Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) is a staple heli-ski operator in the Chilkat mountains near Haines, Alaska. This highly respected outfit boasts a unique rundown of week-long packages designed to meet the needs of a wide range of budgets, group sizes, and skill levels. With state-of-the-art helicopters, highly trained guides, two lodges, and even a small cruise ship, SEABA is a truly premier heli-ski operator.
Where is SEABA located?
More than anything, what sets SEABA Heli apart is their location. Haines, Alaska is a mecca for big-mountain powder hounds. This funky harbor town in Southeastern Alaska provides quick and easy access to the remote and wild Chilkat mountain range.
Covering over 250 nautical miles of legendary big-mountain terrain, SEABA’s powder playground stretches all the way from Southeast Alaska to the Yukon border. Utilizing three different staging areas; Haines, Juneau, and Petersburg; SEABA has the ability to refocus their flights to maximize skiing conditions and terrain options. That means you’re all but guaranteed to find the powder you were dreaming about when you booked your trip.
Getting to Haines
Getting to Haines, Alaska is a pretty straightforward affair. One added bonus, if you are coming from the United States, you won’t have to deal with customs. But this is a heli skiing operation, and the same remote terrain that makes for legendary skiing also means transportation to and from Haines requires some planning. Here are your options:
Fly:
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in Alaska (or prepared to embark on an epic road trip), you’ll be traveling to Haines by plane. To do this, you’ll fly a commercial airline into Juneau, Alaska, then hop over to Haines on an Alaskan Sea Planes flight. Alaska airlines touches down every morning in Juneau at 9:30 am local time, and Haines and Peterburg are only 30 minute flights from there.
Alternatively, if you’re flying in from Europe, it might make more sense to fly up and over the pole and into Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. This option can shave a lot of time off the trip, but does come with seasonal restrictions; flights into Whitehorse aren’t usually available until April; and also requires either chartering a private flight into Haines, or renting a vehicle and making a four-hour drive.
Ferry:
Ferries into Haines are available from both Juneau and Seattle. This option rewards a little extra patience with a truly spectacular journey. The Alaska Marine Highway features picture-perfect scenery and wildlife spotting, and some would argue, perfectly sets the mood for your week in the Chilkats.
Drive:
This option calls for a 4-wheel drive vehicle or RV. Culminating with one of the most spectacular stretches of highway in the world; Haines Highway is a National Scenic Byway; the drive north to Haines is a right of passage for diehard ski bums. It’s also a drive measured by days, and requires expedition-level logistics.
Lodging at SEABA
The Fort Seward Lodge:
Located right in downton Haines, with quick and easy access to the SEABA heli-port (transportation included), this Fort features eight single-occupancy rooms ranging from standard hotel rooms to master suites. A full bar and kitchen on-site make this an ideal location for post-ski recaps with new friends. Or, if you have the numbers and/or money, you can reserve the entire Fort and a private chef for the week.
The Bluff House:
The Bluff House is the premier option for groups of eight or less. This classic log home includes a private chef for the week, transportation to and from the SEABA heli-port, and that priceless remote Alaskan setting.
Stay somewhere else:
SEABA isn’t offended if you choose to stay somewhere else. In fact, they’ll even help you lock down alternative lodging free of charge. As long as you have access to a vehicle for getting to and from the heli-port, you can choose from several hotels right in Haines, or find someplace close through VRBO or AirBnB.
How does the program work?
SEABA, like many operators in Alaska, uses Hobbs hours to keep track of the flight time you are allotted when you purchase a heli ski package. Hobbs time is the “power on” flight time (as opposed to idling time), and is the standard calculation by which all Alaskan heli operators have to pay for their helicopters. In charging their customers by the Hobbs hour, SEABA is able to maximize flexibility in terms of weather conditions, terrain preferences, even group energy levels. Go explore some distant remote areas, or lap vertical closer to home; it’s up to you.
Typically, when you book a 7-day package in Alaska, you will ski an average of 5-6 out of the 7 days due to weather. This is standard for the region. You can learn more about heli skiing in Alaska in our article Heli Skiing in British Columbia vs Alaska in the section titled 7. TRIP LENGTH (DOWN DAYS).
The Platinum Package for SEABA includes 4 Hobbs hours, which should cover you for the average flight time you would see on a given week in the mid season. If you get lucky, and don’t have any down days, you can always pay for additional Hobbs hours.
Or, if you already know you’re going to want to travel far and wide in search of once-in-a-lifetime lines, then the Excelsior Package with Unlimited Heli Skiing might be the right option for you.
Group Sizes at SEABA
The importance of group size is often overlooked when choosing a heli-ski operator. Yet group size impacts every aspect of your experience. Safety, time on snow, conditions; it’s all enhanced when you’re skiing with a smaller group. To that end, SEABA caps their client-to-guide ratio at 5:1, and limits the number of groups-per-heli to four. These intimate numbers ensure that families and friend groups can experience heli-skiing together, while still getting the undivided attention of their professional guide.
Packages Available
SEABA’s standard offerings feature three different packages: Platinum, Excelsior, and Private. All packages are for seven days of heli-skiing and come with the option to include lodging, or not. Regardless of which package you choose, you are guaranteed a seat in the heli for up to seven days and a dedicated SEABA guide.
Unique Offerings
Heli Skiing Boat Packages:
Why not up the ante and stage your heli skiing from a private, state-of-the-art ship? SEABA has partnered with the M/V Zenith; a 124-feet vessel with eight staterooms; to offer a truly incredible heli-ski/cruise of Southeast Alaska’s Fjord Lands. Optimized for private groups of up to eight skiers, this package is the premier offering for a close-knit crew.
The Boat Heli Skiing package includes six nights aboard the Zenith, gourmet meals served right on board, and a seat in a B3 A-star Eurocopter for up to seven days. With a maximum client-to-guide ratio of 4:1, and the ability to travel 100 nautical miles overnight, this package ensures that you will enjoy new, exciting terrain in the best possible conditions on a daily basis. During down time, you’ll stay busy with everything from whale watching and cultural shore excursions, to skeet shooting and hot tubbing. There’s truly no better place to end a day of heli-skiing than aboard a personal cruise ship.
The Hit List:
If you have a flexible schedule, and can charge with the best of them, SEABA’s Hit List is designed for you. This experts-only email list sends out “go” alerts when the weather, conditions, and timing are aligning for guaranteed epic-ness. With only 48-hours to get yourself and gear to Haines, this option is perhaps the priciest and most aspirational of all SEABA’s offerings. But then again, how do you put a price on a guaranteed once-in-a-lifetime heli trip?
Email sales@seaba-heli.com to sign up and get on the list.
What Makes SEABA Stand Out?
Terrain, vibe, and value. Unrivaled access to true big-mountain lines and a focus on serious heli-skiing are what set SEABA apart from other heli-ski outfits. Freeskiing legends such as Tanner Hall fly with SEABA for their massive zone of terrain and willingness to put skiers on top of real-deal descents. Add to that an intangible “real” Alaskan feel and a highly-competitive price point, and you can see why SEABA keeps loyal customers coming back year after year.
