BLM Issues Decision on Helicopter Ski Permits

Glennallen, AK --  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a decision on December 11 on heli-ski operator permits in Thompson Pass and adjacent areas. The permits apply to 133,800 acres managed by the BLM. The next permit period begins in January 2026. This decision does not affect lands administered by the US Forest Service or other entities. 

The BLM will authorize up to six helicopter skiing special recreation permits (SRPs) in the Thompson Pass area, an increase from the four issued for the current period. The permits do not specify the number of helicopters each permit holder may utilize in operations. 

The BLM considered issuing between zero and eight SRPs during the environmental assessment (EA) process. Several public comments from existing operators and the public expressed the opinion that eight operators is too many for the area. 

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A significant change to the upcoming SRPs is a 5,900 acre area of highway-accessible terrain that will be closed to heli-ski operators on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays. 

According to the Decision Record issued by the Glennallen Field Office, “Throughout the scoping process and upon release of the preliminary EA, the BLM received many scoping issues and comments identifying user conflict in a particular location commonly referred to as the 40-mile area. Conflicts occur between the commercial heli-ski industry and the backcountry user.”

The “40 mile area” is located on the Richardson Highway, between milepost 37 and milepost 55.

In a press release announcing the decision, Acting BLM Glennallen Field Office Manager Jacob Masterfield stated, “It’s important that BLM meets rising demands for winter recreation while also trying to reduce user conflicts. We got a lot of good public input that informed this decision.”

Comments made in opposition to the three day per week closure stated the 40-Mile area’s frequent clear skies and proximity to the highway give it an extra margin of safety for heli-ski operations. Heli-ski operators also emphasized their availability and participation in rescues of recreational backcountry users when needed. The BLM decision included a provision for helicopters to land within the closed area in case of emergency. 

The release of this decision is followed by a 30 day opportunity to appeal. 

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