Backcountry Calling

Advice to make the most of your cat or heli adventure

by Dean Seguin

When it comes to perfect riding conditions, it's hard to trump powder. Sure, it's fun to lap a few cruisers or run through a razor-sharp park, but the possibility of pow is what motivates us to drag our ass out of dead sleep, throw a bunch of cold gear together in the dark, and migrate-coffee in tow-towards the mountains.

But deep, dry pow is a rare thing indeed. You might be lucky to strike a handful of times a season, and even then, you've really gotta hustle to poach a few solitary deep turns before the secret's out of the bag and lift lines are gridlocked like Toronto traffic. By noon, every corner of the mountain is sliced and diced like a Tarantino death scene, leaving you feeling like something's still to be desired.

Time to call in sick, round up your bros, and climb into a snowcat. Or if you really want to go to the next level, book into a heli and plot an airborne assault on some far-off mountain range chock-full of faceshots.

Seem unrealistic and out of reach? Give your head a shake-this is as good as it gets; the crème de la crème of ski and snowboard indulgence. Imagine, no tracks, no crowds, and tits-deep for as far as you can see. Think you aren't cut out for backcountry? You're probably more ready than you know. As long as you're a strong intermediate rider and reasonably fit, there's powder to be plundered. A blow to your wallet? Like the finer things in life, it's not about the cost-it's about the experience, and you can bet your ass it's gonna be nothing short of an epic odyssey.

Now before you toss this magazine aside and burn out of town, there are a few things to consider ahead of your trip. For useful advice, we went straight to a few riders who are no strangers to cat and heli missions. Here they share their backcountry wisdom with the first-timer.

Cat vs. Heli

Chris Rubens: "With cat skiing you will generally have a larger group and a slower up time. You might get a little less vert, but it makes for an easy-going, fun atmosphere in the back of the cat. Heli-skiing is what most skiers dream of. It's the fastest way up the mountain, and you can definitely burn your legs out before the end of the day."

Kevin Sansalone: "If the weather is bad, the cat may be your only choice, because the heli won't fly in bad weather. The excitement of the shaky cat ride wears off after a few runs, whereas the heli ride never gets old. If the weather is good, nothing beats the heli."

TJ Schneider: "With a heli you get to see what you are about to ride. Just having a heli land next to you is an experience. But a cat costs way, way less, and you'll have a great time riding up, chatting with your friends about how epic that last ride was."

Great Expectations

Kevin Sansalone: "You can expect to have a great time either way. Having that kind of effortless access to the backcountry makes you feel like the king of the world. Thinking of all the people standing in lineups on Whistler, while you're sipping hot chocolate and eating a catered lunch in untouched backcountry powder."

Dave Treadway: "As my mama says, 'expect the worst, hope for the best.' Cat and heli ops are always an awesome time, but those bluebird days with 40 cms of fresh that you see on the company's website are their best days of the winter. Hope for one during your stay, and your trip will be totally worth it."

Chris Rubens: "With so many amazing operations in British Colombia, you should expect the best of everything. Great accommodation, amazing food, good company and amazing snow."

Get prepped

Dave Treadway: "If you've been working an office job all fall and your only exercise is walking your shitzu around the block every night, then stick to the cat and you'll still be able to ski on your last day. Make sure you have some days at the hill under your belt, so you can maximize the experience and not spend the first couple days working out the kinks with your skills and gear."

Chris Rubens: "The most important thing someone can do before going to one of these operations is to get into ski shape. Go skiing as much as you can before your trip. If you can't do that, get in the gym for some ski-related exercises. Deep powder will burn your legs like nothing else, and the fitter you are the better time you will have."

Kevin Sansalone: "Get a few good days in on the hill so you are conditioned for a full day of riding powder. It would be a shame to have to call the day early just because you're out of shape. Make sure your equipment is tuned and ready to go as well. Set your stance back-this is a major factor to be aware of. You're not going to be riding switch out there, so set your stance as far back as it goes, so your tail is down and your nose is up and floating. It's a better ride and helps conserve energy and save your legs. If your board is not suitable for deep powder, definitely borrow or rent a powder-specific board. You're paying too much to not get the ultimate ride and roost out of every turn."

It's go time

Chris Rubens: "It depends what you are looking for. If you are looking for deep powder, December and January are the best months. Sometimes operations will have cheap spots right before Christmas on short notice. When you are looking for some views and to ski some epic turns in the alpine, check out March or April, when the winter is slowing down and the snow is safer."

Kevin Sansalone: "It"s almost impossible to predict the weather in the mountains more than a couple of days in advance, so if you can be flexible that helps. But if not, then book for early spring and hope for the best"the days are a little longer and the chance of good weather is a little better."

Dave Treadway: "You get what you pay for. January through March is the most expensive, but if it's your only real getaway from the wife and kids for the winter, then make it count and throw down the extra coin to increase your chances of getting that perfect day."

Pack this

TJ Schneider: "Make sure you bring a few of everything. It sucks when you go out the next day and all your stuff is still soaking, especially if you're going up in a cat"all that epic snow on you is now water when you jump out."

