Want an intense skiing adventure far from the madding crowd? Cat-skiing operators in the Nelson area are just waiting to take visitors up a mountain. Licensed and experienced guides can access abundant terrain, endless Kootenay Rockies champagne powder and (typically) offer skiers and boarders a minimum of 3,000 m/10,000 ft of vertical each day.
High Elevation Deeps and Sleeps
Some of the larger operators fly guests up to the mountain by helicopter from Nelson's airport. Baldface Lodge, one of the larger operators, maintains a lodge that consists of eight, well-appointed timber frame buildings – at an elevation of 2042m/6700ft. The snowcat takes over from there, enabling energetic guests to enjoy a full day of runs that can add up to as much as 5,500m/18,000ft. Massage therapists are available après ski. Baldface offers various lengths of stays and tours, via the lodge.
Day Trippers
Other operators package with local hotels, transporting guests by road to hook up with the snow machine at the base of their particular mountain. The Wildhorse Cat Skiing and Powder Mining Company operates out of Ymir, 30 minutes south of Nelson, off Highway 6. A day of cat skiing begins with a hearty breakfast at the Ymir Palace Inn – where visitors stay if booking a multi-day package.
Valhalla Powdercats even offers a single day of cat skiing from their base 20 minutes west of Nelson, at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 6. From there, you will be driven about another 20 minutes up the Slocan Valley for your date with the snowcat.
Snowwater Heli Skiing, which owns Valhalla Powdercats, offers both heli and cat skiing from their helicopter accessed alpine lodge.
Cat skiing is not for everyone. Most operators require that the clients have a skill level of at least advanced intermediate – and a lot of stamina.