. So far one canceled flight and a few glitches haven't deterred our stoke for this amazing opportunity. Thanks Reggie Crist and Stellar Adventures for inviting us along.

Stay tuned to our social channels as we continue the best from our first adventures into the new year! @triplepointexpeditions