Island Lake Catskiing is happy to announce cat assisted ski touring this April.  After the scheduled catski tours are finished for the season, Island Lake will open its terrain to guided ski touring.  Professional ACMG guides will show guests the wonders of the Lizard Range; big alpine bowls, ridges and the perfectly gladed trees that Island lake is know for will be all explored.  If you are just learning, beginner groups can be arranged.  Overnight accommodation options are also available.  Explore the backcountry skiing terrain that Island Lake is famous for this April. 

Ski Touring Day Rates:

7 – 10 Guests – $99 pp
3 – 6 Guests – $129 pp
2 Guests – $225

Ski Touring Multi-Day Rates (2, 3 and 4 nights available)

$275 per person, per night (includes 1 day of guided ski touring and 1 night accommodation) - Minimum 6 guests

Call for details: 250-423-3700

www.islandlakecatskiing.com

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Everyone on the west coast knows that the weather has not been favorable for skiers. We backcountry skiers are also painfully aware of the effect the weather has had on the snowpack. That is why when a crew shows up to film it must be nerve-racking to try to find them some precious pow to make the best video possible. DPS Skis took a different approach, they made the best of the situation like all good skiers would.

On one of their final days at Baldface Lodge, the weather changed causing an inversion. This made for some spectacular light resulting in this new video from the DPS Shadow Campaign - Inversions. 

Remember, on your next day out skiing or riding, find the fun in any situation. Skiing is awesome, powder makes it better but fun can be had almost anywhere with skis on your feet. 

Enjoy.

This powerful storm skiing image shot at Selkirk Wilderness Skiing has just won a photo competition put on by Phase One. Phase One is a leading medium format camera and software manufacture. They have cameras that can shoot up to 80 megapixels and our photographer Geoff Holman has just one the use of one for a month. We are stoked to see what he can do with such a high end camera!

Congrats Geoff!

Check out the rest of Geoff's work here: www.geoffholman.ca

Our photographer Geoff Holman and skier Adam Benson take made the 'Fresh' section of the Spring 2015 SKI Magazine and we couldn't be more stoked! This dandy of a shot was taken during an epic powder storm at Valhalla Powdercats. As you can see by the smiling skierface, Adam is enjoying himself.

Here is the caption from the pic:

TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC > While storm skiing is hard to beat - tracks refill, powder stays cold and dry, and a magical hush settles over it all - lighting can be tough for ski photographers to nail. But on this particular dark and blizzardy day at B.C.'s Valhalla Powdercats, shooter Geoff Holman came prepared with off-camera flashes to illuminate skier Adam Benson from the back, capturing the bewitchment of the deep stuff. "I don't know how much snow fell, but it was one of those days that gets burned into your memory." Holman say. "It was deep, light, and perfect for shooting photos like this."

The SKI Magazine Spring 2015 issue is on shelves now.

Island Lake Catskiing and The North Face have signed a new partnership agreement; The North Face will be the official uniform and main retail supplier for Island Lake. "We are very excited to have a new agreement with The North Face in place, as we share common goals, such as our love of the outdoors and creating great content' says Island Lakesland Lake Marketing Director Mike McPhee.

The 2 companies have had a productive partnership over the last several years. The North Face has helped Island Lake in the production of 2 successful 1/2 hour TV shows that have been broadcast all over North America and the world. Sherpas Cinema filmed The Balance of Powder at the same time as their groundbreaking feature film - ALL.I.CAN. Released last year, The Lines of Legends is a documentary on Island Lake to celebrate their 25th anniversary. The show features industry legends such as Scot Schmidt, Jason Ford, Jake Blattner, Mark Gallup and includes some rare footage of Craig Kelly.

A new show has started production at Island Lake and will include North Face athletes Nick McNutt, Lucas Debari amongst others.

Planning a catskiing trip is exciting but it can be stressful. You will find yourself watching the weather channel and becoming an amatuer - I mean professional - weather forecaster. It is always troubling when a warm trend is coming as fast as your trip date. These guys from Revision Skis were in this exact situation last Spring. It looks like Mother Nature pulled a switcharoo on them and the trip turned out epic.

Enjoy the video from Revision Skis and FWA Catskiing.

It was November and anticipation for the season to come was high. We were busy doing the early season rituals; reading all the ski mags, watching videos from the previous season, going to the ski movie premiers and planning out our first trip of the season. This particular season it was to be White Grizzly Catskiing. No one in our group had been to White Grizzly before but we had been wanting to check it out for some time. Rumors of long tree runs and steep powder had piqued our interest years before. Also the allure of an operation that runs only one cat and, for some reason, stays out of the lime light. We had to make the trek and check the place out.

We had made arrangements with Brad, one of the owners of White Grizzly, sometime in late November. As far as we were concerned, that phone conformation was the beginning of ski season. The trouble was that we lived in the low lands of BC and over the years it has become quite brown and dry through November. This is not a good thing for the psyche of a skier. As out mid-December tour date drew closer the weather systems had not fully engulfed the BC Interior yet. Some storms had hammered the coastal range but powered out by the time they reached mid-province. Brad, being the powderhound that he is, recommended that we wait a week and come out during the upcoming storm cycle. We were a little bummed but appreciated Brad's honesty...and foresight. He also said that there would be room for two more skiers if we had anyone in mind. We have a list.

Two of our great ski buddies from opposite ends of the province dropped everything and joined us at White Grizzly. One, from just south of us in Idaho, did some creative scheduling with his boss (a natural skill of any powder obsessed skier). As for the other, I am sure he has his vehicle packed at all times waiting for our call. We all met in Kalso BC just south of White Grizzly's lodge and headed up for our first turns of the season.

