What do you call a lodge with a helicopter, a fleet of K2 skis, fishing rods, stand-up-paddle boards, a sauna, jet skis and 18 hours of sunlight every day? Summer camp, for adults.
This past winter, the three coolest people on the planet—Mike Overcast, Greg Harms, and Olympic medalist Tommy Moe—split from Chugach Powder Guides to operate Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, which runs heli-ski trips in the winter and heli-ski and -fishing trips, called Cast and Carve, in the summer.
While midwinter AK pow is nothing to complain about, the summer trip is the Perfect Storm of Awesomeness. The schedule is as follows: unhurried breakfasts, heli rides to juicy corn runs, evening fishing fests, extended cocktail hours that might lead to late-night hatchet throwing, hottubbing, live music by chef Brendan Nolan, or swim-and-sauna sessions. It’s good for all abilities, too. Our group ranged from folks who had never skied outside of Ohio to seasoned rippers. And as for the fishing, well, this editor will tell you: These guys will get even river gapers into serious fish. And if neither skiing nor fishing is your gig? This is Alaska—there are plenty of guns to shoot.