Flight Lines

Hitting the slopes at Elmendorf and Eielson

November 20th, 2009 | Uncategorized | Posted by Mike Hoffman

Ski and snowboarders get off the lift on top of Hillberg Ski Area at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, last year. (AF photo)

Skiers and snowboarders get off the lift on top of Hillberg Ski Area at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, last year. (AF photo)

Your base might have a golf course, but does it have a ski slope? Airmen at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, can make that claim.

Both feature small slopes with only a few runs, but what did you expect, Killington or Aspen? We’re talking about the Air Force here. You can’t invest too much on a ski resort and risk stealing away money from the beloved golf courses.

I digress. Both Hillberg Ski Hill at Elmendorf and Iceman Hill at Eielson are busy blowing snow, getting ready to open over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. It’s plenty cold in Alaska, but they still haven’t had enough natural snowfall.

While it might only take a few turns before you reach the bottom of the slope, it looks like the perfect place for beginners or families. The best part is the trip comes cheap. A lift ticket only costs $17 and rentals $20. You can’t find another slope, I don’t care how big, with cheaper rates. Beginners are typically scared away by the steep price tag that comes with a ski trip, but this gives airmen a cheap way to learn.

Elmendorf is trying to attract even more airmen to the hill this season by running a shuttle between Hillberg and the dorms.

The most popular runs, though, might not even be the ski and snowboard slopes. Hillberg’s staff said the tubing runs get the largest crowds, especially on weekends.

“Even if you don’t ski you can come out and enjoy the tubing runs. Some might say they are too old to go tubing but after a few times down you can’t get them off the mountain,” said Raina Panarese, who works at Hillberg.

More photos after the jump.

HillbergSkiLayout

Retired Master Sgt. Tom Green, who works at Hillberg, is working hard with his staff to get the ski hill ready for another season. (Credit: Michael Hoffman)

Retired Master Sgt. Tom Green, who works at Hillberg, is working hard with his staff to get the ski hill ready for another season. (Credit: Michael Hoffman)

A view from the bottom of Hillberg prior to opening day on the slopes. (Credit: Michael Hoffman)

A view from the bottom of Hillberg prior to opening day on the slopes. (Credit: Michael Hoffman)

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Permalink | November 20th, 2009

Comments

  1. OldAFguy Says:
    December 10th, 2009 at 12:05 am

    Hillberg used to be a nice place, but I visited there last year and the “improvements” suck. They don’t even have a ski shop anymore.

  2. Raina Panarese Says:
    January 6th, 2010 at 4:07 am

    OldAFguy : We don’t sell equipment anymore because the downtown business have that pretty well covered. We have a fully operational maintenance shop staffed by a certified shop tech. I am sorry that you think the improvements “Suck” but you have been the only complaint I have heard so far. Your complaint should have come directly to us or the FSS of Elmendorf instead of posting it here to bad mouth an otherwise great way to generate interest in our Ski Area.
    Thanks for the article Mr. Hoffman!
    Raina Panarese
    Hillberg Ski Area Manager
    Outdoor Adventure Program Director
    Elmendorf AFB, AK

  3. LocalYocal Says:
    January 12th, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Looks liike fun to me at a price I can afford.
    Is this hill open to the public or just military personel?

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