| I want a multi-day lodge type experience. Can I get that at Big Red Cats? |
| Yes. While we don't have a remote lodge, we do have a 6-bedroom "Big Red Lodge" if you have a group of 12, and most of the guests at the Red Shutter Inn and many at the Ram's Head Inn are catskiers, so there is plenty of opportunity to socialize. Dinners may also be catered in for your group by pre-arrangement, if you don't want to eat out at restaurants every night. |
|
| I want to holiday with my wife, but she's not up to cat skiing. What can she do? |
| As we are resort-based, Big Red Cats is an ideal choice for those who would like to travel with their wife and/or family, but get in some powder skiing as well. Staying at the base of Red Mountain, you can have breakfast together, and they can do other activities while you are cat skiing for the day, before meeting up again for dinner and apres-ski time together. Lift passes at Red Mountain, the spa or shopping in Rossland (only 5 minutes away), nordic skiing at Black Jack (2 minute drive away) or hiking along the Centennial Trail are all popular things to do. Mobile massage therapists can also be arranged to come right to where you're staying - though this is best arranged in advance. There are several excellent restaurants at Red Mountain and in Rossland as well. |
|
| Can I cat ski every other day and get the multi-day rate, or subsequent days only? |
| Some people are worried that they won't have the leg strength to cat ski 3 days in a row, but would still like the multi-day rate. To them, I say: YES! Because we offer day trips, and are resort-based, we are able to package a holiday which includes lodging for a week, for example, with lift passes at Red or Whitewater, or rest days for the spa, interspersed with your cat skiing days. This is often ideal for people whose fitness isn't what they'd like it to be, or for couples where one person wants non-stop powder skiing, but the other would prefer to do a day, and then spend the next day reading a book, relaxing in the hot tub, and getting a massage or spa treatment before tackling the next day in the backcountry. |
|
| How far is it from the meeting point to the snowcat? |
| Big Red Cats has very quick and easy access to its ski terrain, which makes a multi-day experience simple and painless, even while staying at the resort. It is about a 25-30 minute highway drive from our meeting point at Red Mountain Resort to our snowcat shed. Because the highway takes us all the way up to 1500m, it is a simple and quick process. You can take our shuttle bus, or there is parking for your own vehicle if you prefer. The daily avalanche training is performed there, and from the cat shed, it is only 40 minutes to the top of the first run.
Note: If you are a part of a multi-day full-cat group booking, you only need to do the safety briefing on the first day, and can arrange for the quick program on subsequent days. In that case, it is just a 12-15 minute drive to the close highway drop, and only 20 minutes in the snowcat before your first run - not significantly different than the first-run travel time if staying at a remote lodge! Only one of the 3 cats can do the quick drop, and the group heads out to the more remote terrain at Mt Mackie, Venus, and Claw - skiing on the way out and in on Mt Crowe and Neptune. |
|
| Can I bring my own transceiver, probe & shovel? |
| We provide transceivers (Mammut Pulse), however if you feel that you will be more proficient with your own transceiver, you are welcome to bring your own, and our guides will just check that it is functioning. We have two guest packs per group, with probes and shovels, and everyone takes turns carrying them and going last (the next run they get to go first). However, we never say no to more shovels - the more the merrier!
|
|
| Can we drink alcohol or smoke weed during the cat ski day? |
| No, it is not permitted to drink alcohol or use any non-prescription drugs during your cat skiing day. It is permitted to bring a can (cans only please) of beer to enjoy after you have completed your final run of the day, but there can be no drinking during the day, as it can impact the safety of yourself an others in the group. If you are found to be doing either of the above, you will be asked to sit in the snowcat for the rest of the day and discontinue skiing. If you request to be removed from the area, there is a $50 charge. |
|
| Lunch is provided and is eaten during ascents in the snowcat, which allows us more time for skiing each day. We focus on whole and organic foods as much as possible, with two sandwiches, two cookies, and an apple per person, as well as water. If you don't like ham sandwiches, please tell us in advance and we'll make you something else. |
|
| What is the weather like? |
| Big Red Cats is very close to Red Mountain BC which is in BC’s famous Powder Triangle. It snows and snows hard - sometimes it will snow for weeks without stopping. We receive about 40ft of it per year. In general, temperatures range between -1 and -10. However, prior to mid February we potentially can get brief periods of very cold arctic air with temperatures in the range of -20 to -30 Celsius. Please be prepared for all mountain weather conditions. We recommend that you bring a face mask or a snorkel for those days when the powder is so deep the every few turns you have a mouthful of snow. |
|
| Am I ready for snowcat skiing in deep powder? |
| If you are a strong intermediate skier or boarder, able to ski with confidence on blue (red in Europe) runs at ski resorts in varying snow conditions (not necessarily powder), you are then ready for snowcat skiing with us. You should have been skiing actively for several consecutive years. Backcountry snowcat skiing is not for beginner skiers. As a local rule of thumb, you should be able to ski Red's Paradise "Mini-Bowls" before signing up for an Intermediate tour, you should be comfortable in the "Powderfields" before signing up for an Advanced tour, and you should be able to ski the killing fields of Red's "Cambodia" before considering an Expert tour. If you aren't sure, it is better to underestimate your ability than to over-estimate. |
|
| Do you offer discounts for groups? |
| Yes! Our pricing includes the 12th person free if you pay separately, or, if you are willing to pay with one cheque or card, you get 2 seats free with a full-cat rental of 12. |
|
|
|
