Great shot from Martin K. on the recent Canadian Ski Guide Association level 3 Course - held in the northern Monashees of BC.   (this is not at Big Red Cats).   Kieren is one of the 4 dots - just to the lookers right of the top of the ski tracks.

We're pleased to announce that Kieren has passed the final level of the Canadian Ski Guide Association training, and is now a Level 3 guide!

Every 2 years (for the last 20 years) the Canadian Ski Guide association holds a 9 day long exam for ski guides that want to lead or supervise a cat or heliskiing operation operation.    The exam involves terrain selection, group management, rescue, crevasse rescue,  transceiver search and much more.    The crevasse rescue was held at 9,000 ft in the northern Monashee range.   This course was hosted by Mike Weigle Heliskiing.

The Level 3 qualification allows guides to supervise a cat or heliskiing operation.   The level 3 takes a minimum of 6 years to complete and involves:

• 6 years of mentoring from senior guides - in an apprenticeship model
• 3 levels of guide exams and training
• The highest level of courses and Certification from The Canadian Avalanche association.
• Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance Level 1 -2 course
• Current 80 hour 1st aid course

Here is the link: http://www.aftenposten.no/reise/article2204251.ece

The above link is to a review in a Norwegian newspaper.  Anyone know what it says?

Article by Rachael Oakes-Ash

Cat skiing is oft referred to as the lazy man's way to see the backcountry. These giant groomer style machines with a purpose built cabin to seat up to fourteen people transport skiers and boarders to the backcountry. Most cat ski companies have a set and limited tender of hectares they can utilised for their guests.

Skiers and boarders take on virgin snow with a lead and tail guide for safety while the cat makes it's way back to the bottom to pick them up and take them to the next terrain. When the helicopters don't fly due to weather conditions the cat can still go out and most guarantee around ten runs in a day.

Canada's Powder Mountain and Big Red Cats offer day trips while Selkirk has lodges for overnight stays. South America's Ski Arpa offers steep and deep powder perfection in the Andes.

Read the entire article here: http://blogs.smh.com.au/travel/archives/2008/07/the_worlds_best_off_piste_ski.html

Good fortune begets great skiing

Bill Jennings
March 28, 2008

To find great skiing, you can prepare to be in the right place at the right time. Or just get lucky. Last week I asked Loulou Kneubuhler to join me for some "research" on Schweitzer's trees. He freed up Friday.

Last fall Ski Magazine rated Schweitzer among the top three resorts for tree skiing in North America. A day there in the forest was on my list.

Loulou and I carpooled to Schweitzer with my friends, Jim Joy and Dave Watling. We picked a perfect day. A storm that dropped a half-foot-plus was playing out. Attendance was sparse.

Schweitzer is rich with terrain – and trees. Choose a glade from any lift. We didn't ski the same trees twice. People will argue about the top three for trees. But the attention Schweitzer has attracted is understandable.