Wintersports
Skiing
Exploring snowcat skiing: The ultimate guide
Snow catting offers an electrifying ski experience with some of the best backcountry views you can find.
Red Bull free skier Michelle Parker is a force to be reckoned with, but that doesn’t mean she’s done improving her technique. Parker explains how she continues to work on her skiing skills so she can be the best on any type of snow-covered ground.
Michelle Parker
© Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool
“It’s a goal of mine to feel confident and comfortable in big mountain terrain,” she says. “I’m excited to continue to broaden my athletic ability in skiing and become even more well-rounded.”
If becoming a more versatile skier is also a dream of yours, you’ll love the incredible world of snowcat skiing. Snow catting offers an electrifying ski experience with some of the best backcountry views you can find. Read ahead to learn what snowcat skiing is, where to find the best snowcat adventures, and how to prepare.
01
How snowcat skiing works
When you think of skiing, you probably think of riding a ski lift to the top of a mountain and blissfully gliding down the slope. In snowcat skiing, there’s no lift carrying you to the top of the run. Instead, you’ll hop into a snowcat — a vehicle used for grooming snowy ground — with all your gear and head to the mountaintop. You might be joined by up to 20 other winter sports enthusiasts buzzing with excitement to snowcat ski or snowboard.
Sean Pettit & Tatum Monod exit the snow cat at the 2016 Red Bull Cold Rush
© Bryan Ralph / Red Bull Content Pool
After the snowcat drops you off at your destination, you’ll get to enjoy skiing in gorgeous, untouched backcountry terrain. When you reach the bottom of the hill, the snowcat will be waiting to take you up for another turn.
02
Benefits of snowcat skiing
Snowcat skiing is near-guaranteed to be an adventure. Here are just a handful of the many ways in which snowcat skiing offers a rewarding experience.
- Enjoy breathtaking surroundings. Snowcat skiing offers access to some of the most pristine ski environments you can find. You’ll get to pick a line of untracked powder and venture through a secluded, snowy paradise.
- Dodge the crowds. You won’t have to share space with throngs of other skiers at the resorts. Snowcat skiing offers a quieter, more personalized experience.
- Test your athletic power. Snowcat skiing is great for intermediate and advanced skiers. After all, nothing puts your skills to the test quite like navigating around several feet of untouched mountainside powder.
- Keep going back for more. When traveling by ski lift with all your gear, your capacity to carry anything else is pretty limited. With a snowcat, however, you can stock up with basically whatever you want. You can easily bring water and snacks, so you’ll have more energy to enjoy as many runs as you wish.
03
Where to experience snowcat skiing
1 min
Snowcat Operation
Sean Pettit and friends check out the latest destination for cat skiing: Keefer Lake, BC, Canada.
Chances are that you can find downhill ski resorts just a few hours away from where you live — not so much with snowcat ski areas. Typically, to reach a popular snowcat ski area, you’ll need to travel much farther. It’ll be worth the journey, though, when you get there.
As the birthplace of snowcat skiing, British Columbia offers top-of-the-line backcountry snow. A great example is the snowcat area that Sean Petit enjoys at Keefer Lake in Red Bull’s Snowcat Operation video. You can also visit the place where snowcat skiing all started in the Selkirk Wilderness. This location abounds with wide-open bowls, as well as some narrow chutes for more advanced skiers to navigate.
If you’re in the western United States, Colorado is among the top destinations for snowcat ski operations, with varying terrain across the state. San Juan Untracked near Durango is great if you’re advanced enough to handle cliffs.
Snowcat skiing is less common as you head east, but you can still find great spots if you know where to look. In the Great Lakes area, there’s Voodoo Mountain in Michigan — it’s home to over 1,200 acres of ski-friendly landscape. On the East Coast, you’ll find thrilling snowcat tours in Vermont. Expeditions such as the Cat Trax Express Tour at Smugglers’ Notch offer a personalized experience with 12-person snowcat tours.
04
Preparing for snowcat skiing
Snowcat skiing gear
Your regular ski boots might be fine for snowcat skiing, but you’ll definitely need powder skis and poles. These are wider than traditional skis and designed for cruising across several feet of off-piste powder.
As on most ski trips, you’ll want to wear layers so you can be comfortable at any temperature. A jacket with a powder skirt will ensure snow can’t escape into your jacket, so you’ll stay dry and warm for your whole run. Double-lens goggles with anti-fog spray are also important so you can see the fresh tracks ahead. Your tour guide should provide avalanche safety equipment, but it’s always smart to call ahead and double-check.
Snowcat skiing safety and training
Traversing backcountry snow is an incredible thrill, but there are some baseline minimum skill requirements to check off before booking your snowcat ski excursion. It shouldn’t be your first time on off-piste terrain, and you should at least know how to turn on deep powder. Your endurance should also be strong since a full day of snowcat skiing can include as many as 12 runs.
Snowcat skiing environments often include tracks of varying difficulty, so ask your guide which ones best suit your skill level before you board the snowcat. When you reach your destination, your guide can point you toward steep inclines for an adrenaline rush or gentler slopes if you’re still getting comfortable.
One of the most important safety rules is to listen carefully to your guide when they go over avalanche safety precautions. No question is too small, especially if you need someone to show you how to use the safety equipment. It’s also essential to never ride alone, so your guide will send you off with a buddy.
Soar to new heights with snowcat skiing
If you’re an adventurous skier yearning for new experiences, snowcat skiing should be at the top of your to-do list. You’ll find some of the best off-piste tracks available, with exhilarating runs among unparalleled natural beauty that you can’t get at the resorts. Although you might need to travel for a snowcat adventure if you’re not in Colorado or British Columbia, it’s absolutely worth your while. Make the trek, and you’ll be rewarded with the most pristine powder possible.
