Snowcat skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a snowcat

Snowcat

A snowcat is an enclosed-cab, truck sized, fully tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. Snowcats are often referred to as 'trail groomers' because of their use for grooming ski trails or snowmobile trails...

, not a ski lift. Snowcat skiing is essentially about skiing in a natural—albeit highly selected -- environment

Natural environment

The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....

 without the effort or gear compromise required for hiking into these areas as in ski touring

Ski touring

Ski touring is a form of backcountry skiing involving traveling over the winter landscape on skis under human power rather than through the assistance of ski lifts or snow vehicles. It can take place in terrain ranging from perfectly flat to extremely steep...

 or ski mountaineering

Ski mountaineering

Ski mountaineering is form of ski touring that variously combines the sports of Telemark, Alpine, and backcountry skiing with that of mountaineering...

. The service is less expensive than heliskiing

Heliskiing

Heliskiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a helicopter, not a ski lift. Heliskiing is essentially about skiing in a natural—albeit highly selected—environment without the effort or gear compromise required for hiking into these areas as in ski touring or ski mountaineering.Most...

 and is more environmental friendly than heliskiing as some of the snowcats run Bio Diesel for fuel.

Most snowcat skiers are seeking specific, pleasurable skiing conditions that are hard to replicate in the highly manipulated terrain of ski resort

Ski resort

A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...

s: particularly powder snow

Powder Snow

Powder Snow was the second album by Megumi Odaka .-Track listing:#"White Love" – 4:13#"One more time" – 4:15#"OMOIDE" – 4:43#"Mitsumete" – 4:21#"Stance" – 3:59#"Shumatsu no Cinderellatachi" – 4:20#"Attention" – 3:53#"Fuyuzora ni Orion" – 4:26...

, but also long descents, natural terrain contours and features, smooth corn snow, old-growth tree glade

Glade

-Geography:*Glade , open area in woodland, synonym for "clearing"**Glade skiing, skiing amongst treesPlaces in the United States*Glade, California, a former town in Lassen County*Glade, Kansas, a city in Phillips County...

s, steep and extreme slopes, or for the more adventuresome, wild snow and a natural, variable environment.

The presence of the guide and machine offer some protection against the risks and discomforts unavoidably associated with entering this mountainous environment, allowing skiers with little or no mountain sense to enjoy a wild environment

Environment (biophysical)

The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...

.

Operations

Usually the customer books a one to four day snowcat skiing package, including 5 to 12 runs a day and lunch. Accommodation can vary from Atco trailers to five star luxury lodges.
There are as few as 4 or as many as 12 skiiers, depending on the snowcat type.
On most tours, a group of snowcat skiiers are led by an experienced guide and possibly an assistant, or "tailgunner".
The snowcat typically meets the ski group in an open area in a valley.
The guide or a snowcat crew member load the skis and poles into an exterior basket. The skiers board the snowcat and are transported uphill.
After unloading, the clients do not ski off at random; the guides decide exactly where the clients will ski

Ski

A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...

. Often a guide will go first to assess the snow

Snow

Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...

, avalanche

Avalanche

An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...

 or glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

 conditions, then signal the clients to proceed. Depending on the conditions, the clients may ski

Ski

A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...

 en-masse, in teams of two (buddy), or in less stable conditions, one at a time. The guide may instruct the group to stay to one side or the other of the guide's ski tracks in order to avoid glacial serac falls & crevasses, avalanche starting zones, cliffs, crusty snow or other potential difficulties that are not obvious to untrained eyes. On a broad, stable slope, the guide may allow the clients to spread out & pick their own line of descent.

Equipment and gear

Avalanche transceiver

Avalanche transceiver

Avalanche transceivers are a class of radio transceivers specialized to the purpose of finding people or equipment buried under snow. They are variously called Trackers, Pieps, or Arva's in a reference to some of the popular brands, "avalanche beacons" or "avalanche transceivers" - with many...

s are required and a buddy system is mandatory because of the danger of avalanches. Clothing needs mirror ski resort

Ski resort

A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...

 activity level: layered clothing

Layered clothing

Layered clothing is a manner of dressing using multiple garments that are worn on top of each other. Some of the layers have different, largely non-overlapping, functions. Using more or fewer layers, or replacing one layer but not others, allows for flexible clothing to match the needs of each...

 fit for sub-zero temperatures, goggles

Goggles

Goggles or safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories and in woodworking. They are often used in snow sports as well,...

