The Ultimate Skiing Experience
By Lockie Brown, Thu Dec 8th

Powder snow provides downhill skiers the ultimate skiingexperience. For most skiers however, good “powder” is ashort-lived and infrequent pleasure. Ski areas in somegeographic areas enjoy frequent “powder days” but in most areas,powder is rare and the dryness and depth of snow is oftenmarginal.

In most ski areas too, when powder does occur, it is only amatter of hours before it is completely "tracked out”, lumped upand beaten down. Only those few early birds that ride the firstchairs in the morning get the ultimate run of the day, in deep,consistent, smooth, untracked snow. Oh joy!

For years, avid “powder hounds” have headed for the backcountryto ski the powder among remote alpine peaks, far from crowdedski areas. Many enjoy the peace and quiet of ski touring andmove and ski at a pace governed by their own physical fitnessand endurance. Ski touring enthusiasts tend to be young and fit,very experienced and knowledgeable in backcountry travel. Theyare well equipped and self-contained.

Others who may be less fit or have limited time, but enjoyfairly “deep pockets”, have skied the backcountry fromhelicopters. For about $1000 per day, heli-operators offer smallproficient groups guided on huge pristine slopes, high inthe mountains. Guests stay in comfortable lodges and spend theirdays being shuttled back and forth with their guides, with eachrun on a fresh untracked slope. Helicopters are very expensiveand must be kept flying. Many operators will share one machineamong multiple groups. Helicopter has its“issues”. There are “down days” when storms make flyingimpossible, there is the economic need for efficiency and thereis always the inherent risk of all backcountry skiing: avalanche.

Avalanche risk depends on many factors and much special trainingand experience is needed to assess risk. All reputablebackcountry operators provide highly qualified guides toaccompany their guests. Guides choose areas for and asafe route down the hill. On days of poor weather or unstablesnow, guides may avoid alpine areas and restrict their groups to"skiing the trees”.

Tree is a fixture of all mechanized backcountry skiingand is even preferred by some skiers to the more open “alpine”skiing. Tree skiers often enjoy the deepest and lightest snow,unaffected by wind or sun.

In recent years, a new type of mechanized backcountry skioperator has emerged. Snowcat operators use snowcats totransport skiers and snowboarders into high backcountry regions.Snowcats are fitted with comfortable cabs that usually seat 12clients and two guides.

Of course, snowcats are much slower than helicopters. They arealso much less expensive and guests can expect to pay between$500 and $600 a day, including transportation, lodging, meals,and guiding. As slow as snowcats may be, most clients will wearthemselves out every day and get just as much as theirgroup can handle.

