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.
I don't always review skis, but when I do, I don't use words.
The Skevik Anton (A tribute to the namesake itself, Mr. Anton Skevik) is a great, big mountain ski with versatility for all mountain use. On first glance, I liked it for it's wood topsheet appearance and the Anderson graphic displaying Moose and maple leafs. It kind of bears resemblance to an old Christmas sweater, and it draws a lot of attention from onlookers.
On the snow, it continued to impress me. I skied the Anton 185 for a few days late last season out at Selkirk Wilderness in the West Kootenays of British Columbia. I had a hard time giving them up for anyone else to try because I was having such a good time on them. The 185 was a good balance of a big mountain, beefy ski to handle all the variable conditions and high speed. The 122 mm underfoot and rocker give it great float in the pow, and still light enough and easy to crank around in tight chutes and trees. It's a bit wider than what most people would call the "one ski quiver", but it is one of my favorites to take out in the backcountry or on the ski hill.
The Anton remains unchanged for 2013/14, and you should check it out if you get the chance. As you can see from the video, I have trouble coming up with more words to say about the ski. You just need to try them for yourself. Skevik Skis are available online or at Attrigde in Vernon, BC, just down the street from where the skis are made.
Here it comes! Heavy Snow Fall for the Cascades and Rockies.
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Brace yourself BC because here comes the first of many epic snowfall warnings. We have had a great start to the season up high with some solid storm systems rolling through in October. Now it is mid-November and things are getting serious.
For a few operators planning to open in early December this Heavy Powder Alert is welcoming news. Temps are expected to drop to zero all the way down to sea level with much colder temperatures up high. Combine that with a wallop of moisture and BC is in for some powder!
Here is the report from PowderChasers.com:
Coldest storm of the season will move into BC and the Cascades on Friday. Snow levels will drop near sea level by Saturday morning under NW flow allowing significant blower powder to Accumulate. Mount Baker is favored with NW flow. A convergence zone of cold orographics through Saturday night will extend snowfall over Stevens Pass and Alpental. Areas like Crystal will see moderate amounts extending into Oregon through Sunday.
Snowfall will extend into most of Idaho, Western Montana, Wasatch of Utah and Southern Colorado by Friday. My thoughts are for a very deep dump for the Wasatch Saturday/Sunday, Light snow from Aspen and the 4 corners Friday, and heavier snowfall for most of Colorado Saturday night and Sunday. My picks will be Aspen, Telluride, Vail, Steamboat, and most of Summit County by Sunday afternoon. The Front Range near Denver will see light snow on Sunday.
Bottom Line: Deep cold dump, lots of Powderf Buzz, but for many areas dry powder might not be the best for base building. With that said, many areas in the West including Aspen, Vail, Snowbird, Grand Targhee,Whistler, Steamboat, Jackson Hole already have seen 50-65 inches of snowfall this season at the peaks. The Northwest saw great snowfall in early October but inconsistent amounts. Most of the Cascades will reap rewards this weekend. My vote will be Baker and Stevens Friday/Saturday and perhaps Crystal Sunday. The Sierra may see a few flakes on the Eastern side near I-80 by Saturday (Some glimmer of hope). The Wasatch will be deep as well as some areas of Colorado. The Tetons are my wildcard.
New web gallery to make you want to throw yourself in a snowbank
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If you are anything like my friends and I, and you're reading this so I assume you are, then you are scrolling the web in eager anticipation of the ski season that is about to begin. The skis are waxed, the Icebreaker long johns have been pulled out of hiding, the backpack is sitting by the door ready to go, and you're sitting in a chair in your underwear looking at ski websites and weather reports. I may have lost a couple of you on the last one, but I know you are jonesing for some time in the mountains.
Here's a good fix to hold you over a couple more weeks. Our resident Photographer, Geoff Holman, has just launched a new portfolio website. It focuses on deep powder action from cat and heli operations like Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, Valhalla Powdercats, and Snowwater Heliskiing. If you've been to the West Kootenays, you know these are some of the best places to hit and the pictures prove it.
