What is Cat Skiing? James Orr Heliski explains all…

Posted August 07, 2017 under Canada, Cat Skiing

What is cat skiing?
Simply, cat skiing is a great way to enjoy the backcountry in Canada!

The cat in question is a ‘snow cat’, more commonly known in the UK as a ‘piste basher’ or ‘groomer’. In this case, it’s adapted to carry passengers with a spacious and comfortable passenger cabin on the back.

Rather than taking a lift – or a helicopter – to gain your vertical, the cat whisks you up the mountain in a dedicated backcountry ski area, reserved just for you.

Every operator in British Columbia – the best destination for cat skiing – has to apply to the BC government to obtain a licence and then has exclusive rights to a particular area.

That means that when you’re on the mountain, you’re not going to be bumping into other groups of skiers – it’s all your dedicated playground.

How many runs can I enjoy each day when cat skiing?
Typically, you can expect 6-8 runs a day when you are cat skiing. The cats tend to take you up to 6000-7000 ft (1800-2100m) and offer a vertical drop of 1000-1300ft (300-400m) for each run.

The cat just keeps rolling all day long until the day is finished. Unlike heliskiing your day isn’t measured in vertical feet of skiing.

Is travelling in the cat uncomfortable?
Not at all: the passenger cabin is very spacious and doesn’t feel confined. It can fit up to 14 people (normally a maximum of 12 guests and two guides). You can take off your gloves and helmet, while enjoying the hot and cold drinks and food provided.

There’s plenty of time to relax and recover for your next run as each ascent take around 20-30 minutes.

Can you go cat skiing in all weather conditions?
A snow cat is rarely, if ever, grounded by the weather. You can go cat skiing in all conditions as usually you are only going just above the treeline, so your descent will be through the trees.

This means you’ll be less affected by adverse conditions as the best snow conditions are often in the trees, where the snow stays in better condition, particularly earlier in the season.

When is the best time of year to go cat skiing?
Because cat skiing is enjoyed at a lower altitude than heliskiing, it’s not recommended for later in the season.

Although every winter is different, our experience at James Orr Heliski is that after mid-March the snow can be too warm and slushy at the lower altitudes that cat skiing tends to take place in.

We recommend that any cat skiing or cat and heli combination trip is planned for January or early-February.

What are the differences between cat skiing and heliskiing?
In some respects cat skiing is the tortoise to the heliskiing hare. Heliskiing is adrenaline-inducing, but getting in and out of a snow cat is a lot less stressful than getting in and out of a helicopter and the skiing is every bit as good.
However, although the terrain is very similar, a dedicated cat ski area tends to be smaller than a heliski area. Typically, you can expect something like 500,000 acres for a heliski area, compared with 30,000 acres for cat skiing.

That’s because you simply can’t get the same vertical when using a cat: a helicopter will take you to higher altitudes up to 10,000ft (3050m), giving you runs that might be twice as long in terms of vertical than cat skiing.

And that means that that any more than two or three days of cat skiing and you’d start doing the same terrain again.

The best way to think of cat skiing is not as an alternative to heliskiing, but as a complement to heliskiing.

The James Orr Cat Skiing & Heliski Combo
Our years of experience have shown us that a mix of cat skiing and heliski is best combination to get the most out of your BC powder experience.

Our Cat & Heli Taster Experience offers two days backcountry skiing in resort, two days cat skiing and two days heliskiing – all based in and around BC’s powder and backcountry capital Revelstoke Mountain.

It’s a great combination that gives you six quality powder days by three different means in three different, superb ski areas. It’s cheaper than doing six days heliskiing and take the vagaries of the weather out of the equation.

Cat Skiing Advice
For advice on cat skiing, heliskiing or backcountry skiing in Canada (or any part of the world), please contact James Orr on 0333 006 5816 and he will be delighted to answer your questions and help find the right combination for you.