, hat

Hat

A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...

, ski gloves, and neck warmers. European-model heliskiers are really just ski mountaineers with a vertical assist, so they require ski touring

Ski touring

Ski touring is a form of backcountry skiing involving traveling over the winter landscape on skis under human power rather than through the assistance of ski lifts or snow vehicles. It can take place in terrain ranging from perfectly flat to extremely steep...

 equipment appropriate to the location and conditions.

Fatter off-piste, powder, freeride

Freeride

Freeride is a discipline of mountain biking closely related to downhill cycling and dirt jumping focused on tricks, style, and technical trail features. It is now recognized as one of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking....

 or "all-mountain" skis are used by the majority of snowcat skiers. They are less tiring in use and handle difficult terrain more easily. The introduction of these skis, originally known as "fat boys", has led to an increase in the amount of vertical feet skied, as the skiers become less tired and spend less time looking for lost skis. They have also been linked with decreased injury rates.

History

In 1965 Ontario native Allan Drury, while working in Aspen, noticed that snowcats were being used to shuttle skiers up an unfinished ski area whose lifts weren't yet running. With a vision of starting a wilderness snowcat operation Allan moved to Calgary Alberta to search for the perfect location. In 1975 Allan's vision of backcountry snowcat skiing in Canada became a reality when he and his wife Brenda moved to BC and opened Selkirk Wilderness Skiing. In 1979,friend and fellow cat-ski pioneer, Brent McCorquodale, opened BC’s second snowcat operation,Great Northern Snowcat Skiing in the historic mining town of Trout Lake BC. Cat Powder in Revelstoke

Revelstoke

Revelstoke refers to:*Revelstoke, British Columbia, a city in British Columbia, Canada*Revelstoke Airport, the airport serving the city of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada...

 B.C. and Island Lake Lodge

Island Lake Lodge

Island Lake Lodge is a back country resort located on of mountainous terrain near Fernie B.C. Canada. Island Lake Lodge is situated in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada just beyond the Mount Fernie Provincial Park...

 near Fernie

Fernie

-Places:*Fernie, British Columbia, a city in British Columbia, Canada*Mount Fernie, a mountain in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Canada**Mount Fernie Provincial Park, a park on Mount Fernie...

 B.C., Canada were soon to follow. Over 30 years later there are snowcat skiing operations scattered throughout BC Canada. The combination of abundant snowfall, cool temperatures and regular breaks in weather systems, as well as massive networks of forestry roads leading deep into the mountains make British Columbia Canada ideal for catskiing and snowboarding.

Safety

The primary safety concern of snowcat skiing operators is the danger of avalanches. Reputable snowcat skiing operations employ guides and snowcat operator who are trained and experienced in evaluating snow

Snow

Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...

 conditions, snow stability, and risk management

Risk management

Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...

. When weather

Weather

Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...

 is inclement or avalanche conditions are elevated, one may end up skiing safer, gentler or heavily treed slopes.

Most tours will include in the price the use of ski

Ski

A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...

is avalanche transceiver

Avalanche transceiver

Avalanche transceivers are a class of radio transceivers specialized to the purpose of finding people or equipment buried under snow. They are variously called Trackers, Pieps, or Arva's in a reference to some of the popular brands, "avalanche beacons" or "avalanche transceivers" - with many...

s, and will provide training on the use of them and other avalanche rescue equipment. Some operators are beginning to offer additional avalanche protection that reduces avalanche

Avalanche

An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...

 burial potential or increases burial survival time, i.e. avalanche air-bags or Avalungs.

Other hazards of snowcat skiing include falling into very deep tree wells, "snow mushrooms" dropping from trees, suffocation

Suffocation

Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...

 after falls in very deep powder (rare), crevasse

Crevasse

A crevasse is a deep crack in an ice sheet rhys glacier . Crevasses form as a result of the movement and resulting stress associated with the sheer stress generated when two semi-rigid pieces above a plastic substrate have different rates of movement...

s on glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

s, common mountain terrain features such as cliffs and creek beds, and—obviously—typical ski-related injuries.
[* Allan Drury

Brent McCorquodale