Flight is the only way to explore the vast Tordrillo Mountain Range. We fly like birds and spot ]]>

Flight is the only way to explore the vast Tordrillo Mountain Range. We fly like birds and spot the next line: Heli Love. We owe our pilots for a lot of the fun we have found in the mountains here over the years. We pride ourselves in our pilot’s skill, attention to safety and their exceptional reliability.

Since there is always an onsite helicopter and ski or float plane (depending on the season) parked at the lodges ready to whisk guests away to amazing places in the Tordrillos, we want to show you a few pics of the helicopters and planes in action from this last winter:

We use an Eurocopter AS 350-B2 helicopter, fondly known as the A-star that is well-known for its speed, power and agility in the mountains. This chopper is the foundation of our safety-first mantra. We also use fixed wing support with our ski planes, called the DeHavilland Beavers, Otters and Piper Super Cub, the real workhorses behind our operations.

These choppers provide safe, efficient transportation to and from the property and throughout various zones in the Tordrillos for skiing and boarding. Our Piper Super Cub is our scout for remote and uncharted zones and is known for its ability to take off and land in very short distances and . Plus, the Cub can land in tight airstrips next to powder stashes and fuel caches.

The National Geographic Channel is airing a brand new show–Ultimate Survival Alaska, a show that features some of ]]>

The National Geographic Channel is airing a brand new show–Ultimate Survival Alaska, a show that features some of the toughest, most extreme Alaskan survivalists! And, the talented Tordrillo Mountain Lodge crew was able to assist the National Geographic production crew behind the scenes in the making of the wildly popular series. A TML heli dropped contestants in various Tordrillo locations and, the lodge managed logistics, safety and housing for the entire production crew while they filmed in the Tordrillos. The Tordrillos proved to be a stellar testing ground for the contestants surviving in the Alaskan bush.

This Sunday’s episode, “Into the Void” will air. The episode features eight explorers who were dropped on a snow-capped summit. The group splits into three groups, and each approaches a 300-foot cliff, descend a ravine and traverse eight miles across the mighty Triumvirate Glacier. Why should you watch? Each group chooses a different route with varying results.

Check out this link for a preview video of this week’s episode–”A Big Leap of Faith!”
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ultimate-survival-alaska/videos/leap-of-faith/

From the show:

Like the original National Geographic explorers, for those who succeed there is no grand prize, just the well-fought pride of having conquered the grueling challenges that Mother Nature can throw at them. It’s an epic competition series where the only prize is survival.

Check out the gallery of behind the scenes photos taken during production, courtesy of TML co-owner, Mike Overcast.

We like beer. We like you. We especially like beer from Alaskan Brewing Co.  And we really would ]]>

We like beer. We like you. We especially like beer from Alaskan Brewing Co.  And we really would like it if you and a guest were sitting on our deck drinking an Alaskan Brewing bevvy because you entered and WON the new “Live Life Alaskan” contest! We have partnered with Alaskan Brewing Co. and are promoting a chance for a lucky duo to win a summer fishing adventure at our house!

It is very, very easy to enter and the grand prize includes:

• Round trip airfare for two from wherever Alaska Airlines flies
• Five nights lodging and meals for two at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
• Fishing, exploring and hanging with us for five days

All you need to do is click here to enter.

Details:

1. Attend any “Live Life Alaskan” event or enter here between now and September 3, 2013.

2. Two trips will be awarded–one for entering online and one from entry forms filled out at a “Live Life Alaskan” event throughout Alaskan Brewing Co’s 14 state distribution area.

Plus, check out this great video to get you stoked on winning.

Note: You must be 21 or older to enter

Question:

What is Cast and Carve?

Answer:

Our unique and unparallelled June program, which includes skiing legendary corn ]]>

Question:

What is Cast and Carve?

Answer:

Our unique and unparallelled June program, which includes skiing legendary corn snow in the Tordrillos and fishing for famed Alaskan king salmon in the same day . . . for one whole week!

If you’re looking to extend your ski season into the summer, without dipping into the southern hemisphere, and want to cast for monster salmon, Cast and Carve is your ideal trip. Plus, we’ve got some open seats still available for this summer. Hint. Hint.

June is a very special time to be in Alaska for many reasons, but one is the lack of darkness–so the fun in the sun extends almost 24 hours a day and doesn’t end unless you want it to. Chasing the midnight sun on skis or in a raft makes for a very unique trip. Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is perched at the headwaters of the Talachulitna River and is a prime basecamp for heli adventures into and around the Tordrillos.

Definition of corn snow and why it rules:

Corn snow is the result of melt-freeze cycles and is ideal in June for heli skiing and snowboarding. Oh, and it also works well mixed in a blended margaritas. Count on late morning or early afternoon runs for prime corn harvesting.

If you are interested in booking a seat this June, please email info@tordrillo.com for all of the details.

Our long-standing contest in conjunction with K2 skis, Heli Yeah Sweepstakes,  finally came to a close–and we picked ]]>  

Carla Hagan

Our long-standing contest in conjunction with K2 skis, Heli Yeah Sweepstakes,  finally came to a close–and we picked the grand prize winner! The lucky lady is Carla Hagan from Vail, CO! The Heli Yeah Sweepstakes was a heli skiing package giveaway worth $12,000 that spanned more than six months. All she had to do was enter her name.

