| Powder snow provides downhill skiers the ultimate | | | | helicopters. They are also much less expensive and |
| skiing experience. For most skiers however, good | | | | guests can expect to pay between $500 and $600 a |
| powder is a short-lived and infrequent | | | | day, including transportation, lodging, meals, and |
| pleasure. Ski areas in some geographic areas enjoy | | | | guiding. As slow as snowcats may be, most clients |
| frequent powder days but in most areas, | | | | will wear themselves out every day and get just as |
| powder is rare and the dryness and depth of snow is | | | | much skiing as their group can handle. |
| often marginal. | | | | The great advantage of cat skiing is that |
| In most ski areas too, when powder does occur, it is | | | | down days almost never occur. Clients ski |
| only a matter of hours before it is completely | | | | every day and bad weather can often mean |
| "tracked out, lumped up and beaten down. Only | | | | extra-good snow. Cat skiing is more relaxed and |
| those few early birds that ride the first chairs in the | | | | laid back than heli skiing as there is no need to |
| morning get the ultimate run of the day, in deep, | | | | share equipment between groups or to maximize |
| consistent, smooth, untracked snow. Oh joy! | | | | equipment usage. Cat skiing is very |
| For years, avid powder hounds have headed | | | | client-friendly. Each group has a dedicated |
| for the backcountry to ski the powder among | | | | machine and it moves at the group’s pleasure. |
| remote alpine peaks, far from crowded ski areas. | | | | Weaker skiers can be at ease and not feel |
| Many enjoy the peace and quiet of ski touring and | | | | pushed. |
| move and ski at a pace governed by their own | | | | Snowcats provide a relatively quiet, relaxed |
| physical fitness and endurance. Ski touring enthusiasts | | | | environment in which the trip back up the hill can be |
| tend to be young and fit, very experienced and | | | | almost as much fun as the run down. Guests sit in |
| knowledgeable in backcountry travel. They are well | | | | soft individual seats. They can unbutton, dry |
| equipped and self-contained. | | | | out, warm up, converse, share bad jokes and |
| Others who may be less fit or have limited time, but | | | | browse on sandwiches, cookies, cake and drinks. If a |
| enjoy fairly deep pockets, have skied the | | | | guest gets tired, it’s easy to sit out a |
| backcountry from helicopters. For about $1000 per | | | | run and ride down to the next pickup with the cat |
| day, heli-operators offer small proficient groups | | | | driver. |
| guided skiing on huge pristine slopes, high in the | | | | Helicopter skiing is much less restricted geographically |
| mountains. Guests stay in comfortable lodges and | | | | than snowcat skiing. This permits greater opportunity |
| spend their days being shuttled back and forth with | | | | to find great snow. However, there is a |
| their guides, with each run on a fresh untracked | | | | drawback. Since they can operate in a much larger |
| slope. Helicopters are very expensive and must be | | | | area, heli-operators may sometimes be less familiar |
| kept flying. Many operators will share one machine | | | | with changing snow conditions and risk factors than |
| among multiple skiing groups. | | | | snowcat operators who work in a more restricted |
| Helicopter skiing has its issues. There are | | | | area. Snowcat operators make greater use of a |
| down days when storms make flying | | | | smaller area and get to know it very well. Snowcat |
| impossible, there is the economic need for efficiency | | | | operators have easy access their terrain by |
| and there is always the inherent risk of all | | | | snowmobile and can implement snow testing and |
| backcountry skiing: avalanche. | | | | slope stabilization measures that are much more |
| Avalanche risk depends on many factors and much | | | | difficult and expensive for heli-operators. |
| special training and experience is needed to assess | | | | Most snowcat operators have ample terrain to |
| risk. All reputable backcountry operators provide | | | | consistently provide clients with good snow |
| highly qualified guides to accompany their guests. | | | | conditions, even in periods of drought, and to ensure |
| Guides choose areas for skiing and a safe route | | | | that clients exhaust themselves every day. Chatter |
| down the hill. On days of poor weather or unstable | | | | Creek Mountain Lodges Ltd. operates in a 130 sq. km |
| snow, guides may avoid alpine areas and restrict their | | | | area and ski between the elevations of 4900ft and |
| groups to "skiing the trees. | | | | 9500 ft. Monashee Powder Adventures (Tsuius) |
| Tree skiing is a fixture of all mechanized backcountry | | | | advertises an area of 66 sq. km and operates |
| skiing and is even preferred by some skiers to the | | | | between the elevations of 7800 ft and 3,000 ft. |
| more open alpine skiing. Tree skiers often | | | | Baldface Lodge uses over 140 sq km. Guests need |
| enjoy the deepest and lightest snow, unaffected by | | | | not worry about running out of terrain! |
| wind or sun. | | | | Snowcat skiing provides a wonderful holiday for |
| In recent years, a new type of mechanized | | | | intermediate and advanced skiers alike. Individuals, |
| backcountry ski operator has emerged. Snowcat | | | | family groups, groups of friends, business associates |
| skiing operators use snowcats to transport skiers | | | | can have a trip to remember. Operators with |
| and snowboarders into high backcountry regions. | | | | remote lodges offer a real backcountry |
| Snowcats are fitted with comfortable cabs that | | | | experience, usually with good food and very |
| usually seat 12 clients and two guides. | | | | comfortable accommodations. |
| Of course, snowcats are much slower than | | | | |