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Tailgate Alaska

Original Post
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

So just found out about this event this year from a buddy who's going... his bro bought and stores two sleds in AK for the event and rents an RV. A buddy and I are talking about making it next year... wanted to see if any MP'ers have done the event and can advise on good/bad ideas.

Cheers!

Mo

Taylor-B. · · Valdez, AK · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 3,186

From someone that lives in Valdez I think that this place is a Mecca for skiing and climbing! The biggest downfall to Thompson Pass/VDZ is the gas guzzling, motorized stupidity that goes on-especially during Tailgate. You will constantly find yourself being put in danger by the motorized crowd (heli & snow machiners) dropping ontop of you. It's a shit show on the pass!!

It's sad to see an event and celebration in Valdez based around gas guzzling after one of the largest oil spills that devastated the environment. So when you and your "bros" are terring it up on the sled, just remember the sacrifices that mother nature has had to endure:(

Dead baby sea otter

So sad:(

Super sad:(

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Taylor-B. wrote:From someone that lives in Valdez I think that this place is a Mecca for skiing and climbing! The biggest downfall to Thompson Pass/VDZ is the gas guzzling, motorized stupidity that goes on-especially during Tailgate. You will constantly find yourself being put in danger by the motorized crowd (heli & snow machiners) dropping ontop of you. It's a shit show on the pass!! It's sad to see an event and celebration in Valdez based around gas guzzling after one of the largest oil spills that devastated the environment. So when you and your "bros" are terring it up on the sled, just remember the sacrifices that mother nature has had to endure:(
Thanks for the on topic post about dead baby seals Taylor... Not sure how Tailgate is related. Sooo u wanna put my buddy and I up next year for 10 days in VDZ to save some gas? I'm open to other options brotha... ps we dont own sleds, just skins.

The appeal would have been that there are others that know the area well and we wouldn't be 'lost' in massive ranges looking for 'safe' terrain. And don't have the loot to pay a guide for 10 days or heli or cat operations.

And btw how can people up on the pass eat and even throw away good food when there's....
Saddest of all...
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

But in reality... what you're saying is its a total red neck event? Other options for cheap 10 days and lots of potential?

mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

What a true classic.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
mustardtiger wrote:What a true classic.
The event, Taylor's post? what's a true classic?
mustardtiger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 20

You posted about going up there and having fun. The first post goes straight to demonizing the fun event. That is one of the formulas for a classic.

mediocre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

What a great morning on MP. Over reaction to bouldering "FA's", and now dead animals and starving children. Does anyone have a picture of a terrorist beheading a child laborer on top of a melting glacier?

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
Morgan Patterson wrote: The event, Taylor's post? what's a true classic?
You're a true classic in my book sweet tits!
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
mustardtiger wrote:You posted about going up there and having fun. The first post goes straight to demonizing the fun event. That is one of the formulas for a classic.
Sorry for my thickheadedness... totally agree.
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Bill Kirby wrote: You're a true classic in my book sweet tits!
HAHAH thnx Bill... hope to run into you out and 'bout the East one of these days!

dsmit... thnx, I really know nothing of the area and I appreciate the run down. Can u suggest an amazing area skiing/culturally that one such as myself might consider for an alternative? I'm an ex east coast ski racer who predominently does ski trips to Silverton...

The prob with AK for us (east coasters) is the costs associated with guided travel (heli / Cat) and extended trips. Are there some good alternatives you could suggest that would allow cheap stay, awesome terrain, and decent access (both human or sled)?
M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911

isnt there some redneck hillbilly forum somewhere on the internet where all of your questions would be answered?

Eric Chabot · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 45

I went to that the other year...We didn't pay for tickets but only stayed for a couple days right at the start of the festival, then i had to fly back to the lower 48 to start a job. Our sleeping arrangement was:

2 dudes in sleeping bags
In one big sleeping bag
in a 3 season tent
in a snow cave we dug

and it was still fucking cold. Had a lot of fun, the event was bitchin. Didn't ride a heli, did a few sled accessed laps. Chipped some glacier ice out of an ice cave for our whiskey.

The ice climbing in the canyon between thompson and Valdez looks unbelievable. Don't drink the haterade. Besides, any environmental damage your sled and RV will do is dwarfed in comparison with simply taking a plane from the east coast to AK.

Nick Weicht · · Valdez, AK · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 41,393

dsmit's post has it about right. If you want to see what Valdez can be like, check out the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival, Valdez Rock Climbing Festival, Snow kite Festival on Thompson Pass, Fireweed 400 Bike Race or the many ski/snowboard films that are shot here. If your looking for big adventures in the mountains this place should be on your radar.

Tailgate gets a lot of mixed reviews. Most of the people from the first paragraph will not be at this event. There will be a lot of skis, boards and beer to go along with tons of slednecks. If that's what you want then this can be a great opportunity to hitch a ride to the top of a mountain on the back of a machine for some quick, cheep turns. It's also one of the weekends that the easy road access will be supper tracked up. Some people enjoy overused snow and one hell of a party at the end of the day.

If your a powder junkie on the hunt for solitude you may want to spend tailgate skinning the back country lines from the pages of Mat Kinney's or Erin Brown's local ski guides. There's lots of mountains here to pick form and your adventure will always be only as good as you make it.

PS. Taylor's post cracks me up!
As a tree hugging sledneck, I'm glad to live in a place where 95% of the people power and petrol power folks get along just fine.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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