Snowcat Ski: What is it?

Backcountry skiers near Golden, British Columbia travel high into the Rocky Mountains in the warm comfort of snowcats. Traveling in groups of 12, led by two qualified guides, skiers and snowboarders are taken to elevations of nearly 10,000 feet, to ski and ride on a glacier or descend large alpine bowls. The views of the North American continental divide are spectacular. Soft powder and fresh pistes are the expected norm, every race, every day. The small group of 14 skiers and cyclists leaves a small mark on the vast landscape.

Intermediate and expert skiers who want a very special powder vacation experience generally have three options: touring backcountry, skiing snowmobiling, and heliskiing.

Backcountry tours are slow paced and as laid back as you like. It usually requires quite a bit of time, a high level of fitness, considerable experience, and specialized clothing and equipment.

Snowcat skiing is suitable for short vacations and many operators offer full service 3 and 4 day tour packages. Snowcat skiing is normally not weather dependent and there is no “downtime”. Every day is a good ski day. Good physical condition always makes a tour more enjoyable, but there’s none of the climbing and walking of a country tour. Snowcat skiing offers a relaxed vacation that requires no prior experience or special equipment.

Heliskiing is the “Cadillac” option for ski touring. It is also the most expensive, being about twice the cost of snowcat skiing. It also depends on the weather. To allow for “rest days”, tours tend to be a few days longer than cat ski tours. Helicopter operators usually offer a guaranteed minimum amount of skiing. A significant additional cost can result if the guests exceed the minimum, which often happens in good weather.

Efficient helicopter operation is an economic necessity for operators and helicopters are often shared between groups. This can result in a ski pace influenced by factors other than the individual needs of each group. Unless guests pay for a dedicated helicopter, there is little opportunity to “sit out” of a race. Ski groups can typically be as small as 4 and as large as 12, depending on the type of helicopter used.

Snowcat skiers enjoy a dedicated cat that moves based on the needs and ability of the group. Snowcat rides are warm, calm, relaxed and very sociable. They give guests a chance to chat with their peers, rest up for the next run, and adjust their clothes. Guests wanting a longer break can sit down for a run and visit the cat driver on the return trip down the mountain. Lunch is grated throughout the day. Guests can leave extra clothes on the cat and adjust what they wear for each run. If a guest wishes to leave early for the day, a staff member will drive them back to the lodge on a snowmobile.

Heli-ski operators use vast holdings that cover many hundreds of square meters. kms. This allows great access to “good” alpine snow in a variety of conditions. Snowcat operators use much less land. However, in Western Canada there are several snow tractor operators who have properties up to 130 square feet. kilometers These operators make effective use of the land and have more than enough area to provide good skiing and “new slopes”.

Several operators have remote accommodations in the interior of the country. These offer a unique experience in nature. Guests travel to the lodges by helicopter, snowmobile, or snowcat. The accommodations are very comfortable and often offer double rooms with ensuite bathrooms, excellent cuisine, a games room, a well-stocked bar, spa baths and massage facilities. The first race of the day is close by and guests often ski right to the hostel door at the end of the day.

Remote accommodations help guests relax and enjoy their vacation. Guests are cut off from phones, television, and the bustle of civilization. Submerged in a jacuzzi, with a soft drink in hand, guests watch as the snow accumulates or the last rays of the sun leave the surrounding peaks. It’s a relaxing way to end a full day of powder skiing. The problem of the day is whether to get a massage before or after the hot tub (or maybe do the hot tub twice). Hostel life is very casual and there are no decisions about what to wear for dinner. You only brought a pair of sweatpants!

Most snowcat operators serve 12, 24 or 36 clients, who ski from independent snowcats. The ski holdings are large enough that groups often don’t see each other during ski day, even from a distance. Each group determines its own pace. While keeping their group together, the guides are experts at finding “lines” to challenge the most proficient skiers/riders while guiding others down a “softer” path. Guides mark the boundaries of each run, leaving visitors ample opportunity to find “new tracks.” Safety is always the first priority.

Some guests organize their own group of 12 skiers, so they are assured of a compatible ski group of people they know. Many operators offer group organizers a significant discount for their efforts. However, most clients arrive alone or in pairs and the operators work hard to find compatible ski groups for everyone. New friends are made very quickly.

Most cat ski operators recommend that their clients be at least “strong intermediate”. However, depending on the nature of your terrain, some operators can accommodate less experienced intermediate skiers who are in good physical condition. Potential customers should discuss their concerns with the operators.

Ski touring tends to offer consistently soft powder. Sometimes “wind crust” or “sun crust” areas will develop, but guides try to avoid them and quickly find better snow. There’s no tracked, “lumpy” snow to contend with, and “moguls” are unheard of. The short, chunky “powder skis” rented by operators are forgiving and easy to turn. People who have little “backcountry” experience find that they learn very quickly. Once again, fitness is a great asset.

“Tree skiing” is a fixture of all ski touring. When the weather is stormy, skiers and snowboarders simply head for the trees, where the sheltered snow is softer and deeper and visibility is better. Skiers with little experience “in the trees” find that the consistent snow and powder skis not only allow them to “do it”, but it is a lot of fun. Many cat skiers prefer tree skiing to open alpine slopes.

Snowcat skiers in North America tend to ski between mid-January and the end of March. However, you can often find great skiing and reduced rates in December and April (when the longer spring days can mean more skiing). While some cat operators offer day trips, most offer multi-day full-service packages. These require a reservation at least a year in advance, although low-season tours can be booked at much shorter notice. Cancellations are also accommodated for short notice reservations, sometimes at a reduced rate.

The amount of skiing done in a day depends on the group. Typically, 9 to 15 runs will be skied for a “total vertical” between 9,000 feet. and 16,000 ft. Individual runs vary in vertical drop between approximately 800 feet and 2,000 feet. Long cat wrinkles are usually divided into a series of short “hops” that provide short breaks between runs but keep guests active. The lack of ski “minimums” allows guides to focus on the needs of their group and finding the best ski. There is no need to “stack up the vertical”.

Foreign visitors might consider combining resort skiing with snowcat skiing. For example, visitors to the Kicking Horse Resort in Golden BC could break up their visit with a 3- or 4-day tour at nearby Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges (http://www.chattercreekcat skiing.com/). Plus, visitors to Whistler-Blackcomb can take cat skiing day trips with Powder Mountain Catskiing. Many other snowcat operators are located near great ski areas.

The Chatter News website (http://powder-skiing.blogspot.com/) provides a customer’s view of snow skiing at Chatter Creek. This photo journal provides many images and descriptions of different aspects of skiing and cat boarding.

In western Canada, the BC Snowcat and Helicopter Ski Operators Association ([http://www.bchssoa.com/]) lists snowcat ski tour operators that operate under its strict safety guidelines.