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Upon arriving at White Grizzly, you feel like you have just pulled into a long time friend's driveway. We parked the truck and headed into the inviting timbre framed lodge. Lodge is probably the wrong word. It is more like someone's house that has been designed with catskiing in mind. Carole, Brad's wife and business partner greets us and shows us the lay of the land. They have the program dialed right from the first minute of your arrival. Each person gets a place to hang their gear and warm up their boots. Carole gave us the run down of events and then we were invited in for some beverages and appys. We gathered in the living room area after our tour of the lodge and started to get to know the other guests. Many of them had skied the day previous so the conversation mostly consisted of them smiling like mischievous school children with a secret and us begging them for details. We would find out soon enough what early season at White Grizzly Catskiing was all about.

After a delicious home cooked meal we were able to relax and unwind. The hot tub was all warmed up and the beer was all cooled off so we took the conversation outside. Once we solved the world's problems we nestled down in the comfy rooms and tried to sleep in anticipation for the next day. We were up early with a friendly wake up call from Carole and another fantastic meal to get our day started off right. The food spread was out to construct our lunches and we were off.

Down the road we went to find the rumbling snowcats warming up for us. It is funny how fast a group of skiers can move when loading a cat. It had snowed some more overnight and the stoke was high. The temps were a cool -14 so that meant light BC powder waited for us up top.

We skied run after run of fresh, light untracked powder with Brad as our guide. His passion for powder and leading backcountry groups is really evident when you are out skiing with him. He truly loves it. You can tell he gets joy out of showing people the terrain him and his team have spent years developing. It adds to the experience of White Grizzly for sure. Brad took us to some fun spots where were able to find interesting lines and cool features. Much of the glading at White Grizzly is natural with a little help from chainsaws in the off season. Eventhough it was early season, there was quite a lot of snow up there. We could ski pretty much anything we wanted. Usually operations have areas closed because snowpack hasn't built up yet or roads haven't been built. Also, the fact that White Grizzly only runs one group of 12 skiers at a time means that Brad doesn't need to farm snow. By the time all the runs are cut up with tracks, the next storm cycle has blown through and reset the place.

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On day two we found more fresh and more steep. White Grizzly consists of mostly tree skiing and consistent fall lines. You should definitely be in shape to ski there and have a love for tree skiing. For me, tree skiing is where it is at. Growing up in BC, that is what we have here. Sure there is alpine skiing, but there is nothing like blasting through deep powder between massive old growth trees. Brad took us to a little spot hidden in the trees called Pride Rock. I am not sure how high it is but it was a good hit. Of course, once one guy went all of us had to hit it!

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Back at the lodge that night we shared more stories from the day and really got to know the people we skied with. What we found interesting was that the rest of the group had been coming to White Grizzly annually for the past 15 to 18 years. We had no idea! These people consider Brad and Carole part of their extended families. It was quite a cool experience to hear these people reminisce. It was like they had some sort of ownership in the place, that part of it was theirs. I suppose in a way it is. This is their spot. The place they save up all season to go visit. The retreat they dream about while working long weeks. The great thing is, Brad and Carol realize this and do their very best to make the experience a memorable one for all of their guests.

So if you are looking for a down home feeling place where the owners are just as excited as you are and want to ski some light steep BC powder then White Grizzly just may be the place for you. Don't be afraid to book an early season date either. You will benefit from some early season rates and still get some incredible skiing in.

White Grizzly is located in the interior of BC at the top end of what is now known as the Powder Highway. They get a crazy amount of snow each year and it is always light and powdery. The trip is a bit longer than most but you really feel like you are in the BC backcountry. We've been to the area a number of times and once you have been, you will be drawn to it and feel the urge to go back. Especially during the hot summer after working all day!

So book your trip today and say hi to Brad and Carole from all of us at Catskiing.ca

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Well this is a cool concept. Northern Escape Heliskiing just announced that they will be running a unique catskiing program for the 1st month of the season. Now skiers and boarders can experience the deep, remote powder of Northern Escape's terrain at a fraction of the price of heliskiing. And there is a bonus...your first ride is in a helicopter!

From December 11th to January 15th each season, Northern Escape will be offering this package - 3 days all inclusive unlimited vertical for $2299 per person. Not bad for 3 days catskiing from a heli lodge where you get a heli drop to start your day. Also, if the sun comes out, you will have the opportunity to make the switch to all-day heliskiing - for an additional cost of course. 

Learn more about Catskiing at Northern Escape here >>>

Northern Escape's GM John Forrest had this to say:

With the more accessible cost of catskiing over heliskiing, this initiative will plumb a new market, reaching skiers and boarders keen to experience catskiing in one of BC's most rewarding backcountry areas. Staying true to our roots, we've added the heli-ski experience as a bonus. Groups don't need to decide in advance; our helicopters are ready to fly to some of the best heli-skiing terrain in the World.

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About Northern Escape:

Northern Escape Heli-Skiing is located inNorthern BC, two hours north of Vancouver. With its 7,000 sq km tenure, northern Escape Heli skiing offers skiers and riders wide open bowls, glaciers and steep, sheltered tree skiing every day of the season. With access to the latest equipment and a team of experienced staff who are passionate about heli-skiing and heli-boarding, guests can expect an incredible, high-quality experience that will have them returning year after year.

necatskiing.com

Bob Legasa and the crew from Freedride Media caught up with Dave Treadway at Monashee Powder Snowcats for a few days of light powder skiing. They interview Dave to learn about what makes him tick, his career, being the youngest of 2 other pro skiers and about family life. It is a great profile of a humble but hard charging skier.