Meteorite Mountain & Pontoon Peak are two titans of the Chugach Mountains in Alaska
I skied Meteorite back in 2012 and it still stands out as one of the most aesthetic and intimidating faces I’ve ever pointed skis down. Jerry Hance let me ski the spine for a ways…
Meteorite Mountain, AK
- 6,565 foot summit
- 2,700 vertical foot run
- Sustained 40–50° with steeper spine features
Meteorite is one of the Chugach “Big Five” for a reason. First skied in 1992, Meteorite reportedly earned its name after a meteor strike in 1927. In 2011, Dean Cummings completed the first full descent of the “Dragon’s Back” spine on the northeast face, one of the most technical and committing lines in the Chugach of Alaska.
Pontoon, AK
- 7,188 foot summit
- 3,600 vertical foot run
- 35–50°+ variable terrain
Pontoon is one of the most legendary lines in the Chugach and is another of the Chugach “Big Five.” The name comes from the early heli-ski days, when Trevor Petersen and Eric Pehota rode on the helicopter’s pontoons/skids during a landing there, helping give the peak its now-famous name. But there’s some controversy here as Jerry Hance says that he skied Ponton before Trevor and Eric on the same day back in 1992. This beast is rarely skied.
Would you ski either of these monsters?