Jeremy Jones checks in from 33 Mile Roadhouse

http://jeremyjones.info

April 11, 2008

33 Mile Roadhouse

Eight years ago we had a problem on our hands. Valdez, the place that changed our lives and became an annual pilgrimage every spring, was getting played out. Those endless horizons of unnamed peaks were no longer a mystery and any peak worth a damn had a staked-out landing zone that belonged to one of the four heli operations. Our lawless dreamland was becoming overun with rules and film crews. You had a better chance of getting a first descent in the Tetons than the Chugach, and we were re-shooting the same terrain year after year.

The desire for a new world led us to Skagway, 40 miles from Haines. Our new world turned into our worst trip ever and after three weeks we tucked our tails and drove through the night back to Valdez . It was not all for nothing. Total desperation had set in and we found ourselves flying away from the rock-strewn, wind-hammered peaks of Skagway toward “The White” in a fixed wing plane. “The White” turned out to be 30 miles outside of Haines with a gas station/restaurant sitting perfectly in the heart of it. A year later we made an agreement to base out of 33 Mile Road House and the rest is history.


Erik Roner, Seth Morrison

We did all we could to downplay Haines, calling it Southeast Alaska and claiming the weather was way worse then Valdez. The footage contradicted our claims and after a few years people caught on. The 33 Mile Road House is now overun with riders and acts as a makeshift lodge. Roner and Morrison do the 3-hour meal in hopes of an afternoon session.


Sean Dog

If you want to ride in Haines you better know Sean Dog. He started the operation so he could ride with his friends. His operation is “AK Style.” You will not be picked up in a fancy car or served hot chocolate on the glacier but with any luck you will ride the best run of your life.


Fredi K

For years, you would be hard pressed to see another pro rider in Haines. In the heart of the season there will be up to 50 pro skiers or snowboarders milling around outside the roadhouse, Fredi K ready at a moment's notice.

Erik Roner

A typical day in Haines: Up at 5, flying at 7, milked out by 8, freeriding/digging pits until 10, 2 hour lunch at 33 Mile, 1 hour nap in the car, slight clearing at 3, taking this photo of Roner at 4…..


Terrain Park Haines, AK

…..glassed off and filming by 5. The terrain park. Not a bad way to wake up from a nap.



Where did this thing come from and how come I have never seen it or ridden it? It sits behind one of the most frequently ridden parts of the range. I was not ready to step up to the spine line off the peak so I settled for the knob to the right. The landing was the size of a cocktail table and cleared any lingering cobwebs left over from my nap. We got back to base at 7, hotel room at 9, alarm set for 5 am. Calling for blue skies tomorrow.

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