Smash, crash, fail, bail, fall, tumble, biff, bang, boom, chew it, take a header, scorpion...whatever you call it these are the Chatter Creek Big Bail Awards! For the second year in a row Chatter Creek has compiled the greatest spills of the previous season and put them all together in this tell-all compilation. You can't hide from the camera these days and Chatter Creek is capitalizing on all the 'Kodak Courage' out there.
An enjoyable watch for sure, don't forget to vote in the YouTube comments.
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on Thursday, 24 October 2013.
Posted in Powder Skiing
A 25 Year look back at what makes this place so special to so many
Established in 1988 Island Lake Lodge is one of the pioneering catski operations in British Columbia. As a kid growing up in BC Island Lake was the place I wanted to experience. I was a huge Scot Schmidt fan complete with posters on my walls - from Island Lake of course. This short film is a compilation from footage shot over the past quarter century showing the world what makes Island Lake Lodge such a magnificent place.
Not often to you get to learn about how a place started and evolved to what it is today. Island Lake caught the attention of world-class skiers and snowboarders from very early on. So much so that they invested in the place when the opportunity came about to purchase the land. They have preserved the soul of Island Lake while growing it to attract more people each year. This even includes a full summer mountain experience.
The snow at Island Lake needs little mention once you have seen this video. They have some deep powder up there in the Lizard Range. "Duck Fluff" according to Schmidt! There are some turns in there that make we want to pack the truck and find snow right now!
Enjoy this video. It is a little longer at 22 minutes but well worth your time. After watching, do yourself a favour: call your best ski friends and put together a trip. Become part of the history of Island Lake this season.
Last season on our trip to Selkirk Wilderness we were joined by a crew from Teton Gravity Research. They hit the conditions perfectly (as film companies seem to do!) and the result is epic. This 1-minute little teaser is a window into what it was like those few days at SWS. The snow seemed to just keep coming that week. I hope this video gives you a sense of what life is like up at SWS. It is an authentic experience where the hospitality matches the unparallelled terrain and powder.
Check the tour schedule for Way of Life playing in your area.
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on Tuesday, 08 October 2013.
Posted in Powder Skiing
Travel gets easier between the Okanagan and Kootenay Catskiing!
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There was an exciting news announcement today from Pacific Coastal Airlines. Starting November 18th, 2013 they will begin service between Kelowna BC and Crandbrook BC. Kelowna is in the middle of BC's interior with an International Airport and Cranbrook is at the gateway to some of the best catskiing in the world. Catskiers from all over the globe will now have easier access to the powder goods thanks to Pacific Coastal Airlines. No more rental car hassles and braving winter roads, just book a quick connecting flight and you will be waist deep in the Kootenay pow in no time!
Photos and posts have been flying around the web about the September Super Storms hitting BC and Washington State. We have some evidence from Big Red Cats and Mustang Powder. These pictures are not of just a Fall dusting of snow, these are significant amounts of the white fluff! It is pics like these that make working really difficult! All we want to do is sit and watch ski movie trailers and talk about our upcoming trips this year.
Here's to a great start!
- Catskiing.ca
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on Tuesday, 01 October 2013.
Posted in Powder Skiing
The World Premier of Into the Mind happened this weekend in Whistler BC to rave reviews. Sherpas Cinemas have really moved the bar for ski movie production and if this second trailer is any indication, they have move that bar just a little higher again this season.
We were up at Selkirk Wilderness this past season while they were filming there and at Stellar Heli Skiing. The powder conditions were deep and light and from what we saw of their filming it will be nuts! Also, who hasn't heard of Julian Carr's massive front up at Whilster on that sun-filled powder day. As soon as he hit it my phone was ringing from buddies who saw the whole thing play out.
