The Chugach mountain range offers more than just fantastic skiing; it provides the perfect setting for storytelling through the lens. Iconic peaks, steep faces and a famously deep snowpack merge with ocean backdrops and massive glaciers to provide some of the most awe-inspiring ski photography imaginable. Since CPG’s founding in 1997, thousands of incredible images have been captured. Among our favorites is the featured shot of CPG owner Nick Thomson, taken by renowned photographer Adam Clark.
Isthmus Peak: 6,532 Ft.
The photo was taken on the southwest face of the tallest peak within our National Forest tenure: The Isthmus. While the peaks height is impressive, what truly sets it apart is its prominence. Prominence refers to a peak’s height relative to its surrounding terrain, and as you can see, the Isthmus towers dramatically above everything around it. In fact, it ranks 76th on the list of the most prominent peaks in the United States. This photo beautifully captures the mountain’s dominance, making it a truly captivating image.
Shots like this don’t come easily. They require the perfect combination of weather, conditions, crew, and timing. We thought it would be fun to dive deeper into the creation of such an image. Here’s the story behind the shot that became the banner image of our website.
Meet Nick and Adam
The rider in front of the lens and the talent behind it.
Nick: I first came to Alaska in the mid-2000’s with some close friends and my brother Heath; it had been a life-long dream to ski and ride in Alaska – the holy grail of big mountains and steep powder skiing. After a lot of research, I landed on CPG in Girdwood as the best offering; helicopter skiing, the redundancy of the snowcats and Alyeska Resort (“no down days”), and a fun ski town that is easily accessible from a major airport.
Our first day out was a classic.. sunny, stable, good snow, and we got right into some iconic CPG terrain; the biggest runs of my life until that point. At the end of the day, we were so mind-blown, that we decided to buy a home in Girdwood and make it the center of our skiing passions. That turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Over time, I became a minority investor in the company, recruited some great partners, and we restructured and rebuilt the company following a difficult period around the Great Financial Crisis. The focus evolved to premier experiences for our guests coupled with a great company culture and an amazing team of passionate and dedicated professionals. Over the last 15 years, we have continued to evolve our product offerings, expanded our operating region, built a new facility, and continuously pursue the highest levels of safety in the business while delivering amazing skiing to our guests.”
Adam: I’ve been lucky to be skiing with CPG since (I had to find my first girdwood photos) 2006. I primarily did ski and snowboard photography from 2001-2019. I still do a lot of ski and snowboard work but have branched out to commercial work. Girdwood and CPG are still one of my favorite places to go for skiing and photography!”
“Sometimes the stars align.”
Nick: It might happen on your first trip, or your fifth trip, but when it does happen, it’s truly incredible and it makes all the effort worth it. Early April of 2013 was a week where all the stars aligned and it is a week I will never forget. Perfect snow, great stability, clear skies, light winds, and a crew of strong skiers and riders. As the week progressed, an “Open Season” mindset unfolded where just about anything you could imagine skiing was in-play (this can be elusive in Alaska). We skied some huge and iconic lines that week, some were new to CPG operations which was very cool.
Nick: This particular photo is of a run we call The Isthmus, a huge planar ramp that stands proud above the surrounding terrain, with spectacular ocean views and the seamlessly endless Chugach Mountains unfurling in all directions. From all angles, it is an iconic ski run. We landed the ridge (typical nervous excitement ensued) and after some classic banter, I was nominated to open up the run.
This image was shot by my dear friend, Adam Clark who is an incredibly talented photographer and all-around amazing person. Remember that back then, drones were still a novelty and hadn’t hit the mainstream. So, Adam sat strapped into the back of the A-Star with the doors fixed open, pointing his Canon EOS-1D at The Isthmus while they hovered in position waiting for a skier to drop. No pressure.
Adam: Isthmus is kind of the king of this part of the range, it lifts up off the glacier and there isn’t much around it at it’s same level. So shooting from the heli was the only way to give the line justice. We had to fly a good ways away before it stacked up nicely for this shot.
“Peering over the edge, you look down upon a cartoon-like dream ski run…”
Nick: The question is… is it powder, is it hardpack, or is it breakable crust? One thing is always consistent with The Isthmus; it’s steep. With its exposure to winds and western aspect, the main lines typically offer marginal, or worse, snow quality. This week, however, we felt that it might offer something better, and the bergschrund at the bottom was safe to navigate on the exit.
Dropping in, halfway through my first turn, the snow turned soft and I knew that we made the right call. Good to go… open up the throttle and soak it all in. 45 seconds seared into the memory bank for a lifetime.
“To shoot the line and ski it. Some dreams do come true!”
Adam: This is definitely one of my top 10 CPG photos! Luckily I did get to ski it after everyone else, so that was a real dream come true.
Nick: For me, Adam’s image of opening that run encapsulates everything that makes helicopter skiing in Alaska the incredible adventure that is, and what it means to love skiing and snowboarding. The Chugach has so many iconic runs that it can boggle the mind, but this is undoubtedly one of my favorites for sheer grandeur and aesthetics. Especially when all the stars align.
photo:Adam Clark/CPG