The great advantage of cat

Tourists flock Narkanda in Himachal for snow sportsThaindian.com, Thailand - 9 minutes agoNarkanda offers ideal conditions for skiing and several other winter sports activities for professionals as well as beginners. It is favourite with
DailyIndia.com, FL -Narkanda offers ideal conditions for skiing and several other winter sports activities for professionals as well as beginners. It is favourite with winter ...<br/><br/>::
Teaching skiing a newfound career in Eagle Co.Vail Daily News, CO - 43 minutes agoEAGLE COUNTY, Colorado A Money is often said to be no object for those who live and vacation in the Vail Valley, and for several of the valleyA s ski ...Va
The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com, MI -A 12-year-old Ontario boy who was critically injured Wednesday when he was caught in and dragged by a snow groomer at the Mount Brighton Ski Area was ...<br/><br/>::
SNC's McGinty out for season
North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, NV -Bonanza Photo - Jen Schmidt Jonathan Cherry shows some fancy footwork on the flat section of a slalom training course Jan. 17. &quot;It's tough missing Tyson. ...<br/><br/>::
BC-EU-SPT-SKI-ALP--WCup-Women's Downhill Training, 1st Ld ...PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 17 minutes agoOlympic slalom champion Anja Paerson of Sweden was fourth in both training sessions on the 2828-meter (yard) course on
Tahoe Daily Tribune, CA -When Wednesday's Tahoe Basin Ski League giant slalom was postponed due to soft snow conditions, nobody knew what to expect when they arrived at the race ...<br/><br/>::
Skiers hosting Quillin's Cup MondayOnalaska Life, WI - 39 minutes agoThis year's meet will be conducted at Mount La Crosse, Monday, beginniug at 9 am, The order of events will be super G, giant slalom and slalom. ...Confessions from Val
SkiRacing.com -Slalom skier Markus Larsson finished fifth from the 62nd start brightening his prospects for Sunday's combined event (one run of downhill and one run of ...<br/><br/>::
Workout: The water skierDaily Breeze, CA - 2 minutes agoPosition yourself as if you were water skiing on double skis. Lean back slightly, while keeping your knees bent. Use as heavy a weight as possible, ...Alaska's tourism hitting boomT
Seattle Post Intelligencer -&quot;I tried downhill skiing once and it was fun, but I didn't feel like I wanted to go back and do it again,&quot; she said. &quot;This is awesome. ...<br/><br/>::
A Snapshot of Fed LeadersThe Associated Press - 24 minutes agoHe also works up a sweat cross-country skiing, bicycling and roller blading. Mishkin brings sterling academic credentials to the Fed job. ...Women's Nordic Skiing Pushes To Compete At
Ottawa Business Journal, Canada -As a youngster, his favourite hobby was downhill skiing. Since moving to Ontario, he has switched to cross-country skiing. His other hobbies include biking ...<br/><br/>::
It's called skiercross, and Canada has a teamTimes Colonist, Canada - 15 minutes agoHe raced for the Czech Republic at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 10th in combined, 15th in slalom, 23rd in giant slalom. ...Skiing: Mil
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, MA -Senior Jason Small had an outstanding performance at the PSU carnival in the giant slalom, registering a first-place finish for the Minutemen. ...<br/><br/>::
Fun to ski or seeChicago Sun-Times, United States - 1 minute ago&amp;quot;The trail's a little icy today,&amp;quot; explained my skiing companion Ned Zuelsdorff, as he patiently waited for me to get up from the snow -- an awkward maneuve
Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, WY -On Monday, heavy snow and wind gusts up to 80 mph plagued the western mountains, shutting down skiing in Jackson Hole and closing highways. ...<br/><br/>::
Pedigree of the Week with Frank MarrionHarnesslink, New Zealand - 1 hour ago... horse that seemed to skim over the ground with no more exertion than water running downhill, his footfalls as light and airy as a ballet dancerA s. ...Newpor
Enterprise-Record, CA -... shifts on the opposite side of Mount Soledad. A large collapse in October sent four houses slipping 15 feet downhill and left two more uninhabitable.<br/><br/>::
City blames rains for mudslide in La JollaContra Costa Times, CA - 1 hour ago... shifts on the opposite side of Mount Soledad. A large collapse in October sent four houses slipping 15 feet downhill and left two more uninhabitable.City b
San Jose Mercury News, USA -... shifts on the opposite side of Mount Soledad. A large collapse in October sent four houses slipping 15 feet downhill and left two more uninhabitable.<br/><br/>::
Cyclists in A 370000 court clash on claim weak grip caused pile-upScotsman, United Kingdom - 1 hour agoMr Telfer estimated they had maintained an average speed of about 18mph, and his speed increased to 25mph on a downhill stretch of the
Ad-Hoc-News (Pressemitteilung), Germany -... release: a Brent's Method routine for single-variable problems, as well as Downhill Simplex and Simulated Annealing Methods for multi-variable problems. ...<br/><br/>::
THE GRAVEL TRAPITV.com, UK - 26 minutes ago... Pollock were no longer together A ending a partnership that began when Craig spotted JV competing in a downhill skiing race at the tender age of three. ...Hunting/fishing reportSan Diego Uni