The grand prize winner, Carla, won this amazing  package:

• Four days of guided heli skiing with the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
• Five nights of accommodations and meals at the lodge
• A pair of K2 Rolling Stones Sideshow skis, plus access to alternative K2 gear while at the lodge

She heard of the  Heli Yeah Sweepstakes through Facebook on the K2 page. She is an enthusiastic K2 fan!  She is especially psyched because she has never been to Alaska and has always dreamed of going heli skiing. She has lived in Vail for the past nine years and Whistler, Canada for one year before moving to CO. She is most looking forward to, “four days of amazing untracked powder!”

Couldn’t say it any better myself.

Congrats Carla–can’t wait to see you this winter!

Film company, Fly Out Media, and the folks behind the website Alaska Fly Out, which is an insider ]]>

Film company, Fly Out Media, and the folks behind the website Alaska Fly Out, which is an insider informational and booking site for people interested in traveling to Alaska, visited us last summer to catch a glimpse of our Alaskan way of life and they filmed it! The crew captured activities available in and around the lodge, interviewed owner Mike Overcast and lodge den-mother (lodge manager) Bret Gilleland and put together a great film. Episode 4 in the Magnetic North web series is all about the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge. And this short film toured with the Fly Fish Film Tour all spring!

Check out the film below:

Magnetic North – Episode 4 from Fly Out Media on Vimeo.

From Alaska Fly Out:

We had the pleasure of spending 4 days with Bret Gilleland and Mike Overcast at the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge. We got a sample of the adventures they offer during the summer–let’s just say we were blown away! Bret and Mike did not need to say much about why they feel a draw to Alaska. The reason was apparent in the stunning scenery and blow-your-mind activities. On the fun scale, Tordrillo was a 13 of 10. Incredible experience and the essence of Alaska shines through in Episode 4–Heli Love.

The five part web series from Magnetic North tells the story of why people are drawn, stay and return to the Last Frontier. The series highlights a variety of folks who live and work in Alaska and why they are connected– connected to the land, wildlife, water and culture. The web series showcases four distinct locations in Alaska with the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge and its heli-fish experience highlighted in Episode 4.

Remember the Heli Yeah Sweepstakes with us and K2 Skis? Sure you do…you simply enter your name for ]]>

Remember the Heli Yeah Sweepstakes with us and K2 Skis? Sure you do…you simply enter your name for a chance to win a week of heli skiing with us next winter! Oh yeah, that contest ends today! So be sure to sign up by 5:00 pm (MST), and tell your friends, for a chance to win.

Here is a recap of what your winnings could potentially look like:

• Four days of guided heli skiing/snowboarding with us (Tordrillo Mountain Lodge)
• Access to K2 skiing/snowboarding gear during the four days of guided skiing/snowboarding
• Five nights of accommodations and meals with us
• K2 skis of your choice
• K2 gear

Whew! A big thanks to our partner, K2 skis, for throwing down amazing monthly giveaways during the duration of this contest! There are some super stoked folks out there already and about to be one super, duper stoked trip winner!

Here is how you enter:

Fill out the entry form (full name, birth date, email, phone, mailing address).

Stay tuned and help us spread the word!

Thanks!

Recent Tordrillo Mountain Lodge guest and ripping skier, Katrina DeVore, gave us a few pics and a short ]]>

Recent Tordrillo Mountain Lodge guest and ripping skier, Katrina DeVore, gave us a few pics and a short write-up of her time with us. Check it out below and enjoy her pics!

Katrina DeVore:

After buying a one-way ticket up to Alaska, without any plans past going to Tailgate, on Thompson Pass, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I was just going to see what I could get into. And after a couple of weeks into my trip, I found myself speechless at the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, which is nestled alongside Judd Lake in the Tordrillo Range. Earlier that day I woke up in Girdwood to a phone call from an unknown number. Luckily I answered! It was a good family friend calling from the lodge, saying if I could get to the Million Airport in Anchorage by 6:00 pm that same night, I could come out and go heli skiing!

One of the best phone calls I’ve ever received.

I didn’t know what Million Air was, or how to get there, but I WOULD get there!

The next couple of days I went heli skiing with Tommy Moe, an Olympic gold medalist, Greg Harms, Bill Dyer and Lel Tone. All of which are amazing skiers, guides and people. They brought us to some un-tracked powder fields, steep couloirs and I got to drop in on my first spines! The terrain in the Tordrillo mountains is amazing and endless. Lunch was served everyday in some aesthetically pleasing spot near a blue glacier or out in a powder field with views of the mighty Denali in the distance. Then after a long day of heli skiing, we were rewarded with a soak in the wood fired hot tub, followed by a gourmet dinner.

This experience was exactly what I wanted “to get into” up here in Alaska. The staff here at the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is outstanding and both lodges are so comfortable. There is plenty to do while you’re not skiing, or experience a down day. You can cross country ski, tribathalon in the hot tub, sauna and polar plunge and indulge in some Baha Fogs or just hang out and read a book by the wood burning stove. I was spoiled here with my first ever heli skiing experience and would highly recommend this place to everyone! I’m going to work very hard now to try and get into the filming scene, so I can come do more heli skiing! And to top it off, as I wound down the end of my TML time professional snowboarder, Travis Rice and professional K2 skiers Seth Morrison, Sean Pettit, Andy Mahre and Pep Fujas arrived to shred Tordrillo spines for fall films!

Thanks,

Katrina