Alyeska Resort in Alaska Announces New Executive Chef Bringing an Elevated Vision to the Resort’s Eight Dining Venues
Expanded Adventure Activities for the 2026 Summer Season
Girdwood, Alaska (May 19, 2026): Alyeska Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Executive Chef alongside an expanded roster of mountain experiences for the 2026 summer season. Located in Girdwood, Alaska, the premier year-round destination is set to bring a new wave of offerings to the Chugach Mountains, headlined by the culinary leadership of Chef Chris McCracken.
With over eight years of progressive culinary leadership and a background in destination ski resorts and high-volume hospitality, McCracken brings a refined skill set in multi-outlet operations to Alyeska. Known for his creativity and adaptability, he is eager to evolve the resort’s culinary program with a fresh perspective and focus on local sourcing and sustainable Alaskan seafood.
“What excites me most about shaping the dining offering at Alyeska is the opportunity to work with incredible local ingredients and create experiences that feel authentic to Alaska,” shares Chef Chris McCracken. He continues, “There’s so much inspiration in the region, from fresh seafood, seasonal produce, wild flavors, to the strong sense of community. I’m excited to help build menus that are both elevated and approachable, while creating an environment where the team feels motivated, creative, and proud of what we’re serving every day.”
Under McCracken’s direction, Seven Glaciers, the resort’s AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant with unparalleled views overlooking seven hanging glaciers will return to its signature "Land, Air, Sea" menu concept. This shift ensures that both locals and travelers experience an elegant dining atmosphere driven by the highest quality regional ingredients. Future plans include curated pairing dinners featuring local craft beers, regional wines, and Alaskan spirits. While the culinary program continues to evolve, the team remains respectful of the resort’s classic favorites, with McCracken planning to elevate these staples through seasonal techniques and a deeper connection to Alaska’s bounty.
“My style leans toward clean, rustic, ingredient-driven cooking,” McCracken explained. “I want guests to leave the table feeling genuinely cared for, like the meal was more than just dinner, but a memorable part of their Alaska experience.”
Elevated Summer Adventures
Beyond its culinary offerings, Alyeska continues to bring guests new Alaskan adventures this summer. The Veilbreaker Skybridges will make their highly anticipated return from July to September. Suspended 2,500 feet above the valley floor and spanning 410 feet, Veilbreaker Skybridges is a 2 to 3 hour-long experience for people of all skill levels, with two bridges suspended over Christmas and New Year’s Chutes. Connecting the ridgeline of Mt. Alyeska, the Veilbreaker Skybridges offer explorers a 360-degree perspective of the Turnagain Arm, hanging glaciers, and the Chugach boreal forest under the glow of the midnight sun. Bookings are now open for the 2026 season.
The Alyeska Bike Park, Alaska’s premier lift-accessed downhill destination, officially reopens on June 13. Riders can navigate a dynamic network of gravity-fed trails, flowing berms, and wooden features. This season also celebrates a return to the resort’s roots as Alyeska renews its historic partnership with Kona Bicycles. Once the primary Kona Bike Hub in Alaska, the resort has updated its entire eBike fleet with Kona’s rugged, high-performance rigs, perfectly suited for steep Alaskan terrain.
Guided Hiking Tours
For those looking to immerse themselves in the breathtaking wilderness of the Chugach Mountains, Alyeska offers guided hiking tours. Whether seeking a challenge or the tranquility of the ancient forest, these guided experiences provide safety and local insight along the way:
Guided North Face Hike: The resort’s most iconic and rugged trail with local experts providing extra insight and safety. Hikers can challenge themselves on a route that ascends over 2,000 vertical feet from the valley floor, offering spectacular views of the legendary skiing terrain such as Christmas Chute and the Knuckles.
Guided Winner Creek Hike: This scenic 5-mile adventure leads guests into Girdwood’s lush boreal rainforest. Led by knowledgeable local guides, explorers can experience one of the northernmost temperate rainforests in the world while learning about forest ecology and wildlife among moss-covered trees and rushing creeks.
