If you get to the top of Mount Eyak in Alaska, you will catch your breath at the incredible view---one you will probably never forget. Spread before you is all of Prince William Sound and the entire town of Cordova. Sparkling, and white. In the bright sun it is almost blindingly beautiful.
You will be at 1,200 feet above sea level, with a vertical drop for skiing of 800 feet. The ski area offers you both Alpine skiing and snowboarding as well as heli-skiing. Points North Heli-Adventures will take you in for your fun run from their helipad.
Mount Eyak typically receives about 350 inches of lovely white stuff every year and is operated by the Sheridan Ski Club with a volunteer ski patrol that works at making it avalanche free. Its claim to fame is that it is the proud owner of one lift, and that lift is the oldest running lift in America.
You can walk to it from town. As you approach it you will see it is quite steep. It has a bunny hill and some easy skiing, but is mostly intermediate level, with 30 trails to choose from. There is also a rope tow operating. You will be able to rent skis and snowboards. There are no lessons as it is a non-profit volunteer type of hill. However, there is a heated lounge area to warm up in and some snacks available.
Cordova, the town it is located in, is exquisite, sitting at the beginning of the Orca Inlet on Price William Sound and surrounded by forest-fringed mountains. For those who may not want to ski, the city offers an ample amount of things to do. You can visit the Copper River Highway to view the glacier and amazing wildlife that will seemingly walk right out of the forest for you. You can visit the museum in Cordova which has historical artifacts from the first natives that settled the area and from the mining and railroad activities that first brought settlers to the area. And you can sign up for glacier and wildlife tours. Also, the Prince William Sound Science Center is located in Corcdova and offers great activities for kids.
For lodging, try the Orca Adventure Lodge, a very cool place to stay right on the water. It has a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner using local seafood and ingredients and they will even pack a lunch for you on request. Take a look as well at the Cordova Lighthouse Inn. It even has a rotating beacon for you to find your way back at night! Newly renovated rooms, some with a kitchen, and its location right on the harbor and an easy walk into town make it a good choice as well.
Walk over to the popular Reluctant Fisherman Bar & Restaurant for a great meal. Or visit what has now become a tourist destination: the Baja Taco Wagon! It serves superb fish tacos from a picturesque cabin in town.
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