The latest news from the catskiing / snowcat industry. Where to ski, who has snow, whats happening. We also post reviews of the latest gear, skis, and some general interest stuff. Be sure to check for last minute deals to make your winter vacation the best.
The first day of Spring arrived and for the people down in the valley bottom it was a warm and sunny day. The grass was starting to green, birds were fluttering about and people were feeling like the grip of winter was starting to loosen. Not for us though...
We found ourselves at the end of a 3-Day trip to Valhalla Powdercats where winter had decided to give it another go. We got out of the cat at the weather station to 22cms of new snow on top of the 10cms from the day before (that is a foot of fresh for those American readers!). To make the situation just a little more epic, the sun happened to make an appearance throughout the day.
Run after run of powder and sunshine was the order of the day. We have had the experience of sunny snowfall which is always majestic when one finds themselves in the middle of the Valhalla's with a close group of friends.
For those of you who are on the fence about a late March catskiing trip, don't hesitate. This is the third season in a row where we have had remarkable conditions.
Here are a few shots from the trip. We have plenty more coming so stay tuned for a full gallery:
Our late March trip to Valhalla Powdercats brought sunshine to start........ and then it snowed. Day 2 brought 10 cm of fresh and it kept snowing all day. The steep chutes and trees kept us stoked all day long. It's supposed to keep snowing, and we can only imagine how much deeper tomorrow will get. In the past ten years of skiing here, Valhalla always delivers.
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on Wednesday, 19 March 2014.
Posted in Powder Skiing
It was this good in January so imagine what it is like now!
Reports from Island Lake Catskiing throughout January were sounding pretty good. We got some great shots sent to us from Mike McPhee showing some nice pow and killer blue skies. While some pockets were in a bit of a drought, Island Lake was staying consistent. Now that BC is getting whalloped with some epic mid-winter pow just imaging what it is like up there now.
This video was shot during January 2014 by Nick Nault and features Mikey Witlox, Luke Nelson, Ben Ogilvie, Caleb Brown and Mark Butcher.
Getting attention for his unique shooting style in the backcountry.
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Our resident photographer Geoff Holman has been featured in the February issue of Digital SLR Magazine. Two shots from Selkirk Wilderness Skiing and a deep forest shot of mountain biking in BC's Interior. Geoff has been working over the past few season to develop a unique style and adapt his equipment for mobile use in the backcountry.
About the Photos:
Full Page - Geoff set this shot up at the end of a stormy day at Selkirk Wilderness Skiing. It was a dark day that usually makes ski photography a difficult task. With Geoff's lighting techniques he can light up the scene and get dramatic shot like this.
Half Page Ski - Again at Selkirk Wilderness Skiing but this time on a brighter day. Still using Geoff's lighting set up we get a shot that shows off the terrain but really highlights the action of the skier. It even enhances the texture of the snow.
1/4 Page Bike - It was a dry and dusty day in the BC Interior when we headed out to test some shots. We were looking for set up that could show the think foliage but still give Geoff the kicked up dust effect that ended up in this shot.
Geoff loves finding new set-ups and developing new techniques. Action photography is a great medium and the whole team at Catskiing.ca love pitching in and helping him realize his creations.
If you want to get yourself some amazing powder skiing like in the pictures above, check out Selkirk Wilderness Skiing. It will change your life.
Congrats Geoff on getting 'exposure' in another magazine!
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on Friday, 07 February 2014.
Posted in Powder Skiing
If you are obsessed with catskiing like we are then this is the toy for you. The Kyosho Blizzard RC Plow Vehicle is a detailed remote control with all the working parts including the plow!
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on Thursday, 06 February 2014.
Posted in Powder Skiing
At Island Lake Catskiing they are generally addicted to powder skiing and snow boarding and most of the images and webisodes out of there reflect that. In early January 2014, Island Lake invited a few local shredders to get a bit more creative with their catski terrain features and show off a bit, becouse sometimes you just need a little airtime.
Here is a little webisode from those days. Athletes include: Mikey Witlox, Luke Nelson, Ben Ogilvie and Mark Butcher.
Island Lake Catskiing is off to the races this season. The Fernie area experienced above average snowfall early season and at one point was reporting more snow then most other areas in North America. At Island Lake they have had about 5 metres of snowfall as of mid-January and there is a compressed base of 265 cms at tree line. Although they are mostly booked up for the season, there is a bit of room at the end of March. Have a look at their new website at www.islandlakecatskiing.com
Brenda Drury hands over the reigns of a legendary operation.
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In 1975 Brenda and Allan Drury set out on a exploration to find the perfect spot to start their dream. The dream of snow cat assisted backcountry skiing. 39 years later they are hailed as the pioneers of catskiing as we know it today. We have had the pleasure of skiing at SWS on a few occasions and really feel like part of their extended family and the story of catskiing. One one trip we were able to sit down to dinner with Brenda and got to hear the story from the beginning until present day. It was a real treat to be able to understand her and Allan's passion for powder and also for coming up with a vision and following through on it. Below is a video that was done a couple of years ago that sums it up nicely:
SWS has new owners now and they are just as family oriented as the Drury's. Megan and Paul Osak from Nelson BC and Janie and Scott Munro from Aspen CO are now the new visionaries of SWS. Their plans for the near future are to keep things pretty much the same as before. Hey, if it ain't broke right. A few changes that they are planning are an extended ski week with a few more spots available and some possible renovations to the lodge.
We are excited to see the transition of SWS to the new owners and are grateful to have skied the legend while under the vision of the founders. Here is the official news release from SWS:
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, the original cat skiing operation in the world has been sold by founder Brenda Drury after 39 years in operation. Snowcat skiing was pioneered in 1975 by Allan and Brenda Drury in the small community of Meadow Creek, BC. Situated in the south east corner of British Columbia, 90 mins north of Nelson. Over the past 39 years, the Drurys and their staff at Selkirk Wilderness Skiing have developed a loyal following amongst deep powder skiers and snowboarders looking for an alternative to both lift-serviced and helicopter skiing and riding.
Selkirk Wilderness Skiing has been purchased by 2 families: Megan and Paul Osak of Nelson, BC. and Janie and Scott Munro of Aspen CO. The deal has been in the works for the better part of the past six months. There will be no big changes in the short term and it is business as usual for SWS this winter, which is reporting an almost fully booked ski season starting in mid-December and running until early April 2014. There are plans in the works for a lodge renovation in the future as well continued improvements to the guest experience.
Meet the new owners:
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on Wednesday, 15 January 2014.
Posted in Powder Skiing
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