Expanded eBike Tours and Alpine Exploration
New guided eBike tour offerings for 2026 allow guests of all skill levels to explore the landscape:
The Bird to Gird Tour: A guided, 20-mile journey for beginners. Starting at Alyeska Resort, the tour follows the Historic Iditarod Trail and the paved coastal path along the Turnagain Arm.
The Chair 3 Challenger: An exhilarating experience featuring the new full-suspension Kona Remote X eBikes. Guests follow expert guides through the lower mountain flow trails and technical turns, taking in the scenery as they go.
From mid-May through September, the 40-passenger Alyeska Aerial Tram operates daily, offering guests a more serene adventure. The seven-minute scenic ride ascends to an elevation of 2,300 feet, providing a bird’s-eye view of seven “hanging” glaciers and the emerald peaks of the Chugach Mountain range. Summer at the top of the world gives a whole new meaning to jaw-dropping.
To balance the summer’s high-intensity activities, the resort’s 50,000-square-foot Nordic Spa serves as a space of ritualistic rejuvenation. Guests can engage in various biohacking experiences through outdoor hot and cold hydrotherapy pools, aromatherapy-infused steam rooms, and a Finnish sauna. The experience is complemented by an exfoliation cabin featuring Alaskan sea salt and a Halotherapy Signature sauna, all connected by a heated pathway that allows for year-round wellness in the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.
Black Diamond Club
Alyeska Resort’s Black Diamond Club, is a luxury offering of premium accommodations, services, and exclusive amenities. The Black Diamond Club takes over the resort’s top floor, accessible only to guests with keycard access, offering privacy and exclusivity. The 36 newly appointed rooms offer styles ranging from the 325 sq. ft. club rooms to a 1,971 sq. ft. glacier presidential suite, each outfitted with a 50-inch smart screen television, Nespresso machine, Dyson hair dryer, luxury jersey robes and slippers, bathroom amenities by Bamford, luxury linens and a pillow menu to cater to individual sleep style. Exclusive to Black Diamond guests, the Black Diamond Club offers the resort’s most premium views with vistas of its surrounding glaciers and Chugach mountains. Black Diamond Club guests have a VIP Ski Valet in the winter and a private host to assist with curating their stay who can arrange daily activities on and off the property. A dedicated lounge offers daily complimentary breakfast and afternoon après service, where cocktails and refreshments are available exclusively for Black Diamond Club guests. Prices for the Black Diamond Club for the 2026 summer season start at $619 for a club room and $5,499 for the presidential suite.
For more information on summer bookings, dining reservations, or the 2026 summer schedule, please visit alyeskaresort.com.
About Alyeska Resort:
Alyeska Resort is Alaska’s premier year-round destination featuring 299 rooms, a 40-passenger aerial scenic tram, an indoor saltwater pool, a 50,000 sq. ft. Nordic Spa and eight dining options, including Seven Glaciers, the resort’s AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant with unparalleled views overlooking seven hanging glaciers. First opened in 1994, the property was acquired in 2018 by Pomeroy Lodging, a Canadian hospitality company that also operates the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge and Kananaskis Nordic Spa in the Canadian Rockies. In 2023, Alyeska became the first and only mountain in Alaska on the Ikon Pass and in 2024 they launched its Black Diamond Club offering premium accommodations, services, and amenities exclusive to the resort’s 8th-floor guests. With 1,610 skiable acres, 76 named trails, and over 600 inches of snow annually, the resort is truly a playground for all levels of skiers and riders. A gateway to the Chugach Mountains, the resort seamlessly entwines luxury accommodations with convenient access to nature. Their summertime experience offers a peek into the vast wilderness of this breathtaking mountain range that is home to numerous wildlife and flora species. Alyeska Resort was also honored in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards in both 2024 and 2025, further cementing its reputation as a top global destination. To learn more, visit alyeskaresort.com.