Dave Treadway: "Your dirtbag little brother, who could never afford it on his own and has been dreaming about it with you his whole life. Share the experience with someone you love, so that for the other 360 days of the year, you have someone to talk with about how rad the trip was."

Kevin Sansalone: "Layer well for the conditions and what the forecast is calling. Bring extra goggles and gloves. You won't need food, so use that space in your pack for extra gear, and most definitely bring a camera. Bring your own"ÄØtransceiver, probe and shovel, so you are more comfortable using them. But if you don't have them, they will supply you with everything you need."

Insider tips

Kevin Sansalone: "Try to keep the skill level of the crew equal. One less-skilled person will bring down the whole group. The guide will read this quickly, and it may keep you off the good slopes. Tip your guide."

Dave Treadway: "As soon as you get to the lodge, become best friends with the cook and your guide. The guides are trained to babysit; prove to them that you and your buddies are responsible, and before the end of your stay they'll be stoked to take you to all the cool stashes."

TJ Schneider: "Usually you'll run into some good rednecks"try and remember some of the messed up stories they tell you."

This one time...

Chris Rubens: "A couple of years back, Eric Hjorleifson, Joey Vosburgh, Dan Hudson and I went on a four day trip to Mustang Powder. After three days of shooting with Dan in difficult conditions (read: copious amounts of snow is hard on cameras), we decided to jump in the client cat and do some real skiing on the last day. We got put in with a great group; we were all ecstatic with the opportunity to shred some pow without the camera circus. The day was filled laughter and hooting and hollering till out throats were raw."

Dave Treadway: "I"ve been extremely lucky with my trips. My first cat skiing was in Nelson with 80 cm of fresh and blue skies, with only five other friends in the cat and the other cat plowing roads for us. My first heli trip was at Mica with a window shopping experience: 45 cm, bluebird, and me being able to just point at peaks. My first run from a heli was a first descent, where at Mica they are a dime-a-dozen."

Jump to: Snowcat Operators

Heli Operators

Assiniboine Heli Tours Inc.
1225 Railway Avenue, Unit #1
Canmore, AB
T1W 1R4
1-800-824-9721
Location: Rockies, Interior BC, Northern BC

Bella Coola Heli Sports/Big Mountain Heliskiing/Pantheon Helisports
PO Box 616
Whistler, BC
V0N 1B0
(604) 932-3000
bellacoolahelisports.com, bigmountainheliskiing.com, pantheonheli.com
Location: North Coast Range Mountains

Canadian Mountain Holidays PO Box 1660
Banff, AB
T1L 1J6
1-800-661-0252
canadianmountainholidays.com
Location: Selkirks, Purcells, Cariboos, Monashees

Coast Range Heliskiing
PO Box 16
Pemberton, BC
V0N 2L0
1-800-701-8744
coastrangeheliskiing.com
Location: Coast Range Mountains

Crescent Spur Heli-Skiing
General Delivery
Crescent Spur, BC
V0J 3E0
1-800-715-5532
crescentspur.com
Location: Rockies, Cariboos

Dream Catcher Heliskiing
PO Box 1483
Prince George, BC
V2L 4V5
1-888-799-5278
dreamcatcherheliskiing.com
Location: Coast Mountains

Eagle Pass Heliskiing
PO Box 2555
Revelstoke, BC
V0E 2S0
1-877-929-3337
eaglepassheliskiing.com
Location: Monashees

Great Canadian Heli-Skiing
PO Box 175
Golden, BC
V0A 1H0
1-866-424-4354
canadianheli-skiing.com
Location: Purcell, Selkirk

Helivision Sport Inc.
Box 549
Garibaldi Highlands, BC
V0N 1T0
1-866-435-4847
Location: Coast Mountains, Tantalus Range

Klondike Heliskiing
Box 377
Atlin, BC
V0W 1A0
(604) 932-5327
atlinheliski.com
Location: Northern BC

Knight Inlet Helisports
5333 Headquarters Road
Courtenay, BC
V9J 1M1
knightinletheliskiing.com
Location: Coast Mountains

Last Frontier Heliskiing
PO Box 1118
Vernon, BC
V1T 6N4
1-888-655-5566
lastfrontierheli.com
Location: Northern BC

Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing
PO Box 159
1 Harrwood Dr.
Blue River, BC
V0E 1J0
1-800-661-9170
wiegele.com
Location: Cariboos, Monashees

Mica Heliskiing
PO Box 1900
122 Mackenzie Ave.
Revelstoke, BC
V0E 2S0
1-877-837-6191
micaheli.com
Location: Rocky Mountains

Northern Escape Heli-Skiing
PO Box 59
Terrace, BC
V8G 4A2
1-866-619-3184
neheliski.com
Location: Skeena Mountains

Peace Reach Heli-Skiing
PO Box 569
Hudson's Hope, BC
V0C 1V0
1-866-575-4354
peacereachheliski.com
Location: BC Northern Rockies

Purcell Helicopter Skiing Ltd.
PO Box 1530
Golden, BC
V0A 1H0
1-877-435-4754
purcellhelicopterskiing.com
Location: Purcell, Selkirk

