The only major ski resort in Alaska, at Girdwood forty minutes south of Anchorage, rising from close to sea level at the head of an inlet. The base is at 76 metres, which is the lowest of any serious resort in North America, and the snowfall is measured in metres rather than centimetres.

The terrain is steep, with bowls and chutes off the upper mountain and long groomed runs below. The vertical is substantial and the aerial tram runs from the hotel to the top.

The light is what people remember. In midwinter the days are short and the sun stays low, and the northern lights are visible on clear nights. Spring skiing here runs into April with daylight until late evening, which is the best time to come.