About Us
Who are we?
A division ofthe world renowned adventure company EpicQuest, Chugach Adventure Guides (DBA Class V Whitewater) was founded by Mike Overcast and Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe in 1996. We made our name with renowned whitewater trips on Alaska’s Six Mile Creek and popular train serviced floats at Spencer Glacier and the Placer River. We changed our name to Chugach Adventures Guides in 2003. We are excited to offer a variety of trips at various degrees of difficulty for families, seasoned adventures, and groups.
Where are we?
Girdwood is located 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Anchorage via the Seward Highway along scenic Turnagain Arm. Girdwood is a small alpine ski village nestled amidst the Chugach Mountains and surrounded by hanging glaciers. Girdwood was once a gold mining outpost. Now you'll find a bustling community of 2,000 with the luxurious Hotel Alyeska, Alyeska ski resort, ski shops, excellent restaurants, unique Alaskan gift shops and watering holes full of local color.
With an abundance of flights from Seattle and Chicago, Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air is our preferred carrier. Direct flights from Delta's Salt Lake City hub and Northwest's Minneapolis hub ensure quick, efficient connections to Alaska.
To for more information on the town of Girdwood, visit: http://www.girdwoodchamber.com/
Our Season
Our season starts in mid-May and runs through mid-September. These target dates generally shift from year to year depending on weather and river flow. Occasionally we have to push our start date back, due to the presence of deep snow. Please contact the office at 1-907-783-4354 to inquire about mid-May bookings.
Conditions
The rivers run by Chugach Adventure Guides are generally fed by melt water from deep winter snowpack and from high alpine glaciers. While making for great flow and an excellent river experience, this also makes for extremely cold waters. With this in mind, you will be provided with all necessary equipment to make your trip enjoyable and safe, but an extra pair of wool socks is always advised.
Summer weather in South Central Alaska can vary greatly and often changes dramatically in the course of a day. Temperatures can range from the mid 40’s to the low 80's. We strongly suggest wearing synthetic layers and preparing for a chilly day even if it appears to be sunny and warm.
As temperatures affect melting of the snowpack in combination with rainfall, river levels may vary greatly. We have extensive resources to monitor water levels and flow rates to make appropriate decisions regarding safety and customer experience.