Times Online, UK -My partner and I would like to spend Christmas in a ski resort for 2008 and are considering La Clusaz. Having had a look at the website though, ...<br/><br/>::
The Crazy Calabogian; Aaron Dowd stars at football and rugby, but ...The Kingston Whig-Standard, Canada - 10 minutes ago&amp;quot;Slalom is probably my favourite because it takes so much technical skill. Once you get good at it, slalom i
Denver Post, CO -And at this tiny little ski area, something like 12000 people turned out for Saturday's giant slalom, another 10000 for Sunday's slalom. ...<br/><br/>::
Even fall can't stop BBA's BenedictBennington Banner, VT - 2 hours agoKILLINGTON A Both Burr and Burton Academy Alpine ski teams took second place in a giant slalom event held at Pico Mountain on Monday. ...World-class skiing at Whistler
Seattle Times, United States -... to the Dave Murray and Wild Card trails, which will be the runs for the men's and women's downhill and super giant slalom races in the Olympics. ...<br/><br/>::
A dangerous raceRocky Mountain News, CO - 10 minutes agoBecause of thin snow, the cross-country skiing leg had been moved to a logging road. Like many such abandoned roads, this one had a big pile of dirt pushed ...The Crazy Calabogian;
Belleville Intelligencer, Canada -&quot;Everything feels good about my game,&quot; said Weir. &quot;I'm kind of sick of the snow and sick of skiing now, so I'm ready to play.&quot;<br/><br/>::
Bay Area Man Dies At Tahoe Ski ResortCBS 13, CA - 4 minutes agoRead more in our Privacy Policy Authorities say a San Francisco man was killed in a skiing accident at Homewood Mountain Resort near Lake Tahoe. ...Cox Hits Slopes With Ski C
Canada East, Canada -&quot;I'm kind of sick of the snow and sick of skiing now, so I'm ready to play.&quot; Log in to access premium content and features on this site.<br/><br/>::
Mike Weir believes 2008 could be his best year on the PGA Tour yet570 News, Canada - 11 minutes ago&amp;quot;Everything feels good about my game,&amp;quot; said Weir. &amp;quot;I'm kind of sick of the snow and sick of skiing now, so I'm
RussiaToday, Russia -The children were skiing and sledging on the mountain slope when it was hit by the avalanche. According to the local emergencies officials' preliminary ...<br/><br/>::
Win lifts Miller to overall Cup leadChicago Tribune, United States - 1 minute agoThe American skier finished in a combined time of 2 minutes 34.58 seconds after winning the downhill in Chamonix, France. &amp;quot;I was wondering this mor
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR -... from Arkansas 23 on Forest Road 1003 (White Rock Mountain Road ), a total elevation gain of 3, 500 feet intermixed with 1, 900 feet worth of downhill. ...<br/><br/>::
Miller storms to overall Cup leadBBC Sport, UK - 21 minutes agoMiller, 30, won the downhill section of the two-discipline super-combined and clinched the slalom from Ivica Kostelic and Rainer Schoenfelder on Sunday. ...Miller Wins Super-
Citizen, South Africa -Miller turned on the slalom style to take control of the overall World Cup after winning the penultimate combined event of the season here Sunday. ...<br/><br/>::
Miller Wins Super-Combi World Cup EventLongview Daily News, WA - 38 minutes ago&amp;quot;I fell Saturday during the slalom practice. I have a bruised left hip.&amp;quot; Slalom specialist Ivica Kostelic of Croatia moved from eighth after
Duluth News Tribune (Subscription), MN -&quot;I fell Saturday during the slalom practice. I have a bruised left hip.&quot; Slalom specialist Ivica Kostelic of Croatia moved from eighth after the downhill to ...<br/><br/>::
US at the double as skiers Miller, Sullivan top podiumTurkish Press, MI - 3 minutes agoEurope's skiing elite were pushed into the shadows here Sunday as Bode Miller made sure the USA grabbed a rare double on the men's World Cup circuit.
CBC News, Canada -Bode Miller was victorious in the super combination Sunday in Chamonix, France, to take the lead in the men's overall World Cup alpine skiing standings. ...<br/><br/>::
Miller wins super-combi World Cup eventMonterey County Herald, CA - 11 minutes agoThe American skier finished in a combined time of 2 minutes, 34.58 seconds after winning the downhill run. Miller replaced Benjamin Raich of Austria at the
Yahoo! Eurosport, UK -American Marco Sullivan upset the giants of the downhill Saturday to claim his maiden World Cup win on the 60th anniversary of the famed Kandahar race ahead ...<br/><br/>::
Late-Friday Bets A Roll of the DiceGold Seek - 32 minutes agoThe Dow head-faked its way to an undeserved hundred-point gain Friday morning, but it was all downhill after the opening bar. ...Miller Wins Super-Combi World Cup EventBlueRidgeNow.com,
In-Forum (subscription), ND -The American skier finished in a combined time of 2 minutes, 34.58 seconds after winning the downhill run. Miller replaced Benjamin Raich of Austria at the ...<br/><br/>::
US at the double as skiers Miller, Sullivan top podiumCitizen, South Africa - 39 minutes agoAmerican Marco Sullivan upset the giants of the downhill Saturday to claim his maiden World Cup win on the 60th anniversary of the famed Kandahar
Longview Daily News, WA -The American skier finished in a combined time of 2 minutes, 34.58 seconds after winning the downhill run. Miller replaced Benjamin Raich of Austria at the ...<br/><br/>::

