A Day Of Cat Skiing
By Lockie Brown, Thu Dec 8th

Snowcat offers strong-intermediate and expert skiersfull-service guided tours into remote high-mountain regions.Powder snow and “fresh tracks” are the norm. Uphilltransportation is provided by a tracked snowcat equipped with a warm,comfortable passenger cab. They usually accommodate 12 guests,two guides and a driver.

Some snowcat operators are based in towns or near highways andoffer guests continued access to “civilization”. In some cases,guests use local hotels and restaurants for accommodation andmeals. Such operators may offer single-day trips.

Other snowcat operators use remote lodges high in the mountains,far from cars and telephones. These lodges provide a multi-daybackcountry experience in the midst of pristine alpinewilderness. They also place guests very close to their skiing.

Many backcountry “cat skiing” lodges offer double-occupancybedrooms complete with private ensuite baths. They have cozy andcomfortable sitting areas, dining halls with cathedral ceilings,drying rooms for boots and outside clothing, games rooms,well-stocked bars and “commercial” kitchens. They offer exerciseareas, video players, satellite telephones, perhaps a computerwith Internet access and, of course, a well-stocked bar. Guestscan enjoy a social drink and spectacular views while luxuriatingin an outdoor hot tub, and then step right to their bedrooms fora shower or a nap.

No special equipment is required for cat skiing, just boots andclothing. Powder skis can be rented at the lodge. However,snowboarders should bring their own boards. Guests will make themost of their snowcat tour by being in good physicalcondition.

Lodge life is informal and relaxed.Juice and fruit and coffee are served at 7:00 AM and a buffetbreakfast is available at about 7:30. Snowcats depart between8:30 and 9:00, when guests are ready.

The first day of a tour is special. Guides take the first houror so to make sure guests understand safety procedures. Everyonehas practice using the radio beacons that the operator supplies.No one goes out without one.

The first run of the day is rarely more than 20 minutes from thelodge and the last run of the day can end at the lodge door.During the day, the group moves around, sampling different areasand never staying long in any one spot. Each run is in fresh,untracked snow.

On “bluebird” days, the guide will head for the high alpine.Perhaps for two or three runs on a glacier before trying the bigopen slopes, taking a run or two in each before heading to thenext. The highest elevation can be close to 10,000 ft andthe views are spectacular. There is always time to pause forpictures.

If visibility is poor or if the alpine snow is unstable, it’soff to one of the many ridges to “ski the trees”. Tree isamazing! The protected snow is usually deeper and softer than inthe alpine. It is very consistent and there are no moguls. Theshort, fat “powder skis” are easy to control. Forget the trees.Just ski the openings! Intermediate skiers who may never beforehave skied in trees find that they can not only do it, but thatit’s fun.

In the old burns, the trees are gnarly, but very widely spaced.The living forest has closer-spaced trees, but offers beautifulglades and tree stands that may have been thinned. Some

of theglades are as open as some ski-area runs. The old cut-blocks aregreat fun. Snow-buried stumps create “pillows”, small mounds toski around or “pop” off. Landings are nearly always the same,soft and forgiving. It’s amazing!

Guests team up in pairs in the trees and the guide keeps awatchful eye. No one gets separated. When a guest “augers in”,his partner or the tail guide or someone else is close at handto assist.

The speed of the group depends on it’s ability. A group of goodskiers may ski non-stop to the bottom; perhaps 1800 or 2000 ft.of pure joy, with lots of “whoops” and hollers”. Slower groupswill stop more often to rest, share experiences, take picturesand “smell the roses”.

Guides are very responsive to the needs of the group. The guestsset the pace. There is no pressure to maximize equipment usage.Each group has a dedicated snowcat that moves at the pleasure ofthe group. Guides are expert at providing for different skiersin their group. Stronger skiers may enjoy some “steeps”,“drop-offs” or other challenges, while others are guided downmore “mellow” lines.

By the end of the day, everyone is tired out. Guests who tireearly can “sit out” a run and keep the driver company on the wayback down the hill. If a guest wants to quit for the day, astaff member will shuttle them back to the lodge on asnowmobile. It’s all very relaxed and very friendly.

Packed lunches are eaten in the snowcats, as guests feel hungry.It’s possible to browse all day on a selection of sandwiches,wraps, cakes, cookies, buns and drinks. “Hip flasks” aredefinitely NOT welcome. Guides are extremely safety consciousand they want guests to be alert and functioning well at alltimes.

At 4:00pm, guests are welcomed back at the lodge with specialsnacks or hot soup. Guests then have over two hours to relax,shower, read, play pool, soak in the hot tub or hold up the bar.Other diversions are possible. Guests might have the opportunityto try out a snowmobile for the first time, to learn how thesemachines are driven, and to do some exploring.

Dinner is served at about 7:00pm and is of very high quality.Most operators provide gourmet cuisine with extensive wine listsand will carefully cater to guests with allergies and specialneeds. No one “dresses” for dinner. It’s a relaxed, laid-backand friendly affair. Staff mingles with guests and share talesof the day’s conquests. Amusing speeches and special “award”ceremonies are common. Everyone gets to know one another. Thereare no “loners”.

After dinner, guests disperse to read, watch a video or tocongregate in the bar or games room for some friendly darts orpool. At about 9:30 PM guests start to depart for their beds.The bar usually shuts down by 10:30 PM. Everyone is tired andlooking forward to the next day!

The Chatter News photo journal(http://powder-skiing.blogspot.com/) displays over 350 photos ofsnowcat skiers at play, and the Cat Terrain photo gallery(http://cat-skiing-terrain.blogspot.com) provides a tour of thecat areas at Chatter Creek Snowcat near Golden BC.

About the author:Lockie Brown lives in Vancouver. He skis on Whistler andBlackcomb Mountains and organizes cat trips for groups offriends. His favorite location is Chatter Creek Snowcat Skiing(http://chattercreekcatskiing.com/) located in a snow belt nearGolden BC, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.