RK Heliski
PO Box 695
Invermere, BC
V0A 1K0
1-800-661-6060
rkheliski.com
Location: Purcell Mountains

Robson HeliMagic
PO Box 18
Valemount, BC
V0E 2Z0
1-877-454-4700
robsonhelimagic.com
Location: Rocky Mountains

Sea to Sky Holidays/Absinthe Motor Yacht
102-4369 Main Street, Suite 911
Whistler, BC
V0N 1B4
1-866-935-3228
motoryachtabsinthe.com
Location: Coast Mountains

Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing LLP
PO Box 130
2100 Oak Dr.
Revelstoke, BC
V0E 2S0
1-800-663-7080
selkirk-tangiers.com
Location: Selkirks, Monashees

Skeena Heliskiing
PO Box 1032
Smithers, BC
V0J 2N0
(250) 877-7811
skeenaheliskiing.com
Location: Skeena Mountains

Snowwater Heli Skiing
Box 1340
Rossland, BC
V0G 1Y0
1-866-722-7669
snowwater.com
Location: Bonnington, Nelson, Valhalla

Stellar Heli Skiing
284 Duncan Dam Haul Rd.
PO Box 131
Meadow Creek, BC
V0G 1N0
(250) 366-0067
stellarheliskiing.com
Location: Purcell, Selkirks, Kootenays

TLH Heliskiing
PO Box 1118
Vernon, BC
V1T 6N4
(250) 558-5379
tlhheliskiing.com
Location: South Chilcotin Mountains

Tulsequah Heliskiing
P.O. Box 2128
Haines Junction, YT
Y0B 1L0
1-867-634-2224
tqhheliskiing.com
Location: Coastal Mountains at Canada/Alaska border

Whistler Heli-Skiing Ltd.
Unit 102
4152 Village Green
Whistler, BC
V0N 1B4
1-888-435-4754
whistlerheliskiing.com
Location: Coastal Mountain

Snowcat Operators

Alpine Cat Experience
PO Box 906
Nelson, BC
V1L 6A5
(250) 352-0006
baldface.net
Location: Selkirks

Backcountry Snowcats Ltd.
9615 Emerald Pl.
Whistler, BC
V0N 1B9
1-888-246-1111
snowcats.ca
Location: South Chilcotin Mountains

Baldface Lodge
PO Box 906
Nelson, BC
V1L 6A5
(250) 352-0006
baldface.net
Location: Selkirks

Big Red Cat Skiing
PO Box 742
Rossland, BC
V0G 1Y0
(250) 362-2271
bigredcatskiing.com
Location: Monashees

Blomidon Cat Skiing
PO Box 941
Corner Brook, NF
A2H 6J2
(709) 783-2712
catskiing.net
Location: Appalachian Mountains

Chatter Creek Cat and Heli Skiing
PO Box 333
Golden, BC
V0A 1H0
1-877-311-7199
chattercreek.ca
Location: Rockies

Fernie Wilderness Adventures
Box 645
Fernie, BC
V0B 1M0
1-877-423-6704
fernieadventures.com
Location: Kootenays

Great Northern Snowcat
31096 Coyote Valley Rd.
Calgary, AB
T3L 2R1
1-800-889-0765
greatnorthernsnowcat.com
Location: Selkirks

Highland Powder Skiing
PO Box 200
Meadow Creek, BC
V0G 1N0
(250) 366-4260
highlandpowderskiing.com
Location: Bad Shot range in the Selkirks

Island Lake Lodge/Powder Cowboy Catskiing
PO Box 1229, 602a 2 Ave.
Fernie, BC
V0B 1M0
1-888-422-8754
islandlakeresorts.com, powdercowboy.com
Location: Lizard Range of the Rocky Mountains, Fernie

Monashee Powder Snowcats
13912 Ponderosa Way
Coldstream, BC
V1B 1A4
1-866-678-7669
monasheepowder.com
Location: Monashees

Mustang Powder
Site 23, Comp. 11, RR #2
Chase, BC
V0E 1M0
1-888-884-4666
mustangpowder.com
Location: Monashees

Powder Mountain Catskiing & Catboarding
8629 Drifter Way
Whistler, BC
V0N 1B8
1-877-793-7349
powdermountaincatskiing.com
Location: Tricouni

Retallack Resort & Alpine Adventures
466 Josephine St.
Suite 205
Nelson, BC
V1L 1W3
1-800-330-1433
retallack.com
Location: Selkirks

Revelstoke Cat Skiing
Revelstoke, BC
(250) 814-0087
discoverrevelstoke.com
Location: Interior BC

Valhalla Powdercats
PO Box 968
Nelson, BC
V1L 6A5
1-888-352-7656
valhallapow.com
Location: Valhalla Mountains

White Grizzly Adventures Ltd.
Box 129
Meadow Creek, BC
V0G 1N0
1-800-843-5557
whitegrizzly.com
Location: Selkirks

Wildhorse Cat Skiing & Powder Mining Co.
Suite 203, 622 Front Street
Nelson, BC
V1L 4B7
1-888-488-4327
kootenayexperience.com
Location: Kootenays

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