is that “down” days almostnever occur. Clients ski every day and bad weather can oftenmean extra-good snow. Cat is more relaxed and “laid back”than heli as there is no need to share equipment betweengroups or to maximize equipment usage. Cat is very“client-friendly”. Each group has a dedicated machine and itmoves at the group’s pleasure. Weaker skiers can be at ease andnot feel “pushed”.

Snowcats provide a relatively quiet, relaxed environment inwhich the trip back up the hill can be almost as much fun as therun down. Guests sit in soft individual seats. They can“unbutton”, dry out, warm up, converse, share bad jokes andbrowse on sandwiches, cookies, cake and drinks. If a guest getstired, it’s easy to “sit out” a run and ride down to the nextpickup with the cat driver.

Helicopter is much less restricted geographically thansnowcat skiing. This permits greater opportunity to find “greatsnow”. However, there is a drawback. Since they can operate in amuch larger area, heli-operators may sometimes be less familiarwith changing snow conditions and risk factors than snowcatoperators who work in a more restricted area. Snowcat operatorsmake greater use of a smaller area and get to know it very well.Snowcat operators have easy access their terrain by snowmobileand can implement snow testing and slope stabilization measuresthat are much more difficult and expensive for heli-operators.

Most snowcat operators have ample terrain to consistentlyprovide clients with good snow conditions, even in periods ofdrought, and to ensure that clients exhaust themselves everyday. Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges Ltd. operates in a 130 sq. kmarea and ski between the elevations of 4900ft and 9500 ft.Monashee Powder Adventures (Tsuius) advertises an area of 66 sq.km and operates between the elevations of 7800 ft and 3,000 ft.Baldface Lodge uses over 140 sq km. Guests need not worry aboutrunning out of terrain!

Snowcat provides a wonderful holiday for intermediate andadvanced skiers alike. Individuals, family groups, groups offriends, business associates can have a “trip to remember”.Operators with remote lodges offer a real “backcountry”experience, usually with good food and very comfortableaccommodations.

The Chatter News photo journal(http://powder-skiing.blogspot.com) has over 350 andterrain photos from Chatter Creek. Refer to the Cat Articles photo gallery(http://cat-skiing-articles.blogspot.com) for a close look atsnowcat skiing.

About the author:Lockie Brown lives near Vancouver, B.C. and skis at Whistler. Hehas cat skied for a number of years, taking groups of 12 and 24friends to different cat ski venues in British Columbia. He nowtakes his groups to Chatter Creek SnowCat Skiing near GoldenBC. (www.chatterceekcatskiing.com )